when did DOT begin?

[Jim D.]

I have a Firestone Special Delux, used, in my 67 spare tube. Appears that it has not been removed from the rim, Has a DOT dat of 147, My 67 came off the assembly line on June 1, 1967, 12th car that day. I read the DOT as 14th week of 67, or mid April 67. Am I right? Is it the original?

[Donald O.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

I have a Firestone Special Delux, used, in my 67 spare tube. Appears that it has not been removed from the rim, Has a DOT dat of 147, My 67 came off the assembly line on June 1, 1967, 12th car that day. I read the DOT as 14th week of 67, or mid April 67. Am I right? Is it the original?

My besr guess is that the date you wrote is either 1977, 1987 or 1997.
My original 67 redlines do not have a DOT date on them.

Don

[Jim D.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

I was leaning towards 77 but found it very unusual to have a date that would be perfect for a June 1 car! Could not remember if DOT dating began in 67 or in 68. In Judging, Bowie Tie and/or BG Survivor should I use a Firestone 5/8 wsw radial or biasis ply. I do plan on driving the car some.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

The DOT came into existence on or about April 1, 1967 and by late 1967 had come up with a plan to code tires so that some sort of uniformity would exist to track tire manufacturers and dates of manufacture, etc for various safety related reasons. As such by the very early part of 1968 and possibly very late 1967 DOT markings started showing up on tires. A close friend has a 1968 BB car that he ordered when he was in VietNam and took delivery when he returned home. It has been in his garage out of service for over 25 yrs and with all original parts. He has Goodyear Speedway F-70-15 Redlines for the car, some of which were made in Feb-Mar 68 with DOT markings and two exact same tires with no DOT markings indicating they were possibly made in late 1967. It was during this time the DOT had a phase in period for what became mandatory markings by the introduction of the 1971 model year (late 1970).

[Dick W.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

I was leaning towards 77 but found it very unusual to have a date that would be perfect for a June 1 car! Could not remember if DOT dating began in 67 or in 68. In Judging, Bowie Tie and/or BG Survivor should I use a Firestone 5/8 wsw radial or biasis ply. I do plan on driving the car some.

In Bow Tie you will not get credit for either. The only tires that you would get credit for are the ones that came on the car.

[Dick W.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

The DOT came into existence on or about April 1, 1967 and by late 1967 had come up with a plan to code tires so that some sort of uniformity would exist to track tire manufacturers and dates of manufacture, etc for various safety related reasons. As such by the very early part of 1968 and possibly very late 1967 DOT markings started showing up on tires. A close friend has a 1968 BB car that he ordered when he was in Vietnam and took delivery when he returned home. It has been in his garage out of service for over 25 yrs and with all original parts. He has Goodyear Speedway F-70-15 Redlines for the car, some of which were made in Feb-Mar 68 with DOT markings and two exact same tires with no DOT markings indicating they were possibly made in late 1967. It was during this time the DOT had a phase in period for what became mandatory markings by the introduction of the 1971 model year (late 1970).

Vinnie et. al. I believe that the mandatory DOT specs and marking's began 1/1/68. Some early '68's have been observed with adhesive backed stickers with the DOT info. Apparently GY and Firestone phased in the nomenclature as the tire molds were refurbished.

[Jack H.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

Yes, and Vinnie, Chuck Berge and I saw one of these 'rare birds' on a '68 Shark brought from Belgium to the UK Chapter's first judging meet in 1998 at Danesfield House! The owner had NEVER dropped his spare tire tub before and when he did he was embarrassed by the dirt/dust and IMMEDIATELY began to clean his spare tire. I STOPPED him!

The car had a build date of 1/18/68, if memory serves, and the Goodyear wide oval had no DOT emboss on it but DID have a yellowed but readable paper label on the inside wall covered by clear plastic that was the DOT ID sequence for the tire...

[Tom R.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

hmmmm lurk5.gif

[Vinnie P.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

Jack,

I'm glad you remember that...my mind must have been elsewhere...can't recall it at all..tha's what happens when you get older...crs creeps up on you...

[Tom S.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

Very interesting read! Tom

[John H.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

The DOT-mandated standard format for the number, with the last three digits being the date, didn't start until May, 1971.

[Dick W.]

Re: when did DOT begin?

Jack,

I'm glad you remember that...my mind must have been elsewhere...can't recall it at all..tha's what happens when you get older...crs creeps up on you...

I am sure glad that I am not as old as you are!