1960 original firestone Tires

[erick holover]

How do I tell the difference between original, made in 1960 Firestone tires that originally went on my 60, from newer ones or even reproduction ones? I want a set of original tires for my Bowtie candidate and do not know how to tell the difference. Are the tires date coded? Thank you.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Trying to 'build' a Bowtie (or Star) car is not really cricket.

[Gene B.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Mike is right, but to answer your question. Original would have a date code. I woudl ask a tire shop they can tell you date codes. A repo would have DOT in raised letters on the inboard side of the tire.

[Diamondback Classic Tires]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Most Reproduction Firestone tires start with the DOT #F4....
Those of you with military backgrounds may find that ironic. Also the DOT code will have a date in it yymmdd.
RON

[Chris H.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

This may be a dumb question but how many bowtie cars of C1 era actually have the original tires? I can see possibly a spare but all 5?

Chris

[Steven S.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

In bowtie judging, they are to be the tires that came with the car. If the car has say, 30,000 miles, we would expect to see almost bald tires with no DOT markings. If I see perfect new looking tires and a car with 30,000 miles, I know they did not come with the car and a fail would be marked for the tire line.

Steve

[Chris H.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

But how many have the original tires? I would think they would be rotted no matter how it was stored and low mileage.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Exactly! Any originals would (in 99% of cases) be long gone and the odds of finding 5 identical originals genuinely belonging to that very car would be astronomical.

Seeing a car that's been 'built' to get a Star or Bowtie award defats the credibility of the owner, the vehicle, and the award.

[Rick S.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

I don't have a Bowtie car and do not know the Bowtie requirements but as Chris has asked, how many cars would have original tires and would this prohibit one from obtaining a Bowtie award?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Prohibit? NO WAY! The question becomes, are the tires REALISTICALLY original to the car.

I'll give a few examples...(sort of made up in my head; darn close to the truth, though...).

Mike Yager brings his 3800 mile 1954 Corvette out for Bowtie judging. (I know he has one approximately this mileage; it's just an example). On it are old, cracked whitewall tires that appear, well, 51 years old. The car has been stored inside its entire life, and even the paint appears very nice. So are the tires original? I'd say yes.

Ed Foss shows up with a 4 mile (!) Sunflower Yellow 1972 LS-5 for Bowtie Judging. On the car are 4 correct manufacturer blackwall tires, all date coded 1972. In fact, there are remnants of the rubber "teats" on the tires. So are the tires original? I'd say yes.

Patrick Hulst drives up in his 1972 Sunflower Yellow 1972 coupe with 60,700 miles. On the car are 4 blackwall tires, all correct manufacturer, all with 1972 dates appropriate to the car. They appear to have most if not all of their original tread left. So are the tires original? No. Patrick loses the line item of tires in Bowtie Judging.

OK, actually Patrick showed up with BFGoodrich tires, as he knew he'd lose the tire item anyway in Bowtie Judging, and who wants to drive on 30 year old tires?

Patrick

[Rick S.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Patick,
I'm not into Bowtie awards but figure if I read your posts and posts from others I'll absorpe something into this peabrain of mine. Thanks for your example and I'm starting to "get it".

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

Rick,

I LOVE original cars. As a result, I'm "into" the Bowtie Award and even purchased my 72 coupe just to run it through the system and win the award. My friend owned the car and didn't really have the time or dedication to do it, although he knew it had potential. So, I bought it and did it.

Bowtie can be thought of with two questions:
1. Is this element (part, paint, item) original to the car?
and
2. As shown is the element able to be used for further research and education?

So, if you have an original item with the original finish (even if worn) it will qualify. If you have an original item that does NOT have the original finish (i.e. it's been repainted or replated or whatever) then it does not qualify. Every item on the car is examined, just like Flight judging, but it only passes or fails. Replaced items "fail" the test, as do items that do not "fit" with the car. So, my car was shown with street tires and current ACDelco oil and air filters in place. After all, at 60,700 miles, the originals SHOULD have been replaced.

That's the short version of it.

Patrick

[Bob B.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

This happened over 10 years ago, I know of a owner who paid $10,000 for a set of NOS tires that were correctly dated for his 67 Coupe. He was going for Top Flight and wanted it properly restored.
I also know of a owner who removed the original tires off his corvetee and over the years he drove the car some years more then others, then he put back the original tires on his corvette and now the mileage is in the low 30's. But his tires look brand new and yes they were the same tires that the factory installed, he even mark the position of each so they could be reinstalled at the correct location.
Bob Beck

[Bob B.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires

This happened over 10 years ago, I know of a owner who paid $10,000 for a set of NOS tires that were correctly dated for his 67 Coupe. He was going for Top Flight and wanted it properly restored.
I also know of a owner who removed the original tires off his corvette and over the years he drove the car, some years more then others, then he put back the original tires on his corvette and now the mileage is in the low 30's. But his tires look brand new and yes they were the same tires that the factory installed, he even mark the position of each so they could be reinstalled at the correct location.
Bob Beck

[Bob B.]

Re: 1960 original firestone Tires *NM*