53-55 original spare tires
I suspect that 54 & 55 spares came with no wheel weights and the green (or possibly blue, depending on the tire manufacturer) protectant still on the whitewall. 53 may be the same but since the assembly line process differed probably not.
From factory photos we know the tires were spun balanced after being installed on the car. That would not include the spare. Thus no wheel weights are logical on the spare. Plus I have never found wheel weights installed on original spares on super low mileage unrestored cars.
Factory black and white photos show the whitewalls to be very dirty when installed. But by the time the cars get loaded for shipment the tires look like they have been cleaned. I suspect the cause of the very dirty look is actually that the green protectant is still on the whitewall and its not dirt or greasy hand prints. If the tires are put on and cleaned later that implies the protectant on the spare was never cleaned off prior to leaving the factory. The two lowest mileage 54s I've examined still had protectant on the whitewall.
Here are photos of a late 54 with 3087 miles.
Yager 54 132.jpgYager 54 133.jpg
If you have information to share on this subject please jump in.
From factory photos we know the tires were spun balanced after being installed on the car. That would not include the spare. Thus no wheel weights are logical on the spare. Plus I have never found wheel weights installed on original spares on super low mileage unrestored cars.
Factory black and white photos show the whitewalls to be very dirty when installed. But by the time the cars get loaded for shipment the tires look like they have been cleaned. I suspect the cause of the very dirty look is actually that the green protectant is still on the whitewall and its not dirt or greasy hand prints. If the tires are put on and cleaned later that implies the protectant on the spare was never cleaned off prior to leaving the factory. The two lowest mileage 54s I've examined still had protectant on the whitewall.
Here are photos of a late 54 with 3087 miles.
Yager 54 132.jpgYager 54 133.jpg
If you have information to share on this subject please jump in.
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