Firestone steel radial 500 Corvette tires 1973 -77

[muscle_collector]

my 73 corvette had them on it when i bought it from the original owner back in 78. they almost immediately failed. i remember driving down the road and all of a sudden it felt like the car was wobbling back and forth. i bought a set of the goodyear polysteel radials a friend took off of his new 78 t/a and put them on it.

[Unreal]

Originally Posted by fortim

I was working at Firestone during the early part of the recall; from personal experience these tires were dangerous. I saw way too many blowouts and tread separation, terrifying stuff.
As part of the recall, Firestone pulled them off the road and the serial numbers had to be cut out of every tire. Personally, I wouldn't use original 500 tires on my cars.

Did the Firestone Wide Ovals have the same issue? I have 5 never mounted, NOS F70 15 with, I think, 72-73 dates.

[Ralph Spears]

Just the GR70x15 steel belted radials had that problem

[Ralph Spears]

I bought a new 1973 Corvette and had a couple tires go bad on me both times the belts started to separate and there was a bulge in the tread. I had to pull into rest area and put the spare tire on i remember having to let the air out of the tire so it would fit into the spare tire holder. Driving at highway speed the tire started a thumping noise

[Zedder]

I was at an NCRS regional in 1996. Fellow had a beautiful red 75 Corvette convertible with something like 2,000 miles. Original tire blew during the road test busting up his rear quarter panel.

[Formula455SD]

Firestone 721 wasn't much better.

[Ralph Spears]

What about putting inner tubes in them ?

[Lynn]

Don't think I would risk it even with an inner tube. The belt separation (which is the catalyst for the ultimate destruction of the tire... and maybe part of your car) comes from heat and movement which makes the adhesive let go. Drive on any tire long enough and it will come apart.

[Ralph Spears]

Part of the problem i think was the recommended tire pressure on the door jamb label on Corvettes was 20 pounds.

[TimG]

My word, what a disaster.