Original 1972 spare tire

[Patrick H.]

Last weekend the owner of the orange 72 stopped by to check on the progress of his car. After our meeting I drove over to his mother's house to pick up a few items he had including the spare tire and carrier.

Based on the condition of the undercarriage I expected to see a ratty, worn tire near the end of its life. What I found instead is a beautiful original tire and rim that was probably only mounted once and driven a very short distance. It still has ink on the tread from the factory; you can see it if you look hard and I'm not about to scrub it and wash that off.

Take a look:

[Edward J.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Patrick, What is the date on the rally wheel?

[Joe L.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Last weekend the owner of the orange 72 stopped by to check on the progress of his car. After our meeting I drove over to his mother's house to pick up a few items he had including the spare tire and carrier.

Based on the condition of the undercarriage I expected to see a ratty, worn tire near the end of its life. What I found instead is a beautiful original tire and rim that was probably only mounted once and driven a very short distance. It still has ink on the tread from the factory; you can see it if you look hard and I'm not about to scrub it and wash that off.

Take a look:

Patrick------


The original spare on my 1969 is in about the same condition. It's a Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread, though, and is blackwall. It has, at most, about 50 road miles on it.

Also, I can see part of a word "Supe" on the sidewall. Is the complete word Sup R Belt or something close to that?

[Terry M.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Patrick------
Also, I can see part of a word "Supe" on the sidewall. Is the complete word Sup R Belt or something close to that?

Not if it is the original tire. I think the rest of that is "r Sport," it will be interesting to see what Patrick has to say.

[Tom M.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Not if it is the original tire. I think the rest of that is "r Sport," it will be interesting to see what Patrick has to say.

Thats Firestone tire made the 44th week of 71

[Edward J.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Terry, I think its says- super sport

[Terry M.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Terry, I think its says- super sport

We are saying the same thing, Ed, I just supplied only the missing portion the letters "Supe" are already in the photo.

[Joe L.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Not if it is the original tire. I think the rest of that is "r Sport," it will be interesting to see what Patrick has to say.

Terry------


Yes, I'm almost positive it's "Super Sports", which is what it should be. In fact, I think the belted tires were "Sup-R-Belt". Since we can see an "e" after the "p", it almost has to be "Super Sports" as it should be.

The nine rib pattern also identifies it as the nylon cord, non-belted F-70-15 Firestone tire.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Super Sports

Can't read the date on the rim. Too much paint.

[Mark D.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

Too much paint.

There's something you don't hear too often. Guy must have been holding the paint trigger as he was lighting his cigarette.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

There's something you don't hear too often. Guy must have been holding the paint trigger as he was lighting his cigarette.

Yup.

I looked through and you can make out only 2 or 3 characters.

[Jack H.]

Re: Original 1972 spare tire

I have an almost identical 'mate' to this one in my garage stache. The tire is a Goodyear and both rubber and wheel are date coded from the early June, 1972 era (dates differ by roughly 2 weeks).

I picked it up at a local swap meet from a fellow who said he bought a Mark of Excellence '72, drove it, used the spare ONCE to run about 35 miles to a tire shop to have a flat repaired. He said he sold the car (to 'upgrade' to a classic Ferrari) and forgot to put the factory original spare back in the tire tub...