Okay, so it's not really science. Big and little tires are your preference and it's a method of customization that hot rodders have been using for decades. It originated from racing, as most forms of racers (dirt track, Indy and drag racing) would fit racecars with smaller front tires and wheels and larger rear tires and wheels. The smaller fronts reduced rolling resistance and weight, while the larger rear tires provided more traction and a modification to the final drive ratio. The look translated well to street-driven hot rods, and it is a timeless design that is still be utilized to this day. Hot rodders have experimented with various combinations, and continue to do so, while holding a measuring tape and their trusty Coker Tire catalog for reference. Whether you choose the traditional look of bias ply tires, or the upgraded handling of a
Slammed is a relative hot rod term, and it usually means when something has been lowered A LOT. But this chopped and channeled Model A sedan brings a whole new meaning to "slammed". It is down in the dirt, thanks to air suspension and a spectacular chassis setup. Dave Tucci of Tucci Hot Rods in Marcy, New York built this slammed hot rod, and used satin brown as the primary color for an interesting look. The finishes, textures and colors of this slammed sedan offer a lot of visual appeal, while the wild tire and wheel combination go with the car's killer stance. Dave's sedan is rolling on a set of one-off wheels, wrapped in Excelsior Stahl Sport radial tires, sized at 550R17 up front and 650/700R20 out back. The radical big and little tire combination is just one of many features that made us take notice and catch up with Dave for a video feature. Thanks for watching!
We're having a closeout on ALL remaining inventory in our Excelsior Comp V product line! That means we want them out of our warehouse so we can make room for new products like our American Classic bias look radials! So, look through the remaining sizes HERE and find the right size(s) for your build. There are lots of GREAT front runner and rear sizes for hot rods, as well as a number of sizes that fit 1928 through 1931 Ford Model A's, all at discounted prices. These are the cheapest traditional hot rod tires out there! Just as a quick note, these tires are bias ply, and most of the sizes are tube type tires. Prices start at $85 a piece--get 'em while we have 'em!
Our tires roll under some of the coolest hot rods in the world, and one of them landed on the cover of Ol' Skool Rodz this month! We got our March 2014 issue earlier this week, and loved seeing our American Classic whitewall radial tires crusted up with salt from Bonneville. If you like hot rods, you need to check out Ol' Skool Rodz!
Hot rods are cool because they're generally not cookie cutter builds that lack personality. Owners and builders can go as wild as they want, and part of getting the right look is the vehicle's stance. And a big part of the stance involves the tires and wheels. Sizing is key, so if you can dream it up, we can usually put together a tire and wheel package for your hot rod, custom or classic car. Read more to find out how we do it.
Nashville is about two hours away from our office, so we snuck out to attend the Goodguys Nashville Nationals on May 17-19. We do not set up as a vendor at this event because of scheduling conflicts, but it's just too close for us to miss a chance of photographing some cool stuff for our advertisements and catalogs. So, we won't bore you with the details: LP Field, Nashville, TN, 2,000 cars and LOTS of Coker Tire products on the ground. Check it out!
Sometimes we get caught up in the daily hustle of selling tires, and forget about all of the cool stuff that was created specifically so hot rodders could put a personal touch on their machines. One of the coolest products that have passed through our development department and onto our customers is the Firestone Dirt Track line. They're distinct, they're old school and they're the perfect fit for a traditional hot rod...that's why WE love 'em. Here are some reasons you should love them...
How many times have you been on a road trip, and you decide to take a detour just for the fun of it? Sometimes, it might upset your significant other, or it might burn through a few more gallons of gas, but it's almost always worth it. In the case of a bunch of hot rodders from the Northeast, they decided to make a stop here at Coker Tire on their way back from the Lonestar Round-Up in Austin, Texas. We're glad they came by and you'll be glad to see their awesome machines--check it out!
If you know much about Coker Tire, then you know we are 100-percent in favor of driving your classic car or hot rod. Drive it hard and drive it often--it's the reason we spend so much time getting them running and driving properly, so you might as well take advantage of it! A guy by the name of John Gilbert is doing just that with a wickedly-chopped Model A coupe, and he decided to stop by Coker Tire along the way.
[caption id="attachment_2784" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looks comfy![/caption]
John is a freelance photographer and writer and does a lot of work for Street Rodder magazine. He has been around hot rods, motorcycles and classic trucks
We've said it over and over again--the right tires and wheels can take a somewhat questionable car and turn it into a real attention getter! It's a simple fact of sizing, style and stance that makes a car look great, especially in the hot rodding world. We recently had a car come in the shop that didn't quite have the right look. With about 30 minutes of work, we helped transform it into a cool, old school hot rod!
[caption id="attachment_2554" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="This Model A sedan looks awesome with its new Firestones!"][/caption]
