Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

[Bill E.]

I Have A 72 Corvette And I Have The Orig. Spare White Stripe F 70-15 Firestone Wide Oval Tire. I Like To Buy 4 F70-15 Firestone White Letters Tires Wide Ovals And Keep My Spare.i Like The White Letters Better On The Car Then White Stripe.would I Be Deduct Points By Having Orig. White Stripe Tire Not Maching With The The 4 White Letter Tires.thanks Bill

[Terry M.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Bill,
The spare does NOT have to match the road tires in NCRS judging. We do that to encourage folks to bring their original spare tires to the show. We want to see them.

You should be aware you will receive a deduction for the Firestone reproduction tires based on their configuration. The available Firestone reproduction tires (unless something has changed very recently) are belted construction -- and they say SUP-R-BELT on the sidewall. Original Firestone Corvette tires say "Nylon Cord" on the sidewall (as no doubt your spare does), and they are a different internal construction than the belted tires.

You will receive less of a deduction for your road tires with the Goodyear reproduction tires because they are a more accurate reproduction. While you may be offended by the fact that the spare is a Firestone and the road tires are Goodyear -- the NCRS judges will not be.

[Bill E.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Hi. Terry Thank You For The Information .thanks Bill

[Don L.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Bill, Kelsey Tire carries the Goodyear reproduction tire, and they come in whitewall and white letter, so you'll have a better/closer copy of orig equip and a good choice regarding sidewall treatment. The offered redline Goodyear repro from Kelsey is nice, however not correct for '72.

Good luck!

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Terry,
I have a similar question I'd like your expertise on:

I have the reproduction Firestone also for judging, but I have the red line style which was not offered in 1970. My car came with whitewall Firestone and I have the original spare. My quesiton is, would I be any better off having white wall reproduction vs. the red line repro?

Thanks,
Greg

[Terry M.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Greg,
I don't think it will matter which side wall configuration you have since the Firestone reproduction tire was never used on an original Corvette.

I must point out the nuances of exterior judging is not my strong suit, so let's see what some others have to say. Especially someone who is willing to look up the answer in the Judging Reference Manual.

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Well I've looked this up myself, and am just unsure where I fit in the deduction. It is either 20% deduct or 30% deduct.

20 % deduct is a repro OEM brand, type and size (which I have) that varies SLIGHTLY from original in design, construction, material, tread pattern/width, white (or colored) wall width, style lettering, or pattern.

My white wall width is close to original, but the COLOR is not. It is not really addressing the color of the white (or colored) wall, just the width.

30 % deduct is the same as above that differs CONSIDERABLY for the same criteria.

So I could be sure to get a 30 % deduct and possibly a 20% deduct. Which would you all say?

My option is to paint the red lines white and be more certain of the 20% deduct. Seems to me I could be judged either way, but the language does not really address the incorrect wall color.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Greg,

Which exact Firestone tire do you have? Any pics of the sidewall nomenclature?

I'd suspect a 30% deduction, but it may be more if you have the tire that says "Sup-R-Belt" as that tire alone is a 30% deduction. Adding the incorrect stripe on top of the 30% is probably 40-50%.

Patrick

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Patrick,
You have burst my bubble. They are Sup-R-Belt. I bought them early-on thinking they would be good for judging. At the chapter meet they deducted 20%, but I'm planning to go to a regional this year and want to be make sure I am prepared for more stringent evaluation. Looks like I'm in trouble on this one.
Greg

[Patrick H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Patrick,
You have burst my bubble. They are Sup-R-Belt. I bought them early-on thinking they would be good for judging. At the chapter meet they deducted 20%, but I'm planning to go to a regional this year and want to be make sure I am prepared for more stringent evaluation. Looks like I'm in trouble on this one.
Greg

I judged exterior last June at a Regional, and learned first hand that the Sup-R-Belt is a 30% deduction on a 1969 - which had redlines. That's why I guessed at 40-50% for you. The 68-9 manual specifically mentions the Sup-R-Belt tire but the 70-72 does not. Perhaps that should be added as a comment in the next manual.

I'd be prepared for that, and if you get a smaller deduction just be quiet.

Patrick

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Patrick and others:

I've been told the Firestone wide oval RWL tires from Coker are the second best choice from the Goodyear repros. Now, I have a side-by-side comparison of the RWL next to my red-lines. They are the same in every respect other than the red line vs. RWL. Both say Sup-r-belt, both are marked Super Sports Wide Oval. Treads and logos are an exact match.

The only difference from my original spare is the Sup-r-belt marking vs. "nylon cord".

So, let's say I painted the red lines white. Then I have the proper color trim for 1970.

Is the Coker Firestone re-pro surely a 30% deduct? Is it truly the next best tire besides the Goodyear re-pro?I am not spending the money for Goodyear repros, so I was hoping for the next best thing.

I'm all set to complete a set of Firestone RWL Wide Oval from Coker at Carlisle but now second guessing myself as I already have the same tire mounted and balanced on my original wheels.

[Terry M.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

Patrick and others:

The only difference from my original spare is the Sup-r-belt marking vs. "nylon cord".

I think there is a difference in the tread pattern, and number of groves also. Look a little more carefully at the tread pattern.

And there is a date difference as well, but that is a minor point deduction.

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

That's true those are differences from the original spare. My main question now is between the Coker RWL and the Coker red-lines.

[Dick W.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

30% would be the appropiate deduction

[Greg H.]

Re: Information On Tires For Top Flight Judging

30% would be the appropiate deduction

Dick,

Do you mean to say this for either of the Firestone re-pro tires I have described?

Thanks,
Greg