Muscle Car Tires - Muscle Car Of The Week Episode
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Muscle Car Tires - Muscle Car Of The Week Episode #354
They say it all happens when the rubber meets the road… either you go up in smoke, or you hook up and win the race! Muscle Cars have evolved tremendously since the 1960s, with tire technology making some of the biggest advances. This time, we’re taking a look back at some of the skins you could get on first generation muscle cars.
Tires were more of a necessity and a safety item in the mid 1960s. Tire companies went out of their way to advertise traction in poor weather conditions, like deep snow, heavy rain, and slick ice. Check out the Frank Sinatra look-alike in his ‘67 Fairlane 500 sporting Firestone Wide Ovals in the snow! Come to think of it, we rarely see snow tires even advertised anymore, as most tires are of the all-season variety. In 1965, you swapped on snow tires or even studded rubber for the winter.
But as the performance of Muscle Cars began to take off, tire companies saw a need for hi-po rubber to match. In those days, tires were constructed using a bias-ply design, where reinforcing cords ran diagonally across the tire’s section width, forming the buldged-out sides and crew-cut flat tread surfaces. 1965 Shelby GT350 Mustangs came equipped with Goodyear Blue-Dot specials, advertised to handle 130 MPH. (Ep 17 for b-roll of Shelby & tires) While these might have been considered high-speed skins, their narrow width looks more like a pie-tin than a race tire.
Wide white wall tires gave way to white pinstripes, which turned into red lines in the mid 1960s. ‘65 Corvettes even offered gold stripes with knock-off wheels, and blue stripes appeared as well. Some tires featured multiple white or red stripes, with the ‘65 Thunderbird having both red and white lines. Redline tires have always suggested high-performance.
But the next craze in tire design was the raised-white-letter style, often times calling out the size, and also advertising the tire company on the sidewall. Tires were starting to become fashionable, as this outrageous ad for Goodyear Wide Tread GTs - or Wide Boots as they call ‘em! THAT, is an awesome tire commercial.
Goodyear and Firestone were in a racing tire battle, and they took it to the streets with the Goodyear Polyglas and Polyglas GT versus the Firestone Wide Oval and Wide Oval 60s.
Goodyear Polyglas tires were introduced in 1967 and combined the polyester cord material with fiberglass belts under the tread, and were factory installed on the Pontiac GTO, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Mustang Mach I, and Chevrolet Camaro Z-28.
This spot featured an AMX, and the “squirm fighting” Goodyear Polyglas tire, note the Spyder Motor Wheel used in this commercial!
Goodyear Polyglas GTs were similar, but in the shorter 60 series sidewall ratio for better cornering.
The Firestone Wide Oval was also available on brand-new Muscle Cars. Firestone Wide Oval Super Sports are shown on this 1967 Camaro, and featured a similar bias-ply design, and were also sold in 60 series.
There were many other performance and racing tires available for Muscle Cars, like the M&H Racemaster and JC Penney A/FX slick tires to the Mickey Thompson Indy Profile street tires. Other performance raised-white letter bias ply tires included the General Grabber and Atlas Mark IV. General Grabbers, seen on this Mercury Cougar, featured a triple redline design.
Atlas tires were Esso gas-station replacements, but their Mark IV featured redline styling and decent performance for the price.
Bias-ply designs evolved to higher-technology radial tires, with steel cords going straight over the top of the tire from rim edge to rim edge. These provided better cornering and wear resistance. Popular tires included names like Goodyear Eagle, Pro-Trac, and Firestone 500, among many others. Problems with the Firestone 500 coming apart triggered massive recalls and almost buried the company in the 1970s. Perhaps the most popular raised-white-letter Radial is the BF Goodrich Radial TA.
Some of these cool vintage bias-ply tires are reproduced today, but many are original on some of the cars we’ve featured from The Brothers Collection, like the Goodyear Blue Streaks found on the 1968 Shelby GT500 from episode 249 of Muscle Car Of The Week.
I once was chatting with a tire executive, and we both agreed that burning rubber is one of the best smells for gearheads, but for different reasons. For me, it was the thrill of speed and racing. He just said “Tire smoke smells like money.”
