Best tires for show and go

[Charles P.]

Here is a very general question regarding tires for a 1972 or 1973 Corvette. If you had to use a radial tire on this car what would be the best "show" and or "go" tire. I have been told that the Good Year GT+4 225-70 R15 RWL is the way to go. Before I spend on these is there a preference for judged events?

[Wayne P.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

You need an original or a good reproduction to minimize deducts for judging. Although not a speed rated tire, unless you are a speed freek, this(Goodyear) is ok for daily driving.

[Jack H.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

The standard deduction table for tires (NCRS Judging Reference Manual) is rather lengthy and it covers original factory tires, reproduction tires of various degrees of faithfulness, and daily driver/service replacement tires. Getting that book + a copy of the '70-72 Judging Guide will silhouette the situation you're in.

You want to find a tire that's as 'close' as you can get to factory original in terms of dimensions, features (raised letter, whitewall, Etc.) and still be a product of a factory original recognized supplier....

[Dennis A.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

The "good-ones" have two sets of tires...Judging & driving. I know of cases where Judging cars have borrowed tires for the event. Radials are the best for driving these old cars.

[Verle R.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

Radial tires do wonders for driving these "old cars" and Corvettes too :-)

Verle

[Rick A.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

Charles,

think everyone missed your original question!? Think you were looking for an answer from a NCCC-view, probably, and tires are not judged per se for originality, etc. You need them to all match, so I would think whatever you think looks good and is the best you can afford from a driveability view, those would be the ones I would go with

FYI - on my 1963 SWC, I have direct bolt-on knock-offs with Michelin radials that I use for driving and attending "go and shine" shows like you indicate

[Charles P.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

I was looking for an answer somewhere in between. That is a tire I could actually drive on and get some performance out of AND not lose points should I decide to take it to a judged event. Apparently there is little middle ground. After surveying some people who had correct "vintage" tires for sale almost all said their tires should not be driven on for risk of life and limb. So my question now is what tires are the snazziest for show and shine and have the best performance? I saw a set of Goodyear Radial Wingfoots (solid raised white letters) that looked cool however I am not sure of their availablity. Goodyear Eagle GT+4 are raised outline white letters and are available. What do the BF Goodrich, Dunlop and Michelin tires look like and who likes what and why for a 73 C3 roadster.
I will listen to all input.

[Duke W.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

The best available performance tires are one of the three V-rated 225/70R-15 "police pursuit tires", one each made by GY, General, and Firestone.

See the spring and summer 2003 Corvette Restorer issues for a thorough discussion and analysis.

Duke

[Loren Smith]

Re: Best tires for show and go

As a compromise from buying two sets of tires, is there a radial which could be judged, say from an original manufacturer, in roughly the correct size, which only would lose maybe 50% or 60% of the originality points? Or would a radial automatically lose all of the originality points, and correspondingly, all of the condition points?

[Charles P.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

I just received a copy of results for a car that was judged at NCRS. It did not have the original tires but since it was a 1973 radials were ok on it. It lost 18 of a possible 30 points. I have to assume that radials on a car that did not come stock with them (ie older than 1973) might lose more points or say using a tire from a supplier other than those recognized for that year may again lose more of the possible points for that section. This car had Firestones which were one of 2 recognized suppliers that year. I also now have a copy of the NCRS judging guide for that year. Bottom line is you can miss points here and there and still be top flight (e.g. don't lose any bonus points)

[Loren Smith]

Re: Best tires for show and go

Let me give an example of what I am asking. For the tires on a '59, 30 points are assigned for originality, and another 30 points for condition. I'm assuming you would have to score at least 10% on the originality to be eligible for the 30 points on the condition. From the JG: "Original tires used are U.S. Royal 'Air Ride', B.F. Goodrich 'Silverton', and Firestone 'Deluxe Champion'." From the judging reference manual, deduct 60% for "Current-day OEM brand, service-replacement size, bias or radial ply tires or current equivalent sizing designation and correct whitewall width." Deduct 75% for "As above, non OEM brand."

Coker sells a B.F. Goodrich Silvertown radial in a P205/75/R15 (with a 2 3/8 whitewall), which would be comparable in size to the correct 6.70x15 bias ply. Would it be eligible to receive either 25% or 40% of the originality points? If so, then the point loss would only be between 18 and 23 points, as opposed to the full 60 points, which would seem like a fair compromise for not having to spend $1,000+ for a second set of "correct" wheels and tires.

[John H.]

Re: Best tires for show and go

Loren -

As I interpret the "White Book", the Coker/BFG radial tires you describe would be subject to the 60% originality deduction (18 points); the size and radial construction would be the elements that differentiate them from the 30% deduction category.

[Loren Smith]

Re: Best tires for show and go

Thanks, John. That's what I hoped.