Topic: What are my tire options?

[sparky65]

The Marti report for my car lists 6.95x14-4ply rated tires and white sidewall.  From reading around it sounds like there may be more then one brand reproduced but I am not quite sure which brand would be correct or who sells them.  What would you guys recommend for a 67 Metuchen built car?

[CharlesTurner]

I'd probably look in this order:

-Firestone
-BF Goodrich
-Good Year
-US Royal (yes, they made a white wall and black wall tire)

[sparky65]

Just to clarify are you saying all those are available or just that is what was most likely on it when it left the factory.
So far I've only seen a BF Goodrich and a US Royal reproduced available from Coker tire and Universal vintage tire.  Any other options out there?  I must say I cant believe how much these tires cost.  Then again I shouldn't be surprised since regular tires cost a lot.  It just kind of caught me by surprise.

[CharlesTurner]

Not sure of the availability of the tires.  Firestone would be the most correct choice, but I don't believe they are reproduced.

[sparky65]

I see on the reproductions that there are two white wall sizes available.  Either a 5/8" or 7/8".

One more question, does the concours driven class allow newer radial tires?
I am reading that the Firestone FR380 almost looks correct, but is a whole lot cheaper.

[kutzoh]

Steve,
   Can't answer the first question on what's allowed in concours driven, but check around I believe I heard / read that the Firestone FR 380 was discontinued. I picked up a set for my coupe about 2 years ago, realized later I forgot about the spare and could barely find one tire a year later. Can't tell you how they perform, they're on the car but haven't seen the ground yet!



Best of luck with your search,

Greg

[jwc66k]

Try Coker tires http://cokertire.com/ Fill in the form and the available manufacturer and sizes show up. Figure between $90-110 per tire plus shipping. I've gotten several sets of tires from them and have been satisfied.
Jim

[sparky65]

Try Coker tires http://cokertire.com/ Fill in the form and the available manufacturer and sizes show up. Figure between $90-110 per tire plus shipping. I've gotten several sets of tires from them and have been satisfied.
Jim

$110 a tire would be nice.  Its actually $171 a tire.   

Yea I looked around more after I posted this to see where i c ould get the FR380 and it does seem hard to get if it is possible at all.

[jwc66k]

Damn! I shoulda looked. The last ones I bought were about $100 each for US Rubber Dual Redlines but that was awhile back. Jim

[67gta289]

The FR380 appears to be available at onlinetires.com.  I have not purchased yet, but I was able to put them in my shopping cart and get a price plus shipping.

[sparky65]

Those looking at or have the FR380 what is your goal for your car?

[67gta289]

Concours Driven is the goal for me.  I have to admit that I'm conflicted between the FR380 and the F70-40 wide oval available from Coker.  I do have a drivability concern for the non radial tire, not ever having driven on them.  It would be a bummer to shell out about $1000 to find out that the handling is lousy.  So three things have me leaning towards the FR380: (1) drivability, (2) MCA "driven exception" - no point reduction for "Comparable size radial or belted tire", (4) cost ($350 vs $1000 shipped and installed). 

The plusses for the Coker wide oval are (1) the whitewall pin strip is more narrow, and the inner edge further away from the rim, looking more like the originals - see pictures below, (2) technology like the original issue tires.

This is also assuming that I can get the FR380 - again I found them at onlinetires.com but have not confirmed that they have stock on hand.

[ruppstang]

I have a 67 GTA that is a trailered concours car that came with wire wheel covers and wide ovals. I bought the Coker reproduction that I show only with and I bought a set of styled steel wheels that have the Firestone FR 380 tires that  I use when we drive the car locally. For me there would be no question if I were going to going to drive the car I would get the FR 380 tires. Marty

[sparky65]

The more I think about this the more I am leaning too two sets of wheels and tires as well.  I just need to find 4 4 lug wheels and a bite the bullet on the price of the repros.
Marty which Coker reproduction did you get?  Looks like there are 4 different ones available.  According to Charles the most correct would be the BF Goodrich but they have two different white wall sizes available.

[CharlesTurner]

I have an NOS E70x14 Good Year!