"Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

[Donald A.]

All

when reading the 70-72 tech/judging guide section on tires it talks about acceptable modern radial tires that have correct tread width and over all dimensions (215/70/r15).

I'm wanting to buy new tires and would like to meet these requirements as best as possible.

Can an anyone provide specific tire recommendations that meet judging standards???

I just got the car and it has virtually new tires on it but they date from 2008 and I'm just a bit concerned about running them at any great distance or speed.

[Mike F.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

To lose the least amount of points you would need to go with bias-ply tires. Coker sells the repro Firstone Wide Ovals, Kelsey sells the repro Goodyear Wide Treads. I believe the Goodyears judge a bit better than the Firestones.

If you want a radial tire, any Firestone or Goodyear in the 215/70/R15 size should/would lose the same amount of points, but the point loss would be more than the bias-ply's.

[Kurt G.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Goodyear, anything. Will balance, stay round and will last a long time.

[Patrick H.]

Tires

The problem is that your options for a modern tire make a very short list. Search the Archives for 215 vs 225 width discussions as well, as the 215 is not always "the" tire. Most tires of these sizes are adequate-at-best passenger car tires, truck tires or snow tires. Tire Rack, Discount Tire and others online can give you an idea what options are available.


Good luck.


Patrick

[Bill C.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

i had Goodyears on my 72'

I drove that car ALL OVER the place... and it was not really all that bad.
You just have to remember how to anticipate how the car will track in the tire ruts. LOL

And the new rubber compounds are a million times better now - so if you properly inflate the tires you will get pretty decent mileage from them.
But at $265 per tire -- I would minimize the mileage

[Donald A.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Thanks for the reply.

I went to local tire shop and could not find anything in raised white letter from Goodyear. Main thing I found was BF Goodrich TA's

is there a Goodyear radial RWT out there??

thanks

[Terry M.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Thanks for the reply.

I went to local tire shop and could not find anything in raised white letter from Goodyear. Main thing I found was BF Goodrich TA's

is there a Goodyear radial RWT out there??

thanks

John Kelsey is a long time NCRS member and he advertises in The Driveline

http://www.kelseytire.com/flash/flash.html

John's reproduction Goodyear tires are available from any Goodyear retailer. They just may not know about them because the market is so small and specialized. John's tires are constructed with Nylon Cord construction and thus they will behave just like the original tires. They also result in the least deduction during judging.

Many people find the original performance of these tires lacking for recreational driving and thus they have two sets of wheels and tires - one set of radials for driving and a set of John's tires for show.

[Gary H.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Slightly off topic, but good for a side by side comparison of the real difference in size and tread of modern tires. My radials are 245 bfg. I was swapping out my tires before loading up on my trailer today.
20140621_191424.jpg
20140621_191433.jpg

[Donald A.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Gary

what a difference. Thanks for posting. Still undecided and looking. What did the original Firestone's look like?

[Michael W.]

Re: "Acceptable" modern tires for 70 LS5

Gary

what a difference. Thanks for posting. Still undecided and looking. What did the original Firestone's look like?

Be aware that Gary's radials are 245s not the 215s which are the closest equivalent to the OEM tires. Big difference in width.