TIre Markings

[DaJudge]

Can anyone shed some light on the markings that the factory put on tires. Look at the attached pic, it is of an original spare that has never been on the ground. What's up with the 61 in white on the tire.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[bkhpah]

I believe it a job number. On real good unrestored Camaros I have seen the number on the tire also match the number on the heater box and sometimes on the crossmember...BKH

[NCGuy68]

Could be a '61' or a '19' depending on which way you're looking at them.

Having worked in the tire and rubber industry for a time, my guess is that they are inspection marks. On the sidewall, they were usually chalk or soap stone.

The marks might verify that the raised white letter tire is mounted properly on the wheel...which means... facing outboard.

[Mr70]

I have seen similar codes on REAL Survivor Chevelles.
For Example,Bill Bonhams Baltimore LS6.
I have over 50 pix of his Chevelle,and his paperwork supplied by him.
On his spare tire he has "72" written on top of itself on the Backside of the tire,and also inside the rim,with what I took to be soapstone.
On his Buildsheet,he has "0272" written on the lower right side.I take this to mean a Job #.

[Mr70]

Correction:
Bills Chevelle is from the Atlanta,Lakewood plant,just be clear.

[DaJudge]

Thanks for the info. My 69 TA had the last two digits of the job # on the cross member just like Camaros. I guess the seperate divisions of GM did a lot of the same things to ID parts on the assembly line. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Chevy454]

Additional tire/wheel info: Click here

[Keith Tedford]

I work in the Oshawa truck plant. The tires get the last two numbers from the production run number for that vehicle. Might be the same back then as well. It allows the installer to catch mixups in scheduling when he is putting the wheel/tire on the truck. Just a thought.

[ohhawk]

Since the tire gurus are gathered I'd like to ask a tire marking question as well. I have four F70 x 14 RWL Goodyear Polyglas tires that came with my car when purchased several years ago. Anyone know how to tell if these might be the original tires versus reproductions of the original style? Thanks.

[GOAT72]

[ QUOTE ]
Since the tire gurus are gathered I'd like to ask a tire marking question as well. I have four F70 x 14 RWL Goodyear Polyglas tires that came with my car when purchased several years ago. Anyone know how to tell if these might be the original tires versus reproductions of the original style? Thanks.



[/ QUOTE ]

Dick,
The tires should have a DOT stamp on them. The last 2 digits are the year the tire was produced -- if I recall correctly.
The DOT stamp is usually oval-shaped and will be close to where the sidewall meets the wheel. I think the 1st 2 numbers are the manufacturer's code and the second is the year it was made.

~GOAT72