Interesting discovery????
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Galesburg Illinois
Interesting discovery????
I have had my 77 for several months,and the other day I removed my spare tire cover for clean-up and a paint job.The first time I have had it off,and found what looks like the original spare tire.It is in very good condition,and still has the sticker on the tread.My question is how can I verify this is the original?Also,if it is the original is this rare or do a lot of them have it??Thanks for any thoughts or comments....
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 668
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From: KY
Don't know how rare. My 76 has the original spare tire. It had 2 labels, one a sticker with the size, etc on it, and another with a date and some other information (can't recall now, it was a smallish white label). I removed the labels as they were not in great shape and put them in a zip lock baggie in a folder with other receipts, etc.
Again, not sure about rare, but kind of cool just the same.
Jeff
Again, not sure about rare, but kind of cool just the same.
Jeff
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
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From: Houston Tx.
If the tire is an old Firestone 721 steel belted radial, use it as a door stop. The 721's were garbage when they were new. The tread separated from the belts due to, from what I was told, was a short cut in the manufacturing process. Firestone used tissue paper around the steel belts, so the rubber never adhered to the belts. If the tire is 30 years old, I'll bet it doesn't roll straight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
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From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by 76vette1
If the tire is an old Firestone 721 steel belted radial, use it as a door stop. The 721's were garbage when they were new. The tread separated from the belts due to, from what I was told, was a short cut in the manufacturing process. Firestone used tissue paper around the steel belts, so the rubber never adhered to the belts. If the tire is 30 years old, I'll bet it doesn't roll straight.
Jim, you might be able to tell if it's original by checking the DOT number stamped into the sidewall. It should be 3 digits. The first two are the week of manufacture and the last digit is the year. If it's a Firestone 500 and the last digit is a 6 or 7, it's most likely the original. These show up at Carlisle all of the time and usually sell for around $125 with the rally wheel. 77's with the aluminum wheels came with a rally wheel on the spare.
Good luck... GUSTO
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Galesburg Illinois
Thanks for all the replies.It is a Firestone 721.When I get a chance I will see if I can find any numbers on it.I think it would be kind of neat to say you still had the unused original spare.It sounds like they weren't very good tires,but since I don't plan on running it I will just keep it for sentimental reasons....
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Hobart Ind, near chicago
Originally Posted by GUSTO14
Actually the original tire on the 77 was the Firestone 500. They were recalled and replaced by the Firestone 721... unfortunately it wasn't much better. The 721's I had were so out of round I traded them for Goodyear GT Radials, a popular and all around pretty good tire in the late 70's early 80's.
Jim, you might be able to tell if it's original by checking the DOT number stamped into the sidewall. It should be 3 digits. The first two are the week of manufacture and the last digit is the year. If it's a Firestone 500 and the last digit is a 6 or 7, it's most likely the original. These show up at Carlisle all of the time and usually sell for around $125 with the rally wheel. 77's with the aluminum wheels came with a rally wheel on the spare.
Good luck... GUSTO
Jim, you might be able to tell if it's original by checking the DOT number stamped into the sidewall. It should be 3 digits. The first two are the week of manufacture and the last digit is the year. If it's a Firestone 500 and the last digit is a 6 or 7, it's most likely the original. These show up at Carlisle all of the time and usually sell for around $125 with the rally wheel. 77's with the aluminum wheels came with a rally wheel on the spare.
Good luck... GUSTO