One of my '64 FI, big brake tankers came with a vintage set of old racing tires, Firestone Sport Car "200"s, 6.50/6.70X15. They are in perfect shape but I was never sure exactly when they were used in the '60s. I found an old road test of a new '66 427 Corvette by Jerry Titus in the Sports Car Graphic magazine in Dec. 1965, where they were put on the car by Harry Mann Chevrolet to use in this road test, as they were the latest and best tires available. They cost an additional $205 when a new Corvette buyer swapped the Goodyear or other original equipment tires for these. These tires in this picture is what I have, good to be able to place them in some time period.TitusRT'66Corvette.jpg
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Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico -
Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
...any test data like acceleration performance and lateral g force?
Can you scan and post higher resolution version of the entire test that can be read?
As I recall what I related earlier those Firestone Sport Car 200 are the next generation of racing tire from my 7.00-15 Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special tires that are circa '62-'64 vintage, and mid-sixties is about the time racing tire technology in terms or dimensions, tread design, and rubber compounds began advancing at near warp speed. I recall you said the "200s" are about 26" OD with about 6.5" tread width compared to my Goodyear's 27"/6.0".
DukeLast edited by Duke W.; December 3, 2020, 07:28 PM. -
Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Yes Duke, I have all that and will post it up in higher rez......Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
I have that Sports Car Graphic and many other magazines. Wish I could go back in time.......Comment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Michael, a friend took delivery of his silver/red '64 FI coupe with P48's in fall '63. He immediately had dealer install the SC 200's. A year later he took delivery of same optioned '65 and added luggage rack. Duke, I have 6 well used GY's in garage I got from California decades ago.
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
p.s. Those Blue Streaks are still very sticky!Comment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Doug Hooper tested Firestone 200's on Dec. 19, 1962. The event was sponsored by Firestone at SEBRING race track. He also drove the Grand Sport clone that Zora brought to the track disguised as a 62 front clip. I have a photo somewhere in my dataOver 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Thanks Jim, that helps set the time frame very well for these tires.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Here is a higher rez scan of the road test, and the entire article, it is a great read and since Titus was a member of Carroll Shelby's racing team at this time, he was very impressed with the car and tire setup, BTW this car had a 4.11 rear end, and in the engine compartment picture, notice where the hood support is on this early '66, thanks Jack Morocco.Last edited by Michael J.; December 4, 2020, 10:06 AM.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
That's earlier than I thought for the Sports Car 200. I recall a photo of a SWC from the rear in Corvette News' coverage of Sebring '63. It clearly showed that the car was shod with the Firestone Super Sport 170T. They had a very distinctive tread pattern... almost like a snow tire and similar to the Pirelli CN36. I believe they dated to the late fifties.
So the Sport Car 200 must have replaced it as the latest for the '63 racing season.
DukeComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Thanks, that fits the time frame I have understood for these tires.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Duke: you have a PM. mike mccaghComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
I just spent five minutes dealing with the PM pages and see no message. The last one is from 2014. There was something about too many messages stored... whatever. I hate computers more every day. My phone number is
310
327
5527
There is no message machine. The best time to call is after sundown pacific time.
DukeComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Duke, I don't know if you got to read the whole article by Titus, but it starts by lamenting how GM left racing, and then being disappointed in the car they got to test, as it was not the "race prepped" 427 they had expected to get, which would be one of the 100 they were supposed to have built by January, 1966, to be homologated for SCCA and FIA racing. He had to settle for a "street" 427. I am assuming he meant they expected an L88, no doubt Harry Mann and his salesmen were hyping up that possibility to local racers. But of course since Titus was a member of Carroll Shelby's racing team, I suspect he wanted to throw some shade on GM and Zora.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Firestone Sport Car "200" tire research
Yes I read the article and also noted that various "weight savings" measures would bring weight down to 2600 pounds. I got a chuckle out of that.
Also the article talked about 1g cornering, but then the brake test was only 0.75g average over ten stops with no fade. Given an adequate braking system, which the C2 disk brake cars certainly have, braking and cornering acceleration should be about the same, with a slight edge to braking,, so something closer to 1g would be expected.
In any event, those tires would certainly been a lot sticker than any of the OE 7.75-15 choices.
DukeComment
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