We hope our look at vintage Muscle Car rubber didn’t tire you out… don’t worry, we’ll be back with something else cool from The Brothers Collection next time on Muscle Car Of The Week!
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On the "wide boots" ad I was waiting for Austin Powers to drive up in his Jag and say "Yeah baby" Awesome old commercials.
Goodyear was heavily into making shoe and Boot soles back then .
That was very nostalgic! That presentation should gain a lot of traction with viewers. 😄
Ha! We see what you did there! Thanks!
😂😂😂👍👊
Great video again 👌
Reminds me of great times with my 71 Camaro Z28. What a car.
Thanks for showing and Greetings from Austria 🇦🇹👍
Stay safe.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My 1968 Lemans H/O came with optional radial tires, its on my PHS sheet. Right now I have Firestone G70-14's in Redline form...I love the look, have gotten SO many compliments on the tires...people saying "I haven't seen those tires for decades" or "I remember those". Mine are bias ply and I actually like the ride they have.
Right on! Cool info, thanks!
Great info and fantastic vintage footage! Loved this episode!
Snow tires are still a thing sir, repectfully. A canadian neighbor
My 1st car was a '68 Firebird 400 convertible that had Mikey Thompsons on the back. In order to fit them it had air shocks on her. I had to air those shocks up everyday in the Wisconsin winter. I ordered a '76 Cutlass Supreme with the Olds ralley wheel and it came with RWL" Goodyear steel belted radial". My '67 Chevelle has been riding on RWL B F Goodrich Radial T/A's for the last 30 years and is my pick for the best looking muscle car tire out there.
The Goodyear Boots ad even featured my car, an AMX! You don't see that everyday...
Whoa! And a Gremlin, too!?! I must be in heaven - well, car heaven, anyway...!
Tidbits... When Goodyear stopped retailing the Polyglas GT, the molds were sold and it became the Lee Manhandler. In my old stomping grounds, Caldwell Tire in Pasadena, California, used to buy up worn bias ply tires and retread them with a very soft rubber for the street racers. Soft enough to stick your fingernail into, they made a heck of a difference in hook on my 455 442. No warranty, though!
Very cool!
Great episode! Growing up in Europe, my dad's cars had radial tires on them from the mid 60s onwards. I was astonished when I found out, that e.g. Corvettes didn't get them until 1973. One thing I don't get: It's become really hard to find decent street tires for muscle cars in 14" or 15" sizes. Don't get me started on the quality of BF Goodrich, Cooper Cobras or similar rubber. I wish Goodyear would have continued evolving their Eagle line to today's technology in sizes for our vintage cars.
I know. I remember going from bias ply to TA to Goodyear gatorbacks on my 1871 Z/28 and then I couldn't find anything after 1990...only garbage rubber in 15 inch
Back in the day you could paint the street posi black with posi traction torque twisters. Learning to drive on bias ply tires was crazy fun because we didn't know any better. Finally we got the first radial TA and from then on the rubber has gotten better. The only problem is they stopped making great radial tires for 15 inch rims
Thanks Kevin,
great overview about history and usage of those tyres on the muscle cars.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Melted rubber smells like $$$$, gee what a surprise!!!
I used to buy a set of Goodyear recapped g-60-14 tires for the rear of my 73 Dart Sport 340 every weekend. Wore them to the cords.
AWESOME video! 👍👍👍
Thank you! Cheers!
On my 1967 SS Camaro, a set of Goodyear Polyglass GT H70/14 manage to twist my driveshaft. After bubble balancing, and then spin balancing twice (old style when it was done on the car) still got a vibration. Pulled driveshaft for u-joints replacement, one end is at 12 o’clock and the other is at 2 o’clock. Street racing, when ever someone had Firestone Wide Ovals on the rear I knew I had them beat.
We aren't "tired" of this series, keep them coming!
I love the look of the Polyglas GT
Those old commercials were awesome. I was born in 1963, but I don’t remember commercials like those.
