Early Gatorbacks

[Joe C.]

I have a set of original 255/50 VR-16 Gatorbacks on my '85, which look very nice, with no cracking, but the tread is dangerously low. It's scary how easily I can get the tail hung out, and the beast is no longer much fun to push to its "limit".

John Kelsey has been away for the last couple days, and I am anxious to know if there are any plans in the pipeline to start repopping these tires. I just unwrapped the car for the summer, and want to buy a new set of shoes. My gut tells me to buy a set of F1 Eagles, or better, but if the repops are imminent, then I MIGHT be talked into old fashioned (and dangerous in the wet) Gators. This car is a pristine, original owner car, and might someday appear on the NCRS Cavalcade Of Stars.

Joe

[Harmon C.]

Re: Early Gatorbacks

Joe I know of no radial repops 1973(The first year for radials) and up for Corvettes. I was told radials cost way too much too tool up to make for the demand. They made some radials for older Corvettes but demand was high for them. Lyle

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Early Gatorbacks

Buy the good tires. If you have the bad tires, your car may not survive to the day you want to show it off. I see this type of debate all the time on older Corvettes that the owners want to keep original.

Buy an extra set of wheels, put the good modern tires on, and drive the car. You will enjoy it much more and be safe.

Then on the original wheels, put the NOS, the old originals you still have, or the reproduction tires. Bag them in dark garbage bags, store them in a cool dark place (basement), and save them for the shows.

Now this isn't the case with an '84, which we all know is near the bottom of the market right now, but many have a problem spending an extra $500 - $1000 to do this so they can enjoy and preserve a $30,000 or more car. Penny wise, pound foolish.

[Joe C.]

Re: Early Gatorbacks

Mike,

Appreciate the comments, and I agree that a good set of tires is absolutely the best bolt on perf bang for the buck. Now, I have no problem shelling out for my '85, but I can't find Gatorbacks, not NOS, not repops. I would not be inclined to trust NOS tires, even if I could find them.
I'm gonna talk to John Kelsey tomorrow, and ask him if he has any plans on repopping these anytime soon.
I don't drive the car much, anymore, and if I can't find a new set of Gators soon, then you can rest assured that I'll fit the car with the very best Ultra High Perf tire I can find.
There were 2 major problems with the Gators, even when new:
1. They "sing" loudly.
2. They have very poor wet traction.

So, in a way, I am hoping that they will never be reproduced, thus leaving us Vettenuts to replace with better rubber.

Joe