HELP!!!
WHAT TYPE OF TIRE AND MFG SHOULD I USE TO KEEP THE CAR IN A STOCK FORMAT.
THANKS!!!
WHAT TYPE OF TIRE AND MFG SHOULD I USE TO KEEP THE CAR IN A STOCK FORMAT.
THANKS!!!
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Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
James----
I believe that the original tires were Goodyear or Firestone size GR-70-15. They were available in standard blackwall, optional white stripe, and optional white letter. I've forgotten the actual model designations for the tires at the moment, but it's really no matter----these tires are not currently reproduced as far as I know.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
James----
I believe that the original tires were Goodyear or Firestone size GR-70-15. They were available in standard blackwall, optional white stripe, and optional white letter. I've forgotten the actual model designations for the tires at the moment, but it's really no matter----these tires are not currently reproduced as far as I know.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
Why are you yelling at us? All capitals is 'netiquete' for emphasis or shouting....
There's another post on the board on this subject. A basic question you need to come to grips with is, what is your objective.
Don't mean to be 'cute' here, but factory original isn't necessarily always best or the route everyone should go. If you bought the car to drive and occassionally show, you'll take a modest deduction for service replacement contemporary radial tires of proper size (get and read NCRS Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide for your year car available from NCRS Cincy, top web page, for guidelines and the current deduction) BUT have a dramatically superior ride.
If your objective is to make a SERIOUS concours contender (read that as you probably won't drive the car actively while you're campaigning it), then you need the original style polyglass wide oval tread. In this area there are several alternatives and NONE are inexpensive.
(1) Contact Coker Tire, one source who specializes in reproducing
original tires for a wide range of concours applications including
Corvettes (search the archieves for address/phone data, it was
posted recently). Bear in mind these will be obvious reproductions
and you'll still lose originality points in some shows because
even though your original tires were DOT labeled, DOT conventions
mandate a dating sequence and the repros are going to show 'made
yesterday' in the sidewall....
(2) Want to get REAL SERIOUS, read the ads in Driveline (or place one
free as an NCRS member) and seek out a source for correct original
tires with correct/original DOT date codes. Be prepared to fork
out maybe $1000 or more for a slice of real McCoy history....Comment
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Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
Why are you yelling at us? All capitals is 'netiquete' for emphasis or shouting....
There's another post on the board on this subject. A basic question you need to come to grips with is, what is your objective.
Don't mean to be 'cute' here, but factory original isn't necessarily always best or the route everyone should go. If you bought the car to drive and occassionally show, you'll take a modest deduction for service replacement contemporary radial tires of proper size (get and read NCRS Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide for your year car available from NCRS Cincy, top web page, for guidelines and the current deduction) BUT have a dramatically superior ride.
If your objective is to make a SERIOUS concours contender (read that as you probably won't drive the car actively while you're campaigning it), then you need the original style polyglass wide oval tread. In this area there are several alternatives and NONE are inexpensive.
(1) Contact Coker Tire, one source who specializes in reproducing
original tires for a wide range of concours applications including
Corvettes (search the archieves for address/phone data, it was
posted recently). Bear in mind these will be obvious reproductions
and you'll still lose originality points in some shows because
even though your original tires were DOT labeled, DOT conventions
mandate a dating sequence and the repros are going to show 'made
yesterday' in the sidewall....
(2) Want to get REAL SERIOUS, read the ads in Driveline (or place one
free as an NCRS member) and seek out a source for correct original
tires with correct/original DOT date codes. Be prepared to fork
out maybe $1000 or more for a slice of real McCoy history....Comment
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Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
James, I don't know your intent with the car, but as Joe said those Firestone 500s or Goodyear Steelgards are not being reproduced, but are available in Hemming's and the NCRS Driveline. Expect to pay anywhere from $600.00(if your lucky) to $1,200.00 per set depending on whitewall, white letter, blackwall, etc. If you want to keep replacement OEM brand on the car(less points off at judged meets)you can go with either Firestone Firehawks, Goodyear Eagle GT IIs, or Goodyear Eagle GAs all in a P225/70R15. Michelin makes a nice narrow white stripe tire in a P215/70R15 which in my opinion is closer to a true GR70-15 than a current P225/70R15. I have many sets(GR70-15s) that I have compared to. Those Michelin's are in an X One or XW4 P215/70R15 tire. Do NOT or I would not RECOMMEND the Firestone 500s if you want original type tires. These are coming apart at an alarming rate!!! They were recalled shortly after they were produced(but there are many around). I have seen many come apart at the Bloomington Gold Survivor Road Tour when they have these tires on doing great damage to fiberglass!Comment
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Re: 73 VETTE TIRES
James, I don't know your intent with the car, but as Joe said those Firestone 500s or Goodyear Steelgards are not being reproduced, but are available in Hemming's and the NCRS Driveline. Expect to pay anywhere from $600.00(if your lucky) to $1,200.00 per set depending on whitewall, white letter, blackwall, etc. If you want to keep replacement OEM brand on the car(less points off at judged meets)you can go with either Firestone Firehawks, Goodyear Eagle GT IIs, or Goodyear Eagle GAs all in a P225/70R15. Michelin makes a nice narrow white stripe tire in a P215/70R15 which in my opinion is closer to a true GR70-15 than a current P225/70R15. I have many sets(GR70-15s) that I have compared to. Those Michelin's are in an X One or XW4 P215/70R15 tire. Do NOT or I would not RECOMMEND the Firestone 500s if you want original type tires. These are coming apart at an alarming rate!!! They were recalled shortly after they were produced(but there are many around). I have seen many come apart at the Bloomington Gold Survivor Road Tour when they have these tires on doing great damage to fiberglass!Comment
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Firestone, amen!
Amen, bro. Had a set of F-500 on my '73 Thunderbird. Tread separated at freeway speed (+80 MPH) on me traveling from Chicago to Detroit. Tread wrapped around the front axle and the car went 2-wheel, side to side, spun and hit the center ditch. Talk about wetting your pants!
Only silver lining here -- I was on my way to do a job interview with a sales candidate. We'd set the appointment for 1:10 PM so the restaurant would be relatively cleared of lunch traffic. Had the tire episode NOT happened and I'd made the appointment, I would have showed up in the parking lot of the Macus Red Fox restaurant at EXACTLY the time Jimmy Hoffa disappeared....Comment
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Firestone, amen!
Amen, bro. Had a set of F-500 on my '73 Thunderbird. Tread separated at freeway speed (+80 MPH) on me traveling from Chicago to Detroit. Tread wrapped around the front axle and the car went 2-wheel, side to side, spun and hit the center ditch. Talk about wetting your pants!
Only silver lining here -- I was on my way to do a job interview with a sales candidate. We'd set the appointment for 1:10 PM so the restaurant would be relatively cleared of lunch traffic. Had the tire episode NOT happened and I'd made the appointment, I would have showed up in the parking lot of the Macus Red Fox restaurant at EXACTLY the time Jimmy Hoffa disappeared....Comment
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