Texas Safety Inspection
My '65 Coupe recently failed the Texas safety inspection at a Goodyear store. The technician told me the reason was that the 7.75 x15 bias-ply rear tires had less than the required 2/32" of tread. When I questioned his statement, he showed me that the very inside "rib" (?) of the tire tread was worn down. All the other parts of the tire had plenty of tread. This wear on the inside of the tire was probably caused by the factory rear suspension setting using negative camber.
Well, I ordered four new repro bias-belted tires ($675) so that all four would match. I took the new tires to my restoration shop for mounting on my repro KO wheels. When the resto shop owner asked me why I was putting on new tires, I told him that it was because of failing the state inspection. He was aghast and told me that there was no way those tires he just removed would cause my car to fail the state safety inspection. He told me to speak to the manager of the Goodyear store.
Today, I spoke to the Goodyear store manager and told him what I was told. I reminded him that I owned five cars and did a great deal of business with his shop every year, oil changes, state inspections, tires, A/C service, etc. He was adamant that the condition of my car's rear tires would cause my car to fail at any shop that performed state inspections. He said that they, by law, had to go by the state book. I asked him to show me the book. He turned to the appropriate page in the state inspection book and indeed, it clearly stated that the tread on all tires must be at least 2/32" deep. However, as I then pointed out to the manager, it continued to state that this minimum depth was as measured from the middle, or center, of the tire. When I asked the manager to read that last bit, he bristled and did not agree with me that his shop made an error in the interpretation of the state book.
What do you guys think about this? -Clark
Well, I ordered four new repro bias-belted tires ($675) so that all four would match. I took the new tires to my restoration shop for mounting on my repro KO wheels. When the resto shop owner asked me why I was putting on new tires, I told him that it was because of failing the state inspection. He was aghast and told me that there was no way those tires he just removed would cause my car to fail the state safety inspection. He told me to speak to the manager of the Goodyear store.
Today, I spoke to the Goodyear store manager and told him what I was told. I reminded him that I owned five cars and did a great deal of business with his shop every year, oil changes, state inspections, tires, A/C service, etc. He was adamant that the condition of my car's rear tires would cause my car to fail at any shop that performed state inspections. He said that they, by law, had to go by the state book. I asked him to show me the book. He turned to the appropriate page in the state inspection book and indeed, it clearly stated that the tread on all tires must be at least 2/32" deep. However, as I then pointed out to the manager, it continued to state that this minimum depth was as measured from the middle, or center, of the tire. When I asked the manager to read that last bit, he bristled and did not agree with me that his shop made an error in the interpretation of the state book.
What do you guys think about this? -Clark
Comment