Very informative.Kevin Tires are an important part of a car,no tires mean you ain't going nowhere.Much like oil,water and gasoline in a way,plus of course the electrics.
those red and white lines are things of beauty. best decision i ever made for my 69 Vette is to buy Firestone Wide Oval Redline. A reprodution of the old one with radial construction
Wait, are snow tires and studded tires seen like a thing of the past in the USA now or something. Where I live people always hava a set of wheels and tires for the summer and a set of snow (normally studded tires for the winter). It's actually a law where I live that you have to have your snow tires on after a certain time (I think it's in November) and you can get a fine for not having them. You also can't have them on after a certain time in the spring.
Some states allow studded winter tires during certain months and some do not. In some mountain areas winter tires or tire chains are actually required in winter months.
Steel studded tires were banned by most states because people forgot to take them off during the summer, and they would destroy the asphalt.
This trip down "memory lane" regarding tires was a nice addition to the already excellent uploads you share. Throwing in the pop culture and social history of the era add to the appeal of this YT channel. Keep it up, and thanks for the quality work.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for the feedback! We like to add some context where we can. Thanks again!
I replaced my old Goodyear polyglass tires with a set of Pep boys. Bad mistake!
Great video! I am enjoying your informational ones, special the one on compression ratios. Look forward to more.
Great video as always Kevin. Very cool and informative. Really dig the retro TV spots. You can have the baddest ride on the block but if you put the wrong meats on it you'll ruin the performance and look.
Damn Kevin, this is one of the best!
I was a victim of the infamous Firestone 721 radial tire. Front wheel blowout at 70mph. Luckily I managed to control the car to a stop. I was 15. In Alberta you were allowed to have a license at 15 back in the day as long as an adult was in the passenger seat, as was my dad. He commended me for my calm reaction. Have not owned a Firestone POS since
Weren't those what late 90s Ford explorers had on them from the factory?
Great video back when I was a teenager I barely good afford recaps
Another absolutely amazing video Kevin!! Muscle Rubber!!!
Glad you liked it!!
Whoa! That was a fantastic trip down memory lane - Awesome!
Thanks, Kevin! :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Motorcycles have wider tires than these nowadays.
I run bias ply on my classics. They have that look, and I like to feel what the original drivers felt when they drove the car.
Great video!
Nice to feature car related items. It breaks the ice and I hope to see more.
Hi Kevin,
Couple of years ago I managed to find & buy a pair of genuine raised letter 1969
Firestone Wide Oval G60 15 inch tyres in new condition out of all places here in Melbourne Australia.
The gentleman moved from the States to Australia after the Vietnam War & bought out his LT1 Corvette with him back in the mid 70's & bought some inventory with him for his Corvette.
Years have past, saw an ad on E Bay I couldn't believe it, genuine brand new Firestone Wide Ovals in Melbourne, bid the opening bid, no one else bid & won the bid for chicken feed.
Now I know these tyres are extremely rare, desirable & could 20 times my money for them easily if I advertised them properly.
Instead I have fitted them on my
1970 VG 770 Valiant Hardtop.
Had the original 14 inch rim converted to 15 inch, left the front ones 14 inch with the last pair in the world apparently
205 / 75 R 14 White Wall tyre. Apparently no one makes 205 anymore only 195 even Mastercraft.
Well I bought the last 4 in Australia.
So I have white walls on the front & the Firestone on the rear. Had the rims powder coated white to match the Hardtop with chrome lugs nuts similar to A 12 Dodge or Plymouth.
After 3 & half years almost ready to enter the world again.
Happy for the Brother's to sponsor me to show case in the States, that would be a dream come true.
Will post photos once it's all finished.
Your number 1 Fan in Australia
Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤
Always enjoyable - thanks Kevin.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
I have a 1973 Plymouth Duster and I always wondered what brand of tires it would have had on it brand new.
Everyone remembers the Goodyear Wide Tread, Polyglass, and Polyglass GT but often forgotten are the Goodyear "Speedway" tires. That '68 GT500 should have (and probably does have) Goodyear Speedway 350 tires (E70x15) and not the Blue Streaks mentioned in the Video. For a number of years Corvettes used the Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread (F70x15)
Cool an offen overlooked theme... love it.. more pf that type of things.....maby a epesode on the rims pf the eara
I had LEE MANHANDLERS rwl tires on my GTO. I remember scrubbing the letters with AJAX and putting ARMOR ALL on them afterwards. The good old days.
