Actually I did not say that right perhaps, it's best explained in the article referenced by Revi in post 2 of this thread. My tires say DOT but do not have the safety warning, which means it had to be manufactured before 1980. Nor do they use the universal system of numbering that was introduced in 1971, that's why we need the article referenced above to decode Goodyear tires prior to 1971. The DOT stamp simply references that it was made in the USA. I have heard restorers like Kevin Mckay refer to tires dated before 1971 as NON DOT, I picked up that phrase from them. One of these tires is dated Dec 1969 and the other 4 are dated in March 1970, decoded by the article above. And the OP's tire is dated December 1969. Just like the one I have. So Revi's statement that it must have been made after 1971 because iy says DOT on the tire is incorrect...Whew! Long winded explanation. So can you clarify what NCRS looks for when judging? Do they check the date codes or deduct for the speed warning being there on a repro? If they check the date codes these tires won't work for my car it's a June 69 build.

From the article above in post 2:

" Finally in 1971 the U.S. Government stepped in after several failed attempts working with the tire and rubber industry and created a mandated universal tire date coding system controlled by the DOT (Department of Transportation) that had to be followed by all manufacturers and is still being used today. Tires that do
not follow this system are not allowed to be sold in the United States."

And..................

"Safety Warning.
None of the original tires had the Safety warning that is required on all new tires today. This started to be used in about 1980 so was never seen on the original 1960’s and 1970’s tires. Usually stamped on the back side of the tire"

 

Hi Lee,
The new Editions of both the 68-69 and 70-72 TIM&JG indicate in Section 22 Tires, that because at present ONLY date codes for Goodyear tires, NOT Firestone or Uniroyal tires, are known and understood, NO tires will have the date codes judged.
I'm thinking that's the reason tire dates are not mentioned in the Tire Standard Deductions.
Regards,
Alan

 

Alan,
You are right on!

 

Wow then that means these would be perfect for judging (no deducts) for any year that this tire was offered? Anybody know what that span would be? I'm a June 69 build so it's at least that for a start date, I'm the original owner and I ordered white letters on the car.

The Black Book states "NYLON white letter tires" for 1970, 1971 and 1972, so these tires must be correct for judging for 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972. For 1973 they list steel belted radials.

 

Like this?

 

The Goodyear repro tires have the correct tread count.
The Firestone does not.

 

Hi,
I believe the # of rows in the tread is just part of the problem (for SOME folks) with the current Firestone reproduction....
the side wall states 'SUP-R-BELT' instead of SUPER SPORTS
and
isn't of nylon cord construction.
It's a reproduction of a tire that wasn't originally available on 68-72 Corvettes.
Regards,
Alan

 

The Firestone Wide Oval repro is indeed a train wreck to an original.

Why do you say the Firestone wasn't originally available ?

 

Build date based on the vin, would be (approximately) in the 3rd week of December.

Tire looks good for it's date...