C3 Tires/1971

[Gerard Q.]

Does anyone make a "correct" F70-15 tire? I have the standard repo Firestone Wide Oval tires on my 71 that get an immediate deduct for their tread configuration. Wondering if there is a better tire out there for judging purposes.

Thanks in advance.

[Michael M.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

I believe the Goodyear rpro is MUCH closer to the original ...

[Gerard Q.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

I've heard that. Any idea Mike where they're sold?

[Tony H.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

Jerry,

The place you want to get your tires from are Kelsey Tire, Inc. located in Camdenton, MO. 800-325-0091 http://www.kelseytire.com

I got mine there years ago. Their website shows some redline tires that might be of interest to others looking for that feature for their '68 and '69 Corvettes. They also carry the white striped Speedways. Details are listed below.

F70/15*
114-491-040
24
Speedway Wide Tread 2 Ply Nylon
RWL
$ 185.00

F70/15*
114-491-046
24
Speedway Wide Tread 2 Ply Nylon
.350 R/S
$ 185.00

F70/15*
114-491-501
24
Speedway Wide Tread 2 Ply Nylon
.350 W/S
$ 185.00

*FOB Camdenton, MO




Kelsey Tire, Inc.

[Robert C.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

Jerry, Only problem is that the tire tread usually has 7 bands where the original has 9 bands. Also the originals were NYLON and the repo's are POLYESTER, and says so on the tire.

[Dave S.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

Bob,
I believe the original Firestones are wider than the Goodyears thus have more tread lines. The Goodyear RWL reproductions I bought from Kelsey had Nylon Cord embossed on them and the tread pattern matched the original Goodyears quite well. They have even corrected the problem w/ the "E" in the last couple of years. I haven't seen the Goodyear white stripe reproductions so I can't comment on them.

[Gerard Q.]

Thanks everyone for the great info!! *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Tires/1971

Jerry-----

The Firestone Wide Oval reproduction tires available from Coker are not correct for Corvettes. Originally, Firestone Wide Ovals were manufactured in several different configurations. The Wide Ovals used on 68-72 Corvettes were non-belted, bias ply, nylon cord tires. Other cars of the period used Wide Ovals which were fiberglass belted and of polyester cord. These are the tires that are reproduced and sold by Coker---they're correct for other cars but they're not 100% correct for Corvettes.

The Goodyear Speedway Wide Treads reproduced by Kelsey tire of Camdenton, MO are the most accurate reproduction tire currently available for 68-72 Corvettes. They are virtually identical to the original tires in every respect except rubber compound. Of course, the rubber compound is indiscernable and modern compounds benefit the tire.

The Kelsey reproductions are US-manufactured in a Kelly-Springfield tire plant (Kelly-Springfield is a Goodyear subsidiary company). However, they are quite a bit more expensive than the Firestone reproductions. Also, the Firestone reproductions, being a fiberglass belted tire, are a much better road tire than the bias ply, original configuration tires. So, this all needs to be taken into account when deciding what's right for you.

For me, I much prefer a fiberglass belted tire to a bias ply but I also much prefer a Goodyear tire to a Firestone (I've had this preference since 1966 so I was not affected by any Firestone problems of the recent or, even, distant past). My choice, then? The Goodyear Custom Wide Tread F-70-15 as reproduced by Kelsey Tire. These tires are polyester cord with 2 fiberglass belts. They're not "correct" for 1968-72 Corvettes but they are "period-correct", they're available in red stripe, white stripe and raised white letter, and they're Goodyear. Plus, they cost less than the Speedway Wide Treads and are about the same cost as the Firestone Wide Oval reproduction tires sold by Coker.