C1 - Date that tire!

[Dave F.]

I'm wondering if I should keep the spare tire on a recently aquired 1959 with wide wheels. The tire on there right now has the following markings:

Front:
General - SafetyJet
nylon
tubeless
7.75-15 replaces 6.70-15

Back
4 ply nylon
Pat. No. 2964083
Made in USA
DK 3617-1
It has V1 inside an oval and 000609A80B inside a rectangle

How old is this tire? Is it correct for the car? If having the car judged would I be better off to leave on this old tire or put a new "vintage" tire on it?

Thanks.

-Dave, Seattle

p.s. I don't know why my email address won't show. It's 68Dave@comcast.net

[Dave F.]

Re: C1 - Date that tire!

Darn, no tire historians out there?

I forgot to mention that it has a 9/16" wide whitewall also.

-Dave

[Jack H.]

Re: C1 - Date that tire!

Your post is a bit confusing...should I keep the existing spare? Keep it for what purpose?

First, if you're thinking about judging, the tire is the wrong size for your '59 (SB 6.70x15) as Corvette didn't start using 7.75x15 tires until 1965. Next, while General was a legitimate supplier to Corvette, they didn't come on board until 1962. Then, the tire they did supply was a Jet Air model, not a Safety Jet. When tire size changed to 7.75x15 in 1965, the General offering was a Jet Air II.

Yep, what's in your spare tub is a bona fide non-DOT tire (based on the code sequence inside the oval), but is not the right size for your car nor is it the right model. Further, it's not a correct match for any other Corvette. So, if the objective is to have the car judged, go lose the tire. If the objective is to have a spare that'll move you a few miles down the road, what you've got works...

[Dave F.]

Re: C1 - Date that tire!

Jack,

Thank you very much. That is exactly the information I was looking for. The spare tire is not in good enough shape to actually use it on the road. I just didn't want to pitch it if it was a legitimate tire for the era.

I will get rid of it and put on a correct vintage tire. (Although there doesn't seem to be a consensus as to what tire is correct for the 15 x 5.5 wheels from the factory.)

Thanks again!

-Dave