Remember when I was a young driver in the 60`s General came out with the Dual 90`s...bullet proof..first run flat tire but they we top of the line then..
I learn one little tidbit every episode. I love them all
Nice info. Tires definitely make the difference on a car. Cool commercials.. and zilch dislikes! LOL
Right?! Zero dislikes for now, anyway! Thanks!
Unique and kool vid, Kevster!!
I've got a question about old tires. I've seen classic cars with very low mileage that have been kept and maintained in like-new condition, sometimes 40 and even 50 years old. And many times they will have the original tires that came with the car. How can that be? When we know that rubber has a limited useful life, and will often become hard and crack to the point of becoming dangerous of blowing out. The usual useful life of a tire is rarely more than 10 years.
Same thing with everything made out of rubber on the car, like radiator hoses, wiper blades, and even door seals? How can they not become hard and brittle?
Tires are pretty delicate when it comes to storage. Ozone, UV radiation are the biggest enemies. If they're stored in a dry, cool environment off the ground, tires can last a long time. The rubber, polyester, and bonding chemicals are always chemically breaking down, so nothing lasts forever. The problem with old tires, is that they may look sound from the outside, but have broken down inside. Then, you go for a drive and can experience tread separation, or similar. I keep an original F-70 14 bias tire as a spare in my Torino, but its for show. I'd never mount it for use. What you see on classics could also be repop tires from Coker, etc. Whatever you do, don't put petroleum distillates on rubber. It eats the rubber. Use silicon instead.
@@karlx-1
Thanks for the reply. Stay safe.
I loved this video! Please do more like this. Maybe one on speed parts. Thanks!
What about Muscle Car Rims??
Ask and you shall receive! ua-cam.com/video/JdtPKp6AnRk/v-deo.html
You forgot to mention the Uniroyal Tiger Paws. I believe it was Uniroyal that introduced red line tires on the 64 GTO . They became so popular on the GTO ( Tiger ) they become Tiger Paws. I seem to recall Radial tires first appeared as a option on 68 Ford products. Folks forget that Radial tires had a lot of problems in there first decade. You want to know one of the reasons why your 60s muscle car felt so powerful ? Lousy tires !
Uniroyal tiger paw Jim Wangers talked about them in advertising said they would smoke till you let off.
The right white letter or red line tires also enhance a Muscle Car's appearance too IMO...
"That's an awesome tire commercial".
Good job, Kevin
The “Squirm” fighting tire sequence was voiced over by Paul Frees of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion fame.
Anyone out there still running Formula 1 Super Stock tires? They take 1st prize for the biggest white letters ever!
An episode dedicated to the victims of muscle cars.
R.I.P
Which tires set the pavement on fire.? I want those. lol
'73 SE Trans Am ( First one, a show car) had, and still has, RGL ( Raised GOLD Letter Tires)
Great episode! I've always thought that the right tires could really make a car look good, and cheap or ugly tires could absolutely kill the looks. My personal favorites are the BFG T/A Radials.
Earned a sub from me! Very cool and informative
Good tires are important for several reasons...
Good Year`s Blue Streaks remained into the eighties and were Highly Seek by Escort Drivers for critical maneuvering in the Offensive & Defensive Driving by Mexican protection & security
corps.
Kevin, No JETZON tires?? hmmm
What car left flaming burnout?!
Help?
40 bucks for a tire.
I'm glad "Red Line Tires" didn't last.. An older neighbor had a set of these hideous looking ties in his garage from the old days, man were they ugly..
How tastes differ. I love the look on my Corvette
@@Yankeededandy62 Yes, they were very period-correct and looked great on some cars from the era. I once had a '67 Fairlane XL with the original red-lines, they suited it perfectly.
Gajah tunggal
😉
I have a pair of 80s bf Goodrich 245/60/14 from early 80s like new condition never mounted 👍 if any one wants to buy them ?