35tac

Age has come upon the current 215/70R14 BFG Silvertown red line radials. I have 14X7 steel wheels which I plan to keep.I would also like to keep the red line look so I need a suggestion for a replacement. Any good ideas for the change would be appreciated. Only comment so far by a friend was that the current BFG Silvertown tires have a coarse tread which doesn't help on the road noise.
Thanks
Wayne

joe_padavano

Personally I'd go with the 225/70-14s, which are closer to stock diameter. Can't help you with road noise, however. Usually my exhaust drowns it out.


If you want to spend a little more money, there are now bias-look redline radials available. A friend of mine has bias-look radials on his 59 Ford and loves them.

oldcutlass

Diamond back tires allows you to use a tire of your choice. they will custom make redlines and whitewalls.
https://dbtires.com/

35tac

I decided to reup and purchaed 4 new 215/70R14 BFG Silvertown red line radials. I know I had suggestions for others but decided to try these again. I do have a question that I have about redlines. I believe radials came along on Oldsmobiles in 68, is that correct? When did red lines come along? My Olds information isn't clear accept that the 66 brochure shows redlines on 442/Cutlass. Red lines are not listed as an option and surely not radials.
Thanks
Wayne

redoldsman

Radials might have been available in 68 but they were not common. I really don't remember seeing radials until the early to mid 70's. I think redlines became available in the mid 60's but somebody will probably have a more definitive answer to that.

Ozzie

The ads said that red lines came with the 442 option in 1964. My 1965 442 came with red lines; they were bias ply. ("Tiger paws" by Uniroyal)

Option PR5 offered radial ply tires in 1967 with the L66 option (turnpike cruising) @ $47.39. Neither were in 1966.


My understanding is that Michelin developed radial tires following WWII. They were used on European vehicles before USA vehicles.

joe_padavano

Red lines are not listed as an option because they were standard equipment on the 1966 442. Note the "Standard Features" list in the lower RH part of this page. You could get whitewalls on the 442 at no additional cost under RPO P26.









Radials were first offered on the Cutlass line in 1967 under RPO PR5, but only with the Turnpike Cruiser option. Radials were also available on the Toronado in 1967.

35tac

Thanks very much Joe.
Wayne

35tac

Got my new Redlines from Jeggs. Free shipping and got them the next day. Got them mounted and balanced today. A lot quieter and much more safer. I have a feeling of relief. Unfortunately my pocket is a lot lighter.
Thanks for the help.
Wayne