Tire condition points

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

Just a thought when I read Roy's excellent GM vintage Options & Accessiores weblog on the C1Registry and I saw the photo of a NOS tire (see below):

If this number was on the tires when the car left the factory I persume you would lose condition points if these are not on the tires anymore. How much would this deduction be?

greetings,
Rob.

[Jack H.]

Re: Tire condition points

That would be a judge's call, Rob. Here's the 'boogie'....

The marks Roy shows are on the tire tread itself vs. side wall. NCRS rules for Flight Judging comprehend the car being shown in 'as delivered' condition, repleat with then current dealer prep actions. These would have included the installation/setup of items shipped from the factory inside the car (wheel covers, Etc.) as well as wash/wax/buff.

Bottom line, each car would have seen a LIMITED number of miles on it (transport from the assy line to the factory holding bin, from the holding bin onto truck/train, and some limited movement of the vehicle on the dealer's lot; perhaps even a test drive or two). The odds that all four mounted tires would still have their original mfgr's marks on the surface tread would legitimately vary from car to car based on HOW much use it saw prior to actual delivery to the first owner.

Certainly, this would be a more cogent issue for judging the spare tire. It would have been atypical for a dealer to have removed the spare and scrubbed/rubbed/used it vs. the four mounted tires! Expect to see some variance from judge to judge in this area as well as the presense of injection 'neerdles' from the tire mfgr process.

Personally, I look at the spare with more scrutiny than the mounted tires based on what could have been 'typical' for their condition as originally delivered subject to then current dealer prep actions. I'd expect to see 'neerdles' and mfgr marks (including the blue dye/paint over white walls for UV protection) on the spare but not necessarily on the mounted tires.

If all five tires are absent ALL of these 'originality' aspects, but otherwise show no appreciable wear, I might take a judging point or two for ALL FIVE tires since there IS a visually distinguishable difference from typical, new, factory fresh production condition. But, if I see a set of five real McCoy original, non-DOT, tires installed without these aspects there's a good chance my judges eyes just might 'tear up' to the point that I miss seeing their absense!!!!

[Roy B.]

Re: Tire condition points

Don't worry , judges are only interested in paint over spray, paper tags and caulk markings at this point