SEMA: Coker Tire launches Firestone retro radial tires

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2, 2016) — Fifty years after Firestone's first Wide Oval tire hit the market, Coker Tire Co. is bringing it back with a replica tire that combines the Wide Oval's authentic look with a modern radial design.

The company unveiled its new product shortly after the opening of the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, which coincidentally is marking its 50th anniversary as well.

The Firestone Wide Oval radial tires are available in six sizes designed to fit the 14- to 15-inch rims of popular muscle cars from 1967 through 1974. The tires, however, can also be retrofitted to earlier cars from the muscle car era.

Sizes available include ER70-14, FR70-14, GR70-14, FR70-15, GR70-15 and FR60-15.

“We have really worked hard with this new Firestone retro radial,” said Corky Coker, CEO and owner of Coker Tire. “…Now, when I restore a muscle car, I can have it look exactly like it was supposed to look, including the tread design, including the engraving, etc on the side, but you know, it drives like it's supposed to drive with  radial construct and the handling of a radial.”

Classic car expert Steve Magnante helped Coker present the Firestone Wide Oval at SEMA and explained what made the original tires so popular.

“Back in the Super car '60s…all of those cars had lot of power, but the only downside was that Detroit and the tire makers did not keep up with tires,” Mr. Magnante said. “They still had a 1950s mentality and those cars had pretty skinny tires.

“Well, 50 years ago, Firestone comes out with a thing called the wide oval, which basically is a tire that has wider tread and a shorter side wall. It was a major step in the right direction toward better traction, steering, braking.”

Now, Coker is taking that technology a bit further, adapting the beloved look of the original tire with the new tire design technology that allows drivers to better handle their vehicles.

All sizes, excluding the FR60-15, are available with either raised white letters in original script or 3/8-inch redline sidewall. The FR60-15 is available only with raised white letters with the authentic letter design to match the F60-15 tires that came from the factory on 1970 Camaro Z/28, Corvettes and Mustangs.

“The nice thing about (the tire), is that it allows folks with perfectly restored muscle cars to have the look of 100-point restoration, but have the modern driving characteristics of a true radial tire,” Mr. Magnante said. “They hide in plain sight.”