1968 -72 Original Tires

[Paul O.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

My 1971 LT-1 Sept 70 build had Goodyear RWL.

Mark you were dreaming that was your FO next to you and behind you was a UPS captain in the JS. The 120 you saw was when the FO said V1.

Paul 18046

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

My original owner 1970 Corvette purchased in August 1970 came with Firestone Super Wide Oval Sports with a thin whitewall.
Still have my Firsetone original spare which I had to use a couple weeks ago. Third time in almost 40 years the spare has been used. Having been in the carrier all these years my spare still has no cracking or any surface deterioration. Perhaps having 1969 Corvette optional side exhaust on my 1970 for 15 years contributed.

[Dale P.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

i am in the process of getting my 68 back on the road after years of being in the garage .. it has the wide ovals on it ... and they drove poorly at best when i parked it. I want to go to a lower profile tire/rim combination for handling (tired of the orginal thing). the hard part is finding a combination that works.

[Warren F.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

I have 2 1971 LS6 Corvette coupes. One was ordered with white lettered tires and one without.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

I hope you guys use the tires for show only? Driving them can't be safe.

Check this out. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Michael------


I drove on the original Goodyear Speedway Wide Treads supplied on my 1969 from the day I took original delivery until the time they wore out. I don't recall just when that was but I know the only disappointment I had with the tires was their relatively short life---maybe 15,000 miles, or so. I never felt "unsafe" driving on these tires. Were they as "safe" as current tires? Of course not. However, a 1969 Corvette is not as safe as a 2010 Corvette but that does not mean that a 1969 Corvette is now or ever was "unsafe".

The current Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread reproductions are actually safer than the original tires and might wear better, too. That's because they use modern tread compounds. They are produced in modern manufacturing facilities and are DOT-rated.

One of the reasons that 1968-72 Corvette tires did not wear well was because these were bias ply, nylon cord, NON-BELTED tires. If one wants a better wearing and more stable tire of APPROXIMATE original configuration, then use the Coker Firestone reproduction which is a belted tire (correct for other muscle cars of the period but not 100% correct for Corvettes) or the reproduction Goodyear Polyglas GT.

The Goodyear Polyglas GT is the best performing replacement tire I EVER used on my 1969, including all the radial tires I ever used after the Polyglas GT was discontinued by Goodyear many years ago. It was a bit hard-riding but its performance was flawless and its durability excellent (approximately 50,000 miles).

[John H.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

U.S. Royal (Uniroyal) tires had a terrible reputation back in the 60's, and some customers refused to accept new cars that arrived with them, necessitating tire swaps/changes by the dealer in order to deliver the car.

This actually got to the level that many dealers wrote in "no U.S. Royal tires" on the order form, and the Chassis Broadcast Copy printed out in the plant with "Akron Tires Only" at the bottom of the sheet (U.S. Royal tires were the only OEM-supplied tires NOT made in Akron, Ohio).

[Ralph S.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

Please My original question has not been answered,

[Gordon H.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

Just came back from a 1,000 mile trip on Goodyear Speedway Wide Treads .They were made by Kelsey.The only complaint is they search the road like they did when the car was new. I bought them for show and judging . If I were driving on them every day I'd go radial . Good luck with your choice .

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

Please My original question has not been answered,

Ralph------


I think it was pretty much answered by Bill in response #2. As far as prices go, it all depends on the condition of the tire. If it's well-used, I see prices like in the $100 to $300 range. If it's a virtually unused original spare, prices in the $500 to $1,000 range or even higher.

Keep in mind that these tires were used only on Corvettes and, possibly, a few other cars. So, they have a very narrow range of donors. Plus, about the only source of tires one would use on a show car would be unused, original spares. There just are not very many of those around.

The reproductions are, by far, the best way to go. For authenticity, the Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread is the best.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

U.S. Royal (Uniroyal) tires had a terrible reputation back in the 60's, and some customers refused to accept new cars that arrived with them, necessitating tire swaps/changes by the dealer in order to deliver the car.

This actually got to the level that many dealers wrote in "no U.S. Royal tires" on the order form, and the Chassis Broadcast Copy printed out in the plant with "Akron Tires Only" at the bottom of the sheet (U.S. Royal tires were the only OEM-supplied tires NOT made in Akron, Ohio).

John------


The only U.S. Royal tires I ever owned was a set that I put on a Camaro I had about 20 years ago. After that set, I said I'd NEVER use a U.S. Royal-manufactured tire again. I think that the U.S. Royal brand still exists but it's owned by one of the other major tire manufacturers. Originally, I believe that U.S. Royal was part of U.S. Rubber Corporation.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

I thought Bill Clupper's post was an excellent reply to your original question...

[Mark D.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

Ralph,

NOS or very nice Goodyears are more abundant than Firestones. I have a set of five NOS Goodyears I purchased from Lou Groebner a few years back and I paid 300 bucks per tire. I see where JT Piper has some nice original Firestones for sale now at, I believe, 200 bucks per tire. I should mention they are whitewalls and red ones would be more, perhaps one or two hundred per tire more. Repop Firestones are easy to spot and the repop Goodyears are too, but, the Goodyears are much closer to the originals.

I would say when you are ready to buy, you will have no problem finding some nice originals. I will be happy to help you find a set when you are ready.

Take care and I'll hopefully see you and the gang in CLT.

Mark

[Bill C.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

I paid about $350 per each NOS tire to make the Uniroyal TigerPaw set I have. Fortunately, I had the orignal spare and only had to find four others.

It ain't no cheap way to go - seeing that the new Goodyears are very nice, about #230 per tire, and you can drive on them and not worry about a major blowout.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968 -72 Original Tires

Just came back from a 1,000 mile trip on Goodyear Speedway Wide Treads .They were made by Kelsey.The only complaint is they search the road like they did when the car was new. I bought them for show and judging . If I were driving on them every day I'd go radial . Good luck with your choice .

Gordon,

Look familiar?

Patrick