Grover 3

Dropped the Spare out of my 72 for the first time... Why couldn't the rest of my car be preserved this well

The tire is dirty but the wheel was sealed and is like new! It has been used as a spare, the nubs are there but worn and there is evidence where the lug nuts were tightened.

Don't mind the pup, he was waiting for me to turn my back so he could do his duty to it.

Now, what to do with a good old spare....

dprinter1

That's pretty cool.

7T1vette

Clean it up and put it back in the tub. What better place for an 'original' spare than in the tub of the car it was shipped in?

Of course, you want to drop the tire pressure down to about 5-10 psi--just to keep it's shape. But, you do have a call phone and collector car insurance with Road Service assistance. Tow it to a tire store or home on the flatbed.

P.S. Mine had the original spare in the tub, too....unused! And that's what I did with mine.

Alan 71

Hi G3,
That's a very nice find!!!!…. both the tire AND the wheel!
Thanks for the pictures.
Regards,
Alan

pmr2000

Cool, I recently dropped mine for the first time, I think this may be original? I cleaned it up, put air in it, have the original jack also.

raydog9379

Pretty sure I'm in the same shape based on what I see in there. I need to drop mine and see what I got (maybe my car used to be a cartel car and is stuffed with cash in there?? /dream over). Prob. should change my spare tire bulb as well while I'm down there.

pmr2000

+++Thanks why I opened mine, figured may be full of drugs or cash!

MISTERZ06

Group3 Love the Dog

i ordered my 1972 "489-Miler" with Option

VPU910 F70 X 15 WHITE LETTERED TIRES $43.00

here they are with the original air

............................... tom

Grover 3

So what was standard equipment on the 71-72?

I've seen:

Firestone "WIDE O OVAL"

and Goodyear WIDE TREAD

Both Bias ply tires with raised letters.

MISTERZ06

it seems that they came with either Tires - whatever they had that day in inventory
........................................ ...... tom

Alan 71

Hi G,
The tires available for 70-72 cars were Goodyear, and Firestone brand.
They were size F70-15 (215-70-15).
They were nylon cord, bias-ply tires.
The black wall was standard, with white stripe and rwl side walls as options.
The tires were mounted on the wheels in the St.Louis plant.
There was no choice as to which brand tire would be on the car when it left St.Louis.
Regards,
Alan

MISTERZ06

1972 Corvette Tire Options
standard were Black-Wall Tires
PT7 - White Line tires F70x15 - $30.35 - production=6,666
PU9 - White Lettered tires F70x15 - $43.65 - production=16,623

1972 was the last year GM installed Bias-Ply tires on the Corvette
1973 was the first year for Radial tires

http://www.vettefacts.com/C3/1972.aspx

........................................ ..................... tom

brit vet

Another 72. The wheel was in good shape but now mounted with the new BF's. Nubs intact so never been on the road but does have some overspray from when the car was repainted back in the day. Can't bring myself to get shut of it so I just keep finding new spots in the garage for it. I have been looking for a wheel and dress up items so I can mount the tire and mount it on the wall. Thinking also of a clock face maybe. I don't know..

Alan 71

Hi bv,
An original tire as you show in your photo does have some value.
I don't know if someone would want it badly enough to pay what it would take to bring it back to the U.S., but I'd certainly hang on to it.
Regards,
Alan

Even though many Flight Judged cars have 4 replacement or reproduction tires on them, many owners like to have an original tire as a spare in the tub.

Don Rickles

OP, can you take a few close up picture of the wheel weights on the spare? They appear to be the correct Micro wing tipped weights installed at the factory! Curious, it looks like there are two 2oz. weights on it?
TIA

7T1vette

Really?? Do you get extra points for the spare having the 'correct' balance weights on it?? [and I thought that I was '****']

raydog9379

Any trick to getting the spare out (I have a 78)? The key fits into the lock but won't turn, I sprayed WD40 up in there to see if that'll help since it's been in there almost 40 years. I looked at the owners manual and it doesn't help me much, just says remove the lock by using the small oval key.

Alan 71

Hi r,
On earlier cars you can reach the 2 bolts that hold the long bolt's bracket in place.
This allows the tub to drop and you can get the tire out.
In that position you might also have better luck getting the key to successfully open the lock.
Might that work on your 78?
Regards,
Alan

Don Rickles

Yes, really! Actually, no deduction would be a better description.
Knock off wheel weights, had a configuration all their own, how's that!

My question about the photos has to do with the total amount of weight on this wheel.

Are you saying there's something odd about spending a life, concentrating, on such things?

MISTERZ06

NCRS Approved Wheel Weights

Do the Knock-Off Wheels use the same wheel weights as the Rally-Wheels
i did some research and found 2 weights



https://www.paragoncorvette.com/c-23...lve-stems.aspx
.................................. tom