RadialsRadials OrOr BiasBias PlyPly TiresTires ForFor YourYour ClassicClassic Some purists think they want bias ply tires on their classic car critical with all the cars on the road today. In fact, radials just because they look like the original style tires. Just hold on. may save your life. In a quick maneuver, the tire tread stays in Unless you don’t intend to drive the car (except maybe to an full contact the road because of the tire’s construction, giving occasional show near home), you should be driving on radials. you maximum control. The radial’s sidewalls can flex, which is Why? Because they’re much safer. Let’s face it, you’ve got a what keeps the rubber in contact with the road surface. Bias lot rolling on those tires. I’m not just talking about your invest- plies can’t do that, so they inherently handle poorly, and in an ment, but the safety of you and your family. emergency, you can easily lose control of the car. Here’s a list of advantages over bias ply tires. You can decide for yourself Radial tires respond much better in an emergency, and that’s if they belong on your car. • Faster response and better control • Easier steering effort • Better traction on wet roads • Smoother ride • Less road shock is felt • Longer tread life • Less wandering, straighter tracking • Much better puncture resistance • Better emergency braking • Less rolling resistance, better MPG As you can see, radial tires are a smart decision. Anything else doesn’t make sense. What Ruins Whitewall Tires If you have your car serviced and the tires have to be removed for Also, be sure to tell the service technicians right up front not to any reason, be sure you are there to supervise how they are han- touch the whitewall itself with greasy, dirty hands! dled. Chemical agents such as oils and grease can affect the white And speaking of ruining whitewall tires, right here is the perfect rubber to cause permanent problems. And guess what will cause place to mention how NOT to clean your whitewalls. If you want staining of whitewalls? Stacking tires with the black side of one tire to ruin them over time, one of the best ways is to use cleaners that against the white sidewall of another! Remember what I said about contain bleach. Yep...whitewall cleaner. Now you’re probably think- how chemicals from black rubber will leach into white rubber? ing “But I’ve always used whitewall cleaner.” Yes, it gets them clean Well, there is no protective barrier on the outside of the white rub- alright, but what you will notice over time is that the whitewalls ber, so if the tires are stacked one on another, or even leaned start to get dried out and lose that nice “smooth and shiney” sur- against one another, it can happen very fast. It looks like a brown face quality (which also makes them easy to clean). If your white- stain — and it’s permanent. All the cleaning agents in the world walls are dried out already, that’s probably why. Instead of white- won’t get rid of it. wall cleaner, use a soap pad or a scrubby sponge with a cleaning What it means is that you should never leave your whitewall tires agent like 409, Simple Green, etc. And never use tire coatings on unattended in a service shop. They might get moved and stacked. the whitewall. They can cause discoloration, too. WhyWhy DiamondDiamond BackBack WhitewallsWhitewalls Don’tDon’t TurnTurn YellowYellow Why whitewalls eventually lose their whiteness and start to look The bottom layer is black rubber for maximum adhesion to the yellow is no mystery. It happens because the chemicals from the tire’s sidewall. It’s the exact same rubber formulation they use to black rubber eventually leach into the whitewall rubber.Then, over make truck retreads — very strong stuff. That’s because “like time, those chemicals will bleed right materials” bond best. In the middle through to the surface of the softer is a special butyl barrier layer. The white rubber, where light and air turn butyl layer blocks the staining chem- them yellow over their entire surface. icals that will try to come through from the back. Nothing can pass But I have an answer to that problem. through this layer. The white “face” A few years back, I came up with a layer itself is made up of my own way to keep all that from happening. white rubber formula. This is why It involves a white rubber formula that Diamond Back claims its whitewalls I developed myself, and now, that for- are whiter, and that they will also mula is a closely guarded secret (like stay whiter. It’s not an empty claim, that famous fried chicken recipe). and I don’t take it lightly — and nei- Today, our whitewall material is actu- ther should you. I just wanted you ally made up of three layers, not just to know how we can make that When they leave, they look quite a bit different than one. when they arrived from the major manufacturer. claim in our marketing and advertis- ing. I say it because it’s true. 1 Call today! 888-922-1642 www.dbtires.com AA Fourth-GenerationFourth-Generation FamilyFamily BusinessBusiness Clif, Son Cooper, Daughter Tab, Son In July of 2013, Diamond Back will celebrate 15 years in 15” and 16” sizes, built in new molds, giving you that 50’s our current location in Conway, SC. We have always bias ply look with the performance of a modern radial. approached the classic tire market in a different way You can view the Auburn on page 22. from the other companies that sell tires for this market. We are also going to bring back four major 14” sizes Diamond Back has always used modern tires which meet with the correct dimensions. You may not realize that all current DOT standards and are built in the world’s current 14” sizes are too small. For example, the best factories, utilizing all of the latest in tire building 750x14 which is 27” tall is replaced by a 205/75R14, technology. which is only 26” tall. The 800x14 is 27.5” tall and is We see the future of the classic tire market as demand- replaced by a 215/75R14, which is only 26.7” tall. The ing... more driving, more group tours and we recognize 215/75R14 is the largest 14” tire built today and for the the proliferation of parts to transform these older cars owners of Chryslers, Pontiacs and others that use an into serious driving machines. What we don’t see is a 850x14 (28” tall) or a 885x14 (28.4” tall), help is on the classic tire market that is keeping pace with the increas- way! These tires should be ready by late 2013 and will ing performance demands. We see few, if any, new prod- be produced in the correct dimensions. ucts being developed. We don’t see the technological As you view this catalog, you will see that Diamond advances necessary to keep pace with the market Back has more sizes available than all of the competition demands. It’s our belief that if you become complacent, combined. You will also see that we have the ability to someone will pass you by and at this point, Diamond custom make various whitewall widths for different Back is leading the pack. applications. If you don’t find it, give us a call. There’s so For our 2013 catalog, we have amassed our best product much we can do that there’s no way to list it all. We offerings yet, tires built by the major manufacturers in the welcome special designs or one off applications. industries most technologically advanced factories.We Thank you for your interest in Diamond Back Classics. are also going a step further by launching a new product We are committed to quality, customer service and the that will revolutionize the classic tire market. We are drive to remain on the cutting edge of technology and very excited to be introducing the Auburn Deluxe will continue to bring the very best products to the Radial. The Auburn Deluxe is the culmination of five market and, as always, at the best prices. years of development. The Auburn will start by offering Call today! 888-922-1642 www.dbtires.com 2 OurOur KnowledgeableKnowledgeable SalesSales StaffStaff Richard James [email protected] [email protected] ext. 102 ext. 101 I don't have numerous salesmen sitting in cubicles taking know cars and they understand my product and they'll orders. Some customers know exactly what they need treat you with courtesy and give you the correct informa- and others don't. Together Richard and James have 28 tion. If you have trouble getting through, don't give up. It'll years of experience selling Diamond Back tires. They be worth the wait. ** ImportantImportant ConsumerConsumer InformationInformation The Tread Act of 2000 requires tire manufacturers to tion. Ironically, Diamond Back, because of its process, permanently mold certain information on both tire uses only tires that are certified to the higher perform- sidewalls. This information is the same on both side- ance standards of FMVSS139. The majority of tires walls. Because of our process, this information is sold by the competition cannot make this claim. If removed from one sidewall only. This information their product description specifies “for pre 1976 vehi- includes tire size, maximum pressure recommenda- cles”, those tires are labeled and tested under the less tions, size, brand, the word “radial” and the manufac- strenuous standards of FMVSS109.