1977 OEM tire mfgr: General Tire???

[Michael C.]

I am looking at a '77 that has been superbly maintained and won a Top Flight award in 1995. The spare has never been on the ground and it looks as if the rim has never been on a tire machine. It is a General GR70-15 mfgd in the 38th week of 1976 which is either a week late for the car build date or at minimum right on top of it. Has anyone heard of General Tire supplying GR70-15 RWL radials for late '76 or early '77?

Thanks.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1977 OEM tire mfgr: General Tire???

From the '75-77 Judging Guide:

"Goodyear 'Steelgard' and Firestone 'Steel Radial 500' are the only known original equipment tires. B.F. Goodrich and Uniroyal while wall tires have been suggested as possible original equipment for the Corvette in these years, but both manufacturers deny this.

Firestone recalled the 'Steel Radial 500' tires in 1975 because of a defect that cuased the steel belts to move inside the tire, resulting in blowouts. Firestone replaced these tires with any type tire they made of the same size. Treat these replacement tires as one would a GM recall alteration as outlined in the Judging Reference Manual paragraph 13."

[Michael C.]

Re: 1977 OEM tire mfgr: General Tire???

Jack, thanks for your response. Your informed comments are always much appreciated.

I have a copy of the TIM & JG... I was really looking for information that might exist outside the manual. While the TIM is probably the best single source of info extant for any Corvette I find that it is often only partly correct (not a criticism as much as acknowledgment that we don't know everything). So, I was looking to the vast knowledge-base that is our membership. Perhaps for someone who had a 77 from the factory with that type of tire. I suppose it isn't significant if it is only the spare and the four on the ground have been changed... it is really more about knowing for the sake of it...

Thanks again.

[William C.]

Re: 1977 OEM tire mfgr: General Tire???

I don't think you will find Generals and definately not BFG in that era. GM rarely used BFG in the 70's and especially not on the Corvette.

[Ken Liperi]

Re: 1977 OEM tire mfgr: General Tire???

I had bought a (late) '77 brand new and it had the Firestone Radial 500's, which began to crack on the sidewalls. The dealership told me "nothing was wrong", but I unloaded the car shortly thereafter, before the tire recall.

[Jack H.]

You were smart to unload the car!

I had a T-Bird back then factory equipped with Firestone 500 radials. The RF tire suffered belt delamination while on the freeway at 80 mph. The partially attached outer tread ripped out the wheel well, wrapped around the axle, cranked the wheels ALL the way to the right and I rolled 'er. Fortunately, I hit nobody and the 3-point harness held be securely, without injury....