Goodyear Bluestreaks

[George J.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Can someone detail the differences in the Blue Streak racing tires of the past and the reproductions of today? Are the differeneces only cosmetic, or structural, as well?
Also, can you detail what the safety considerations are regarding using these on the street. Are the considerations any different than back in the sixties? I would love to run those on my '65.

George
31887

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

With a little Googling you can download the GY racing tire catalog, which includes their currently produced tires for vintage racing.

Racing tire development was very rapid beginning in the mid sixties. The NOS Blue Streaks that Rex Turner and I have are size 7.00-15 - about 27" OD and about 6" tread width. These tires are '63-'64 vintage and would look very good on KOs or 6" Torq-Thrusts. Very "period".

The current vintage Blue Streak that will fit a C2 without modifications is the 5.50-15 G-12. They are about 25.5" diameter with 6.6" tread width, and will work fine on 5.5 or 6.0" wheels.

This tire is somewhat later - maybe '65. It's tough to peg the exact vintage of the design because racing tires were evolving so quickly beginning in the mid-sixties.

These tires are not DOT approved. They have thin sidewalls that leak air rapidly and can be easily damaged by hitting curbs. They also puncture easily, so you would only want to use them for local driving close to home. Also they are low cord angle bias-ply so the ride will be like wooden wheels, but once warmed up, they will have better grip than any road tire.

Duke

[George J.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Duke,
thanks. I did look at the on-line catalog, but it was sorely lacking in info. In fact, they list versions in the picture and then no corresponding sizes in the tables. As far as using them on the road, they don't sound too practical what with all of the junk on the roads. It would be nice if they made a street version of these with the same look and a V-speed rating.

George
31887

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

The GY racing tire catalog I am referring to is a downloadable pdf. The first tire on the spec page - page 17 of the pdf - has the basic specifications for the 5.50-15 G-12 - about the same as what other tire manufacturers offer - and a picture of the G-12 tread pattern is on page 15.

Duke

[George J.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Duke,
that's odd. Here is the link to the pdf guide on their website that I have. Is this what you are seeing? I get completely different page numbers.

http://racegoodyear.com/tires/pdf/Sports_MSRP_05JAN11.pdf

George

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

It's probably what I downloaded last week.

The "pdf page number" in the pdf page box is not the same as the page number in the image.

The pdf page numbers I previously reported - 15 and 17 correspond to image pages 23 and 25.

Duke

[George J.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Duke,
I see the page numbers you're referring to, but still no listing for the G12A and only one for the G12.

George

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

There is no more G12A even though there is a photo of such on the tread photo page.

I am talking about the 5.50-15 G12, which is the first line item of the specs page.

duke

[Jon M.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Does anyone have pictures of what the "Cobra" tread pattern looks like for the Bluestreaks. The Goodyear website does not show a picture of that tread pattern. Yes, I know this is too wide for an unmodified C2 body but was just curious anyway. Thanks.

[Rex T.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Jon, here is a link that will show the "Cobra" tire...............

http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/pricing.html

[Jon M.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Thanks, Rex. I appreciate the link. They look like the G12 tread pattern but it looks like the lettering on the side is larger. Would you please post a picture of the tread pattern on your original 7.00 x 15s when time allows?

[Rex T.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Here ya go Jon........................................

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Rex - do your tires have an "R-number" molded into the sidewall, like R4?

These tires are 1963-64 vintage. I almost bought a set in 1964 to replace the OE General Jetaires that I chunked hot lapping my SWC at Kent, but I went with Michelin X radials instead. Given that I lived in Seattle at the time, I figured the excellent wet grip and durability of the Michelins would be better for my driving conditions and undergraduate engineering student budget.

I believe the R4 version is a fairly hard compound and were considered dry/intermediate. I think there was also a full wet version. I don't remember the R-number, but the tread had siping, which are small slits in additional to the grooves and a softer compound.

These tires became obsolete very quickly as racing tires got wider and lower with softer compounds. The cord angle (measured from the circumferential centerline) is about 25 degrees versus about 35 degrees for road tires. As a result, the sidewalls are very stiff. The cord is nylon and I think four plys.

The basic construction was more akin to contemporaneous truck tires than pass. car tires.

No doubt a set of these tires on KOs or Torq-Thrusts is very period cool!

Duke

[Jon M.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

Thanks for posting the tread pattern, Rex. I'm not sure I've seen that style of tread before. My NOS Bluestreaks below are the R-4 tread pattern for '67.

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Bluestreaks

I can't make out the size from the photos. What size are they?

Vintage is probably late sixties - very different than early sixties.

Duke