Tire dating revisited

[Henry S.]

I have a BFG Silvertown spare tire that came with the 64 when we got it and I'm trying to figure the correct date. Below is a picture of the code. Since there is no DOT stamp on the tire it would have to be made before 70 or 71 when they started the DOT standard. The stamp on the tire is A323D004. Using the formula I found in the archives you use the last 3 (or 4 if after 2000) numbers with the first 2 being the week and the last one being the year. The way I figured the date was the 00 week of 64 (004) which I don't think is possible. Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions?? Thanks. Shooter

[Lynn H.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry,
The pre DOT tire codes are not that easy to decode. The actual TIC (tire identification code) changed quite a few times before manufacturers along with the DOT settled on a uniform code that lasted for more than a couple of years. In Rick Bizzoco's 1969 Stingray Guidebook there is a fairly detailed explanation of the changes that manufacturers along with the DOT went through. I believe the first year the DOT marking showed up on a Corvette Tire was 1969, but I do not have the book in front to me right now. If no one else chimes in, I will try to decode the number you provided later this evening.
Lynn

[Henry S.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry,
The pre DOT tire codes are not that easy to decode. The actual TIC (tire identification code) changed quite a few times before manufacturers along with the DOT settled on a uniform code that lasted for more than a couple of years. In Rick Bizzoco's 1969 Stingray Guidebook there is a fairly detailed explanation of the changes that manufacturers along with the DOT went through. I believe the first year the DOT marking showed up on a Corvette Tire was 1969, but I do not have the book in front to me right now. If no one else chimes in, I will try to decode the number you provided later this evening.
Lynn

Thanks Lynn.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

The date code system Henry mentions (last 3 or 4 numbers) began in early 1971. Since your tire has no DOT marks, it is older than that. I believe, working from memory, that Lynn is right that DOT labeling began at calendar year 1969.

Prior to the advent of the federally mandated date code system in early 1971 each tire manufacturer had their own proprietary code. These were treated as business secrets, and closely guarded. The only pre-Federal mandate codes that have been made public belong to Goodyear (and not all of those are in the public domain), so unless someone is holding out on all of us your BFG tire will remain unknown.

[Michael M.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

I am having the same problem with my non-DOT Firestone Deluxe Champion tire. The code is 001SD061, on the bead the number is 15-D-CO-85-S, and next to made is USA is 104-UR-1 BD-36 665. Also on one side a number 12 with a circle and the other side is a 68 or 89 with a circle around it both stamped in a orange color. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Henry S.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

I am having the same problem with my non-DOT Firestone Deluxe Champion tire. The code is 001SD061, on the bead the number is 15-D-CO-85-S, and next to made is USA is 104-UR-1 BD-36 665. Also on one side a number 12 with a circle and the other side is a 68 or 89 with a circle around it both stamped in a orange color. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Michael,
I worked at Firestone for 30 years starting in 71 so the DOT ID's had already started by then. The numbers you want to pay attention to on your tire are the ones that are actually stamped in the rubber. The ones you talked about in orange (or any other colors) would be workers ID's. There are at least 3 steps (dopers, curing and final inspection) after the tire is built that requires a worker to
put his ID on the tire. Also the tirebuilder (at Firestone anyway) put his builder and machine number (tag) on the tire. This was off of a roll and each about a 1/2" square. I'll try to find a couple of the old timers from Firestone to see what dating system they used before the DOT came along.

[Jack H.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

First use of DOT compliance was 1/1/69 (mid-way through the '68 model year).

From that time to 1971, when DOT standardized the TIN sequence, each mfgr made his own proprietary TIN sequence which contained the source data DOT made mandatory. So, we're essentially 'blind' as to how to decode each mfgr's sequence in this period.

Prior to 1/1/69, the individual mfgrs had their own ID sequences which may or may not have embodied mfgr date information...

[Michael M.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry your the fellow I have been looking for. I have contacted Firestone and it seems like no one knows what I am talking about. I hope you can talk to some old timers so I can figure out the code of my spare tire. If you need any other information please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks Mike

[Mark G.]

Re: Tire dating revisited



My spare is also a BFG Silvertown 660 black wall B334D005, car assembly 10/65.

B = production shift or mold identification
334 = tire serial number? Does not have the same font, stamped not molded into tire
D = Plant or location
00 = place holder for month
5 = Year

Mark

[Henry S.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry your the fellow I have been looking for. I have contacted Firestone and it seems like no one knows what I am talking about. I hope you can talk to some old timers so I can figure out the code of my spare tire. If you need any other information please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks Mike

Mike,
I'll do some checking to see what I can find out. You have more stamping on your tire than I remember but as I mentioned I worked there after the DOT came along. I worked in curing for a few years in the early/middle eighties and one of the jobs was changing the serial numbers out on all the curing presses. We usually did this on the Saturday 11pm-Sunday 7am shift after the presses had been shut down from Friday night. Back then there were two set of serials if I remember right. One for the plant/curing press and another with the date. Your tire seems to have quite a few stamps on it and there are a couple that could be the date code (the one ending in 665 could be 6th week of 1965 or the 061 being the 6th week of 1961). If your tire is original to your midyear the 665 would stand to reason to be the date. But I'll try to find out for sure. Of course the guys that may know and worked back in the sixties probably sniffed their fair share of benzene and black magic. Add that to the fact they've been retired for a number of years we may be lucky if they even remember working there.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Mike,
I'll do some checking to see what I can find out. You have more stamping on your tire than I remember but as I mentioned I worked there after the DOT came along. I worked in curing for a few years in the early/middle eighties and one of the jobs was changing the serial numbers out on all the curing presses. We usually did this on the Saturday 11pm-Sunday 7am shift after the presses had been shut down from Friday night. Back then there were two set of serials if I remember right. One for the plant/curing press and another with the date. Your tire seems to have quite a few stamps on it and there are a couple that could be the date code (the one ending in 665 could be 66th week of 1965 or the 061 being the 6th week of 1961). If your tire is original to your midyear the 665 would stand to reason to be the date. But I'll try to find out for sure. Of course the guys that may know and worked back in the sixties probably sniffed their fair share of benzene and black magic. Add that to the fact they've been retired for a number of years we may be lucky if they even remember working there.

Really? I know 1965 was a very good year, but I want to see that calendar.

[John D.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

First use of DOT compliance was 1/1/69 (mid-way through the '68 model year).

From that time to 1971, when DOT standardized the TIN sequence, each mfgr made his own proprietary TIN sequence which contained the source data DOT made mandatory. So, we're essentially 'blind' as to how to decode each mfgr's sequence in this period.

Prior to 1/1/69, the individual mfgrs had their own ID sequences which may or may not have embodied mfgr date information...

jack,

I remember seeing an old restorer article saying the DOT code was also used sporadically long before it was required and possibly as early as 67.....does that still make sense ?

[Henry S.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Really? I know 1965 was a very good year, but I want to see that calendar.

Guess that's why they call it proof reading right Terry!!!

That does have to rank up there in the "top ten" dumbest statements of the year. I better edit it before all the oldtimers wake up in the morning and comment.

[Michael M.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry it makes alot of sense what you said about the 665 number. If you can find out for sure that would be great. Thanks Mike

[Henry S.]

Re: Tire dating revisited

Henry it makes alot of sense what you said about the 665 number. If you can find out for sure that would be great. Thanks Mike

Mike,
As someone else mentioned, all the manufacturers used different inhouse methods of dating their tires before DOT so I'll try to find what Firestones was.