NCRS Tire expertise

[Keith B.]

I own a low mile 66 L-36 that I bought from the org 77 yr old owner last summer. I pulled my tire out of the spare hub underneath my car and found a very old, dirty bias ply tire. I still keep in touch with the org owner and he tells me this is his org spare when he bought the car from Luby Chevrolet on 66-4-21 in Colorado. However, it does not match with the data in my TIM - Judging guide. Can someone here or a judge tell me if it is possible that this was a factory spare tire. Markings as follows:

MILLER PREMIUM IMPERIAL (HM)
7.75 - 15"
4 ply nylon rating - tubeless
(J48L198) Made in USA

BLACKside of tire reads: P-272BT A-422E-1 E-15444
NO DOT #'s on tire.

This is a 5/8 inch White wall bias ply tire that matches my dealer delivery photos from April of 1966. Tire mounted on my 5 1/2 std steel wheel.

Did or could the factory have used this brand of tire other than the std. Goodyear, Firestone, US Royal, BF Goodrich, General Jet, or Goldwall tires.

[Dick W.]

Re: NCRS Tire expertise

No such luck Keith. The manufacturers you listed were suppliers to Chevrolet at various periods of time. Miller was a low cost replacement, during that era probably $20-25. The reason I know? They were the cheapest tires I could buy during that era.

[Duke W.]

Re: NCRS Tire expertise

I recall Miller as an "off-brand" replacement tire. GM never used them as OE. Chances are that Miller, long gone for who knows how long, contracted the manufacture of their tires to a major tire manufacturer.

I expect they were a marketing company that did not make their own tires, but I remember hearing their really stupid radio or TV ads 35 or more years ago - some clown faking a German accent as I recall.

I can't decode tires that old as the coding is not in the standard format and nomenclature that was specified by DOT circa 1970, but someone might be able to do so or direct you to some decoding resources.

Duke

[mike mccagh]

Re: NCRS Tire expertise

agree with dickie and duke.as i recall, Miller was one of many "off brands" manufactured by the Kelly Springfield tire co. they had a 1000+ man factory here in Cumberland till the late 80's when they shut her down. have a lot of neighbors who worked their butts off for kelly only to end up with the shaft and a lb of white petrolatum. mike