[SCG] Good news about 1966-9 concours tires

[Mark Corbin]

All,

While I personally don't know a thing about the VCCA (or any other
multimake antique car club), I can respect that there would be people
wanting to enter their car in such an organization's events. Note that I
didn't say there'd be NO market for bias ply tires, just a small one.
Certainly much smaller than if the tire was a radial.

As to ANY organization insisting that a car have bias ply tires, that to me
is like insisting that cars (from the early 1900's) that were not equipped
with safety glass (ie regular window plate glass) should not be refitted
with it. That line of thinking is IMHO insane, and any organization that
would compromise the safety of its members with bias ply tires is just as
loony. But that's just my opinion.

Concerning our own needs, maybe Coker should offer a USRoyal-based
"concours" tire in 7.00-13, but just not be surprised at the low sales. But
also, they should offer a radial version that's identical in looks. THAT
would be their volume tire, IMHO. I wouldn't think that it would be too
terrible a job to make a "style-change" mold that could be used with either
a bias ply or radial carcass.

I know I'd be interested in a "true" 7.00-13 looking tire, but only if it
was a radial. The vaunted 185/80-R13 tire is just too small-looking in
diameter (compared to a REAL 7.00-13), period. I imagine a lot of others in
CORSA would feel the same way.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: RE: [SCG] Good news about 1966-9 concours tires
>
> Mark--don't make assumptions! Nothing has been committed to at this point.
> And your feedback is similar to other feedback Duanne received after I
sent
> this email. Seems like there are different considerations to balance and
> that may take some time to sort out.
>
> For example, the VCCA, an organization that some people would like to show
> their cars in, does not allow anything but factory stock type tires. So,
> that would mandate bias ply construction... But I know too little about
> tires to say whether a radial tire can be made to look like a bias ply.
>
> And yes, I have a car too that I like to keep as stock as possible (my
> yellow convertible) but drive it regularly, so I want radial tires for
that
> car. But it's not clear whether we have to go to Coker for them... For
> example, Larry Claypool has apparently found a source again for 185/80 13s
> with a 5/8" whitewall, which is just after we had almost concluded they
> weren't available anywhere now.
>
> --Kent
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: RE: [SCG] Good news about 1966-9 concours tires
>
> All,
>
> Since I was left out of the loop, I might as well put in my two cents
worth
> as soon as possible (as if I haven't voiced my opinion on this to others
> before).
>
> The most common tire (that I know of) that was used on LM Corvairs was the
> USRoyal Larado rain tire. An example can be found on #5999, courtesy of
> Bruce McIntosh.
>
> As far as a bias ply goes, that's an invitation for LOW sales, if there
> ever was one (IMHO). Most people will drive their cars, even the show
cars,
> and NObody wants to drive on anything but radials. Without radial
> construction, you can probably discount the idea of ever selling them in
> any quantity worth the effort. Sorry, but we're spoiled. 
>
> My recommendation would be to use the outer tire mold (design) BUT with a
> radial carcass. Ok, so the federally mandated labeling won't match the
> "original" 7.00-13. So what? It would at least be a tire worth driving on.
> Maybe not the greatest 13"er, but at least a show-worthy one.
>
> But at this point, I imagine the project is too far along to do anything
> about this. Certainly, I don't expect to be taken seriously. Never have
> been, so why should this be any different? But then, a prophet is without
> honor in his own land. At least you won't be plunging into this debacle
> unwarned.
>
> -Mark
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > Subject: [SCG] Good news about 1966-9 concours tires
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Duanne Luckow asked me to let folks know that discussions are
progressing
> > with Coker Tire about reproducing a correct bias ply tire for 1966-9
> > Corvairs. I started a conversation with them a few years ago and it
ground
> > to a halt. Duanne has been successful in restarting the conversation.
> >
> > We were able to help things along a little by producing an original
> > Firestone 7.00"x13" bias-play tire, courtesy of a Corsa convertible that
> > Duane Wentlandt purchased. The latest communication from them is:
> >
> > "I now have drawings for the original Firestone tire. We can proceed. I
> need
> > for you guys that are interested to put the word out that we are
> developing
> > this tire with a January 2009 availability."
> >
> > So-I will buy at least one set. Who else is interested? We don't have a
> firm
> > price now but assume the price would be similar to other, similar, tires
> > they sell today, like the 6.50"x13" bias ply tire.  
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > --Kent