Spare Tire Question

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

I finally got around to checking out the spare for my '66 that I bought over two years ago and I have what's probably a lame question. I want to know if "US ROYAL" (Judging Guide) and "UNIROYAL" (on the tire) are one in the same.

If I'm reading everything correctly, might I have the original spare? If so, it is still holding air, has no signs of cracking, doesn't have DOT anywhere on it, and still has the little nubs on it. I doubt that it has ever been mounted. The tire reads:

(Front) UNIROYAL LAREDO 7.75-15 4PLY RATING-2PLY MEETS RMA-1 & SAEJ918a V-1
(Back) Super low profile The Rain Tire Tubless GT7924 1738-420 SGAC 39

Thanks for the help

[Joe L.]

Re: Spare Tire Question

Rob-----

Uniroyal is the brand name used for U.S. Royal by 1966. I believe that Laredo was the tire model originally used on mid year Corvettes originally equipped with Uniroyal tires. I have very little doubt that the tire is the original spare.

I'm not surprised, at all, that the tire appears to be in excellent condition. I still have what I absolutely know to be the original spare tire for my 1969. The tire is in absolutely perfect condition with no cracking or signs of deterioration, whatsoever.

The primary cause of rubber deterioration is UV radiation. Heat and weather-related effects are right behind. The spare tire is protected from all of these and so can live a VERY long life. That's not to say that "0" deterioration has occurred. But, whatever has taken place is not discernable and I doubt that it's even significant.

As further evidence of the longevity of rubber when it's protected from UV radiation, the wiper blades on my 1969 are the original pieces----I never, ever replaced them. Of course, they're not in perfect shape due to wear, but there is very little other deterioration of them. The reason, of course, is that 68-72 Corvettes have a wiper door which shields the wiper blades from UV radiation. Otherwise, they'd be long gone.

[Rob M.]

Thanks Joe *NM*