Goodyear vs. Firestone?

[Robert G.]

[Don H.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

If Firestone was not an OEM tire for that year vette, then Firestones would take a deduction in judging. Check the Standard Deduction Guidelines for tires to see how much that deduction would be. Even if there would be a deduction, if you work for Firestone, and you want to run Firestones on your car, you should do so, and don't be concerned how they would fare in judging. In the big scheme of things, does say a 30 point deduction out of 4510 possible points in flight judging make that big of a difference? It wouldn't to me.

[Robert G.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

You're in luck, according to the TIM&JG, '73s came with Goodyear and Firestone, Steel Radial 500, tires.

[Russ S.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Robert, I assume you know that the spare pictured is not an original 73 tire.

[Robert G.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Robert, I assume you know that the spare pictured is not an original 73 tire.

[Robert G.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

You're in luck, according to the TIM&JG, '73s came with Goodyear and Firestone, Steel Radial 500, tires.

[Joe L.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

i know this is a bias ply Goodyear. The car was made October 72. I have not pulled the tank sticker to find out exactly what was on it. I guess it could have had the recalled Firestone’s and just had Goodyear’s put on it. The spare appears to the original as the car has 35000 miles on it.

Robert------


I have no knowledge of any 1973's having been originally equipped with bias ply tires. The style tire you picture was last used for the 1972 model year and, to my knowledge, there was no "carry-over" into 1973. Among other reasons, 1973's were advertised as having radial tires.

[Robert G.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Thank you joe. I really want to put Firestone’s on it. I wonder why it has a bias ply spare? It has chalk marks on it.

Robert------

Maybe some previous owner needed a spare tire and got one from another Corvette way before the value of these things went through the roof. Only Corvettes used these model tires.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Check the DOT code on the tire, and the date code on the rim.

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

With that being said I could put Firestone’s and it wouldn’t matter as long it was an option for that year?

There will be deductions, depending on the construction and size of the tire you mount as it deviates from originals. Since the originals were radials, you can mount a Firestone radial. You would get a 60% deduction for current day replacement OEM brand tires, as long as the sizing and sidewall is like original. But if you had a non-Firestone or Goodyear, the deduction would be 75%. All the details are in the Standard Deduction Guidelines in the Judging Guide.

[Robert G.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Patrick I definitely will check the dot date codes and rim date codes for sure. The car will be delivered early next week. My brother James went to look at the car for me. He has an original paint 1971 brands Hatch green LT-1. I am going to carefully clean and document everything on this car.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

Patrick I definitely will check the dot date codes and rim date codes for sure. The car will be delivered early next week. My brother James went to look at the car for me. He has an original paint 1971 brands Hatch green LT-1. I am going to carefully clean and document everything on this car.

I met your brother and judged his car in Cincinnati last month.

[Wes S.]

Re: Goodyear vs. Firestone?

73's could come with Firestone 500's. These tires almost destroyed Firestone as they became know as exploding 500's.
They were recalled and replaced. So originals are impossible to find.