VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION VCCA Judging Questions Tires

So some people that know me know my 72 Monte Carlo gets certified in all 4 areas in hpocf. And I have the car way more detailed (cleaned up) than most would do, but I keep hearing the reason I don't get the best of show is because I have radial tires. They do not make the correct tire for my car. I have talked with cooker and univeral tire many times and checked other sources. No one makes a tie that matches my original spare and or my window sticker. My dad also has the same problem with his 71 Impala. I think it's time we address this problem. I think if the correct tire for your car is not available and you get writing from two tire sources. That it should not be deducted points on a points car or affect winning best of show. Yes I know not everyone goes for that but there are some of us that do enjoy trying to make their vehicle the best on the field that day!

Can you explain wht the originals were and how the replacements are sized?

G78-15 with a 7/8 white wall, or on the Impala it was optional h78-15 7/8 white wall. I have the picture on my phone of the original g78-15 with a 7/8 white wall rest of the tire looks similar to the wide oval Firestone white letter. The only thing I could get close is a g70-15 white letter that is not correct or a g78-15 2" or 3" white wall which would look really stupid. Just my opinion and many others

Andy, I have suggested this to many. There are bias plys that might not be the exact reproduction but there are still bias plies that would fit and would be more "in the spirit" of what the car came with in '72. It is a shame that tire makers don't attempt to correct the lack of these sizes. I know they would make a bundle if they brought back the Goodyear Eagle STs for late 70s and early 80s. These cars are starting to become popular with the Gen X and Milennials. There is a Facebook group called Malais Motors. Check it out.

But insisting on radials will not be a way to address the issue, in my opinion. Find a bias ply that fits and most certification teams will appreciate that you went the extra mile to be correct for year of manuafacture.

My argument is I will have to spend about $1200+ just to buy tires that are not correct that don't match what is on my window sticker or what my original spare is. If they had the correct tire I would not have a problem spending the money but not on incorrect tires. A lot of people I have talked to agree on that

I can definitely see Andy's point. There's a few tire sizes these days that simply aren't reproduced. It seems a large number of late 60s-mid 70s cars are in a tough spot where Coker, Lester, and Diamondback aren't making the correct size or type of reproduction tire they need. I'm not sure if its due to licensing or a lack of demand, etc. Either way its a big problem for some of us.

Some Corvair guys, and smaller 70s and 80s car guys are, too. Nobody makes a factory-correct tire for our 85 & 86 Cavaliers. The only kind of 175/80-13 I can find are trailer tires. So the alternative is to put smaller tires on them and look goofy -or- run 15 year old tires. I know what our choice is...

Even 14 inch radials are hard to come by. BF Goodrich seems to be the only one. All the new stuff runs 16-20" tires so they're dialing back on the small stuff. Hard to believe. This will continue to be a growing issue as time goes on.

I would say we could look at revising some of these guidelines. I personally feel this is a different ballpark than the usual radial vs bias debate. Older, more popular collector cars have the benefit of a large aftermarket of reproduction bias ply tires to choose from. Other cars like Andy mentions do not.

How does the VCCA address this besides telling people to run old tires, or run tires that aren't the correct width and aspect ratio? Just a question.

Daryl brings up a good question that has safety aspects to it as well. If the bias ply fits but is not designed for the car's specs it is not good advice to suggest the incorrect size.

Before we make hasty decisions would it be a good idea for the Judging Committe Chair or VCCA Executive Board to write a letter, perhaps jointly with other clubs, and suggest to the large tire makers that the need is there for production of these bias sizes. We are seeing an increase in 1971-76 full-size, A and F Body platforms coming to meets. Some of our older members are puchasing these to enjoy the comfort and durability of these cars for tours and long distance driving to meets. The younger members find these cars as their source of nostalgia with childhood memories from this era. Thoughts?

When I was at coker tire at the area 9 meet I asked the guy up front and have talked to a few people I try to call every couple months to bug them, but they say the issue is they do not have the mold to do. I had suggested that they should look in to making one because the 69 on up full size GM s and other manufacturers are becoming more popular for judging and meets due to the more comfortable ride and can keep up on the high way with modern cars. And I agree it is not smart putting on the wrong spec tire. Yes those that are completely worried about the points or best of show typically don't drive their cars but I know I am striving to get best of show all the time but I do enjoy driving my car to local shows. Same with my dad with his 71 Impala and he has the same issue with tires also!

For as far back as I can remember there has been a tire size problem with '30 & 31 tire size. in 30 & 31 the tire size was 4.75 X 19. All except one manufacture they now make 4.75-5.00 X 19.

I believe the '32 had 5.25 x 18 and now they are 5.25-5.00 X 18.

I don't remember this being an issue in judging.

An example 1934-1936 Standards used 5.25 width tires and Masters 5.50. During WWII the .25 sizes were replaced with the 5.50, thus a 5,25-5,50 size combined.
With the many tire sizes that came and went in the early '70's there sould be an acceptable common size that is legal for judging. Another example is the dual stripe white walls used in 1970-71. Never hear that one brought-up.
Anyone intrested should present this to the judging committee for consideration or to the VCCA Board.

I have brought it up to the new judging committee chair. And yes the dual white striped tires is what came on my dad's 71 Impala new. As for the tire that could work on it is not the fact about if points should be taken off but the point is like what Daryl said about putting the wrong size on that was not designed for that car. And I could buy a tire that would fit on the car but why spend over $1200 for 4 tires that are not correct to the car. I think there should be a provision in the judging and best of show selection if the correct tire is not reproduced that the points do not get taken off or it does not hinder getting best of show if the person has put a radial tire on that looks close to the original style bias ply tire as possible. I know if you look at my Monte Carlo the tires on it look side wall wise like the original in the trunk. Why push away people like myself when I have done everything I can to get the original style tire for my car but they do not reproduce it? It is not my fault that they do not make it

I think part of the problem might be that the tires on the ground do not match the spare. All five tires should be the same

On my Monte Carlo it does not affect it in hpocf due to it is original tire it has never been in the ground. This is not about the fact i am bringing up you are looking at it different. What is being discussed is the fact they do not make a tire that is correct for it, my original spare is a perfect example of what came on the cars originally

I have the same problem as others with most of my Chevys. I accept a few point deduction. Whenever I was on Judging Teams I took off a few points for non-original tires. The rationale was that it was possible for someone to display a Chevy with tires that were original. That would mean that vehicle would be penalized for the owner taking the time or having the luck to have the original tire. Encouraging those that have original tires (likely not road safe) to display them is also a benefit to the preservation of history.

When compared for best of show and best of the best the tire size is not a major issue if an issue at all. Virtually all have tires that are not 100% original.

I agree with Chipper on this one and would go one step farther. If I can tell a part is a reproduction I think one point should be deducted. There are some reproduced parts out there that you can tell they are reproductions.