69 Spare tire

[Erv M.]

I have exhausted the archives creating a state of confusion concerning spare tires for a Feb 69 car. Would someone please give me a simple answer.

FACTS

I do not have an original tire. Need to buy a modern spare for judging. I will not be driving on it, just for judging. It is my understanding that the coker tires, etc will not fit in the spare carrier. Goodyear still makes the radial 215 70R 15.

What should I buy for the most possible points for my circumstances?

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

The Kelsey Goodyears will fit fine in the spare tub

[Pat M.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

Erv - I believe you will lose significant points if you get judged with a radial for a spare.

My spare is a repo Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread F70-15 I bought from Kelsey Tire, and I've lost few if any points after two shows. It fits perfectly in the spare carrier of my 1970. I'm not positive, but I don't think the 69 carrier should be any different. I'm sure others will chime in to clarify this.

Patrick Moresi #45581

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

The repro tires should fit fine in your spare tub, but don't expect a 215 70R 15 to fit...this tire size was not installed on 69s originally. The original tire size on 69s was F70 X 15.

You can spend a lot of money for a thirty eight year old tire, but it's only going to help you with the spare points...condition points also remain to be determined. For the money, my preference would be to just get a set of five repro tires; you'll take some deduct on the repros, but not too significant. Then, if you need to use the spare, you can do so comfortably.

If you have 215 70R 15 tires on the car for judging, expect somewhat stiffer deducts for using non-original tires...in that case, I can't say if the 215 70R 15 will fit in the tub or not.

The last I heard, the repro tire of choice for configuration accuracy would be the Goodyear repro by Kelsey Tire.

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

How does the car drive with these repos? I have Goodrich 245 60R 15 on now and it drives like a dream

[Lyndon S.]

[Pat M.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

Erv - I completely agree with Kelly. I loved the look of the repos so much I drove my car with them for months trying to live with them. I couldn't. The ride on less-than-perfect roads was so bad it actually felt unsafe, and it really detracted from my enjoyment of driving the car. I went back to radials and couldn't be happier. Patrick Moresi #45581

[Warren F.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

I just sold 6 original dated Goodyear Wide Tread F 70 15's off my car and put Goodyear Eagle GT II 225 70 15s on it including a spare. I lived with the original tires on the car for 7 years, they look perfect on the car, just the enjoyment of it sucked. The car drives like a dream now, I'm very happy I did the change.

[David B.]

Re: 69 Spare tire

I have 255-60R-15 Goodyear Eagle GTII's on my '69 and the ride is very nice also. The spare is smaller to fit in the tub.