[Navy Horn 16]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

The tire companies just want to sell their NOS off, Just like most humans can't see how something brand new can go bad, no matter how long it sits. Ozone is present no matter where a tire sits, it also degrades rubber parts so I still go from MFG date, regardless of how long it sat in a warehouse unmounted.

You are right about that. That's why they spend so much money lobbying against the legislation.

[tpssonic]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I wonder when all the fear mongers are going to post up their photos of all those fenders and quarters they saw "tore up". I know every time there is something catastrophic that happens to an old car that someone claims they saw, they always snap a photo and post it. There is a huge difference between actual fact and hearsay.

A healthy dose of reality never killed anybody. But if it hurts your feelings, perhaps knitting is your forté.

I know, I deserve it- I drew "first blood" by taking a side. We'll just agree to disagree.

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

I didn't see where you said what year car you have. I'm guessing around 1970? So, I guess you want a repro of the tire that was used in 1970.

Firestone Wide Ovals at Coker Tire would be one choice. And in the video that FormulaJones put up, it's about Coker Tires' radial tires that look like Firestone Wide Ovals, so those are radials.

Kelsey tire is another manufacturer of vintage tires, and have been reproducing Goodyear tires. They have the Polyglas, but they don't make it as a radial. They've been making Polysteel radials, but Polysteels weren't used until later in the 70's. Here's a link to their website and their Polyglas tires. http://www.kelseytire.com/pages/preformancetires2.html

Personally, I'd just get some Radial TA's and save some money .

My car is a 69 Firebird T/A tribute so I’m going after the original T/A look. I’ve looked at early ads and seen them with black walls. The early ad with the red ram air VI decals has white walls I think. But that wasn’t a production model, it was a promo model. I’m leaning towards BFGoodrich radial t/a’s from Coker. It’s a good radial at $100 less than the Polyglas.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by JMB36TA

I‘ve been seeing them in the $230 range but I don’t know if they’re radial. Kelsey tire keeps popping up. You know anything about them or where I can check out the radials?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coker makes the Firestones in both radial and bias ply. They only deal in the Firestones however.

If you're looking for a Goodyear, Kelsey is where you want to look. They only produce the Goodyear tires in a bias design, no radials are offered in a Goodyear....at this time.

We run BFG Radial TA's on both of our classic daily drivers. They are inexpensive and it's an okay tire. The advantage they have is that they still make sizes that have become obsolete with most other brands. Only issues I've had with them over the years is when they get to be about 7-8 years old, if I haven't wore them out yet, I've had a couple of them develop knots. So I tend to start questioning them when they start getting some age on them. Especially here in AZ where summer temps are 110+, constant sunshine, and the blacktop is like an oven. I've seen more tire failures in the 12 years I've lived here than my entire life anywhere else.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by JMB36TA

My car is a 69 Firebird T/A tribute so I’m going after the original T/A look. I’ve looked at early ads and seen them with black walls. The early ad with the red ram air VI decals has white walls I think. But that wasn’t a production model, it was a promo model. I’m leaning towards BFGoodrich radial t/a’s from Coker. It’s a good radial at $100 less than the Polyglas.

Sweet car! Definitely deserves the proper tires.

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Coker makes the Firestones in both radial and bias ply. They only deal in the Firestones however.

If you're looking for a Goodyear, Kelsey is where you want to look. They only produce the Goodyear tires in a bias design, no radials are offered in a Goodyear....at this time.

We run BFG Radial TA's on both of our classic daily drivers. They are inexpensive and it's an okay tire. The advantage they have is that they still make sizes that have become obsolete with most other brands. Only issues I've had with them over the years is when they get to be about 7-8 years old, if I haven't wore them out yet, I've had a couple of them develop knots. So I tend to start questioning them when they start getting some age on them. Especially here in AZ where summer temps are 110+, constant sunshine, and the blacktop is like an oven. I've seen more tire failures in the 12 years I've lived here than my entire life anywhere else.

I hear ya on the AZ weather, I'm in Tucson. My 02 T/A sat outside for years and I went through many tires due to dry rot. Now it's outside again since I got the 69. I have a 2 car garage so either a car or both Harley's have to sit outside. Trust me when I say it's not an easy decision...lol

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Sweet car! Definitely deserves the proper tires.

Thank you Chief! I spent a lot of time and research getting her as close to a T/A as I possibly can. She's almost there with just a few minor details left, like the correct alternator and master cylinder.

[dataway]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

You should drive your tractor around here. If you did 20 another tractor would run right over you. Around here 40 - 50mph is nothing to these guys, especially this time of year. Hell, there are those huge things with the monster truck tires on them that run right along with traffic on the 55mph roads.

High range third gear is stupid on this tractor ... I bet it would do 40 mph.

BTW ... I love tractors. So hard to break, so easy to hurt yourself with one.

I plan on using BFG radials on my 68 ... saw lots of 60's muscle cars in the 70's with the BFGs installed ... for the money, figure that's the closest I can come to original.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I wonder when all the fear mongers are going to post up their photos of all those fenders and quarters they saw "tore up". I know every time there is something catastrophic that happens to an old car that someone claims they saw, they always snap a photo and post it. There is a huge difference between actual fact and hearsay.

