Original Tires

**arbritton** · 02-22-2011, 03:12 PM

I am restoring a 1953 Buick Skylark and wanted to know who made the original tires for this vehicle.

**telriv** · 02-22-2011, 03:14 PM

Diamond Back & Coker

**Al's 52** · 02-22-2011, 07:45 PM

My dad was the original owner of my 1952 Buick Super. It came home with US Royals (wide whites). If in 52 they sold cars like when I bought my 67 buick, stock tires were black wall and you optioned up to get an oversized tire and then optioned up again to get a white wall. That's how it was in 1967....not sure about 1950s cars. His had 775-15s. I remember that like yesterday although I was a little kid back then. Tube type of course.Hope this helps a little.

**Daveh70** · 04-29-2011, 05:47 AM

If you buy US Royal tires, they are sold by Coker tire. Just a warning, I bought those in red line form for my 64 GTO. They look great and really original, but be prepared for terrible ride quality. That car, however, I have only for show. I would suggest if your car is for driving, go with radials. If you're only showing, go for those bias plies.

**Bob** · 04-29-2011, 06:22 AM

Here is a chart to help you choose radial replacements if you decide to go that way:
http://www.teambuick.com/reference/w...tire_howto.php

**Al's 52** · 05-03-2011, 06:19 PM

We tried radials on my dad's 52 super and the car handled ok but you could not keep the full sized wheel covers on in a turn. I think the wheels flex too much. Anybody have any thoughts? This car has the original wheels.

**suntreemcanic** · 05-03-2011, 09:56 PM

I have a 52 Super and when I switched to radials I also could not keep the full size wheel covers on. I switched to spoked wheels!.

**Daveh70** · 05-05-2011, 02:34 PM

Yes my experience has been the full wheel covers stay on better with bias plies because they don't flex like the radials. Here's what I do. Run bias plies on your stock wheels, then have the radials on aftermarket wheels. You can switch whenever you want to.