Coker Tire Company in Chattanooga: A Century-Old Tire Manufacturer Still Operating Its Historic Factory
Coker Tire Company manufactures vintage and specialty tires from its original factory on East Main Street in East Brainerd, serving consumers and collectors who need tires for classic cars, hot rods, and antique vehicles that modern tire makers no longer support. Founded in 1958 as a distributor of bias-ply tires, Coker evolved into a manufacturer of reproduction tires designed to match the appearance and performance specs of original equipment from the 1920s through 1970s. Unlike chain tire retailers or modern performance shops, Coker fills a narrow but essential role: it is one of very few U.S. sources for correct-size, correct-appearance tires when you own a 1963 Corvette, a Model A Ford, or a British Leyland classic.
What Coker Tire Company Actually Is
Coker Tire manufactures and sells bias-ply and radial tires in sizes and tread patterns no longer produced by Goodyear, Michelin, or Bridgestone. The company operates a factory, distribution center, and retail showroom on the same Chattanooga site where it began. Most customers are not local daily drivers but collectors, restoration shops, and specialty mechanics sourcing tires for multi-year restorations or preservation projects. Coker also supplies museum vehicles, vintage racing teams, and insurance-backed specialty collections.
The company produces tires under its own Coker brand and also manufactures for Excelsior and other heritage tire lines. Its catalog runs to hundreds of specific sizes and tread patterns, each engineered to replicate original equipment while meeting modern safety standards. The factory itself remains a working manufacturing facility, visible from the showroom and warehouse spaces.
Tire Selection, Services, and Pricing
Coker offers three broad tire categories. Reproduction bias-ply tires replicate original equipment from early American vehicles and range from $60 to $200 per tire depending on size and tread pattern. A set of four for a 1950s car typically costs $250 to $600. Radial bias-look tires, a compromise for drivers who want classic appearance with better fuel economy and road manners, run $100 to $250 per tire. High-performance vintage racing tires cost $150 to $350 per tire and are engineered for track use while maintaining period-correct appearance.
Prices vary by size, not vehicle class. A 600x16 tire for a 1940s truck costs differently than a 825x20 for a larger truck of the same era. The factory publishes a full catalog with pricing; prices change seasonally and by material costs, so confirm current quotes directly.
Coker does not offer alignment, balancing, or repair services on-site. The company sells tires; customers typically transport them to a local independent shop or restoration specialist for mounting and balancing. This is a key distinction from a full-service tire center like Discount Tire or America's Tire, which handle installation, rotation, and warranty claims in one visit.
How Coker Compares to Other Local Tire Options
Chattanooga has no other vintage tire manufacturer. Discount Tire, Tire Barn, and other national retailers stock modern sizes and sell new tires in stock for same-day installation, but they do not carry the bias-ply 600x16 or 710x15 that a 1940s restoration requires. For new tires on a daily-driver car or truck, those retailers offer faster service, competitive pricing, and mounted installation.
For vintage or specialty tire needs, Coker is a mail-order or local visit destination where other shops fail. A restoration shop in Nashville or Atlanta ordering a set of Coker tires for a client has no local alternative. Individuals with collections often order online and either pick up at the Chattanooga showroom or have tires shipped nationwide.
Who This Fits and Who It Does Not
Coker suits collectors, restoration shops, and owners of vehicles more than 30 years old who have exhausted standard tire retailers. It also serves specialty museums and automotive facilities with heritage vehicles. It does not suit commuters, fleet managers, or drivers of vehicles built after 1980 who need tires quickly at competitive prices. A person driving a 2015 Honda Accord will find better value and faster service at a local chain retailer.
What a First Visit Involves
A walk-in customer at the showroom can browse the catalog, place an order for a specific size, and handle payment on-site. The showroom stocks sample tires and displays representing different eras and styles. Customers often need to know their exact tire size and tread pattern preference before ordering; calling ahead with that information speeds the process. Most purchases require a lead time of days to weeks for manufacturing or assembly, not same-day pickup.
For those ordering online, Coker ships nationwide and operates a customer service line for technical questions about correct sizes and specifications for specific vehicles.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The Coker Tire showroom and factory are located at 1917 East Main Street in the East Brainerd area. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Saturday hours available (confirm current Saturday schedule). Ample parking accommodates both walk-in customers and delivery vehicles. The site is not easily accessible by public transit; personal vehicle or taxi is practical.
Coker Tire remains one of the last American tire manufacturers serving the enthusiast and restoration market, and its survival depends on orders from a national customer base. For Chattanooga residents and those within driving distance, a visit to the factory showroom offers a tangible look at how a manufacturing business sustains itself by specializing in a market that mass-market retailers have abandoned.
