Stock concours cars, was: <VV> Bias Ply Tires

[airvair]

Bruce,

I'm not making fun of bias ply tires as much as I'm making fun of the
too-short 185's. It's been a thorn in my side that most people are so
used to seeing those short tires on a LM that they simply don't realize
what a REAL stock Corvair looks like with the proper size tires.

When I say, make a "repop 7.00-13" size tire, I'm NOT advocating making
one with bias plies. Rather, make a PROPER sized tire (the same
dimensions as the original 7.00-13) BUT with a radial carcass
underneath. I've heard all the comments Coker has said about such a
venture, and you're right. Without the support and DEMAND by a
determined CORSA board (who have been rather gutless on this issue to
date) that a REAL 7.00-13 sized tire be used in concours, Coker isn't
interested.

Note to the CORSA board: We need some arm twisting here. Get off your
lazy duffs and force the issue with Coker.

Just my opinion, but one set in concrete.

BTW, last time I checked, the AACA allows incorrect-size tires ONLY if
the correct size isn't available. In that case, you use the nearest size
available, until the correct size becomes available. At which time, you
are expected to have the correct size. Regrettably, the 185's seem to be
that "nearest" size.

-Mark

P.S. I'd buy a couple of sets of those tires NOW (and I've let Coker
know), but that's only one customer. Any more prospective customers
should direct their "orders" to the CORSA board.

Bruce Schug wrote:
> 
> On Feb 18, 2007, at 6:45 PM, airvair wrote:
> 
> > All I can say is AMEN. Wonder what they'd do if bias ply tires were
> > ever
> > outlawed? Drive around on the rims? LOL
> >
> > Seriously, though, I'd think it would fall into the same catagory as
> > safety glass. They've allowed the use of that for as long as I know.
> > Wonder why they haven't thought about it in that vein?
> >
> > I also wonder if we will EVER get a repop 7.00-13" tire for the late
> > models and early wagons. It should be made with a radial carcass but in
> > the REAL proper 7.00-13 size. And NOT as undersized as the highly
> > touted
> > 185-80R13's we've had to suffer with for so long. I know one of our
> > directors has been pumping Coker about it. Maybe if all of us would
> > flood Coker with demand letters....
> >
> >
> 
> Mark,
> 
> I think you know more about tires and CORSA Concours rules than that.
> 
> My opinion is that as long as CORSA allows incorrectly-sized
> "replacement" tires, no one will have any desire to buy 7.00-13's, even
> if they could. As I have written previously, if CORSA would REQUIRE
> 7.00-13 tires in the appropriate Factory Stock-type classes within a
> period of time, perhaps three years, then people could go to Corky
> Coker, Cal Clark, or whoever, and say, "Hey, if you'll make the tires,
> we'll buy them." Until that happens, don't expect Coker to make any
> 7.00-13's. I talked to Corky about this years ago, when I was
> researching original tires and this is essentially what he told me.
> 
> You can make fun of bias ply tires, and I don't care what the
> construction of the tire is, but they were the original size tires and
> I'll bet you'll find original size tires on any concourse car in an
> AACA show - except for a late-Corvair. It seems to me as though this
> sort of makes Corvair guys and/or CORSA somewhat of a laughing stock of
> the marques.
> 
> Bruce
> 
> Bruce W. Schug
> President, CORSA South Carolina
> Greenville, SC
> bwschug at charter.net
> 
> CORSA member since 1981
> 
> '67 Monza. "67AC140"