It happened to me in my '68 VW. Damaged a rear fender when the old but low mileage tire with great treads exploded. Never occurred to me to take a photo of it...but it did occur to me to order a brand new set of Kumhos when I got home.
I just recall also, it happened to me another time but did not damage the car. Had an older tire go off like a shotgun on my '69 LeSabre.

[scott70]

my gto came originally with G70/14 which was around 26.8". The old BFG 235/70/14 were a good match to the G70 . They stopped making the 235 and only make the 225 now. I even contacted coker if they would make the 235 again and got a no. I put 225 on mine and to me they just looked too short and took them off. Im still running the 235's I put on from 1989 and though theres decent tread left Im getting new ones this spring. Going for the G70 wide oval radials from coker. Rubber does break down,,,I bought my car in 1986 and all the weather stripping looked good back then and my car is always garaged since then but now all the weather stripping has to be changed because its falling apart.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by dataway

High range third gear is stupid on this tractor ... I bet it would do 40 mph.

BTW ... I love tractors. So hard to break, so easy to hurt yourself with one.

I plan on using BFG radials on my 68 ... saw lots of 60's muscle cars in the 70's with the BFGs installed ... for the money, figure that's the closest I can come to original.

If you like tractors you should come out my way in September for the WNY Gas & Steam Show. More antique tractors than you ever thought could be in one place. There is also tractor pulls, a steam engine display and demonstration, car show and a good swap meet.

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

So what tires are still made for 14” rim sizes??

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by scott70

my gto came originally with G70/14 which was around 26.8". The old BFG 235/70/14 were a good match to the G70 . They stopped making the 235 and only make the 225 now. I even contacted coker if they would make the 235 again and got a no. I put 225 on mine and to me they just looked too short and took them off. Im still running the 235's I put on from 1989 and though theres decent tread left Im getting new ones this spring. Going for the G70 wide oval radials from coker. Rubber does break down,,,I bought my car in 1986 and all the weather stripping looked good back then and my car is always garaged since then but now all the weather stripping has to be changed because its falling apart.

Coker makes a BFG 235/60 R14 that has a 25.10" diameter which will look good on a Firebird but probably too small on a GTO. It's close to 2" smaller than your 70s. The wide ovals will look good on your GTO.
This is what I'm looking at for $132...
https://www.jegs.com/i/Coker-Tire/257/5557790/10002/-1

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by STEELCITYFIREBIRD

So what tires are still made for 14” rim sizes??

Coker has 12 "muscle car" tires listed on their site. They're mostly BFG and Firestone.

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styl..._diameter=2050

Kelsey Tire makes some too, including Polyglas.

http://www.kelseytire.com/home.html

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by STEELCITYFIREBIRD

So what tires are still made for 14” rim sizes??

I can still get BFG Radial TA's around here for 14" wheels.

Most other brands have dumped that wheel size, which is one example of why the BFG's are as popular as they are.

Other than that, I'd be looking at Coker and Kelsey for a correct reproduction tire to fill the void.

[72LuxuryLeMansLa.]

Originally Posted by STEELCITYFIREBIRD

So what tires are still made for 14” rim sizes??

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

[dataway]

Can anyone tell what tire is on the car in this early 80's tiny photo of my GTO?

Pretty sure they are BFG's ... not sure if radial or not, should be 14's.

Whatever they were, they worked pretty good. Wheels were ET "Turbines".

[scott70]

Originally Posted by JMB36TA

My car is a 69 Firebird T/A tribute so I’m going after the original T/A look. I’ve looked at early ads and seen them with black walls. The early ad with the red ram air VI decals has white walls I think. But that wasn’t a production model, it was a promo model. I’m leaning towards BFGoodrich radial t/a’s from Coker. It’s a good radial at $100 less than the Polyglas.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful car by the way. Always liked the 67-73 birds. 69 being one of my favorites. If you could,,,the wide oval radial would look good,,,but they are pricey. If I could find bfg 235/70-14 new I'd buy those again . Going for the stockish look but radial ride also.

[JMB36TA]

Originally Posted by scott70

Beautiful car by the way. Always liked the 67-73 birds. 69 being one of my favorites. If you could,,,the wide oval radial would look good,,,but they are pricey. If I could find bfg 235/70-14 new I'd buy those again . Going for the stockish look but radial ride also.

Thank you! 68s have always been my favorite Firebird and the 69 Trans Am always ranked as #1 on my list but I couldn't afford a real one. This is as close as I'll ever get. I agree that the wide oval would look good but they're the same price as the Polyglas and if I were to spend that money I'd go with the Polyglas The BFG are a good tire and $100 less saving me $400! They all look good and the BFG is a modern radial.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by dataway

Can anyone tell what tire is on the car in this early 80's tiny photo of my GTO?

Pretty sure they are BFG's ... not sure if radial or not, should be 14's.

Whatever they were, they worked pretty good. Wheels were ET "Turbines".

They are either BFG's or BFG knock-offs.