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1981 tire codes

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Old Apr 4, 2012 | 09:10 PM
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Default 1981 tire codes

I have a 1981 Vette with what I think are the original tires. The car registers 20k. Tire code is 250583-GW-12wwvn. These are Goodyear Poly Steel Radials. 225/70r15. tpc spec.1033. Can anyone tell me what this code means?

Thank You Bill
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Old Apr 4, 2012 | 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bill6529
I have a 1981 Vette with what I think are the original tires. The car registers 20k. Tire code is 250583-GW-12wwvn. These are Goodyear Poly Steel Radials. 225/70r15. tpc spec.1033. Can anyone tell me what this code means?

Thank You Bill
....those tires were a standard size in either white letter or blackwall. The P255/60R15 was the optional wider tire in an outline white letter.

...they probably are the original tires. The tire pressure sticker on the door will say what size the originally installed tires from the factory were.
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 04:37 AM
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Originally Posted by bill6529
I have a 1981 Vette with what I think are the original tires. The car registers 20k. Tire code is 250583-GW-12wwvn. These are Goodyear Poly Steel Radials. 225/70r15. tpc spec.1033. Can anyone tell me what this code means?
Bill

Interesting...don't see many of those around. The TPC spec.1033 is a code for a tire made for a car manufacturer per their specficiations and suggests this tire was installed at the factory.

The other code is the TIN, tire identification number and all tires had one since about 1971. Some time in the 81-82 period, Good Year added a second stencil plate for the tire date code...it should follow the TIN.

I'm including a link to a tire techie article that describes TINs and that late 70's = 80's period and the changes made with use of stencil plates (or gangs).

Corvette Tire Safety

If they are blackwalls, they are the base tire but a white letter tire was available as RPO QGR. This next link shows a nice RPO table of tires available during this period and a photo of the QGR.

Kelsey P255 Tires

Post or send photos of the TIN and date code if not sure...hope this helps

Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Apr 6, 2012 at 04:03 AM. Reason: edit whitewall
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
Bill

Interesting...don't see many of those around. The TPC spec.1033 is a code for a tire made for a car manufacturer per their specficiations and suggests this tire was installed at the factory.

The other code is the TIN, tire identification number and all tires had one since about 1971. Some time in the 81-82 period, Good Year added a second stencil plate for the tire date code...it should follow the TIN.

I'm including a link to a tire techie article that describes TINs and that late 70's = 80's period and the changes made with use of stencil plates (or gangs).

Corvette Tire Safety

If they are blackwalls, they are the base tire but a whitewall was available as RPO QGR. This next link shows a nice RPO table of tires available during this period and a photo of the QGR.

Kelsey P255 Tires

Post or send photos of the TIN and date code if not sure...hope this helps

Tom, I think the last year for whitewalls as an option was 1976.
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Old Apr 6, 2012 | 04:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
Tom, I think the last year for whitewalls as an option was 1976.
Yeah...good catch. I'm thinking white letters but wrote whitewalls not realizing you oldsters still have a whitewall stripe mindset.
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