69 GT350 tires

[SChatman]

Is there a radial tire reproduction that looks like the Goodyear original style Lettering tire? I've seen the bias ply Original reproduction But I was hoping to get the original look but radial drivability.

[Bob Gaines]

Is there a radial tire reproduction that looks like the Goodyear original style Lettering tire? I've seen the bias ply Original reproduction But I was hoping to get the original look but radial drivability.

Not yet and probably not in the near future that I am aware of. A viable alternative is to relabeling a radial tire set. A over simplified explanation is to get  one of the Goodyear tire letter kits available through various companies . It relatively easy to do .There are companies that specialize in shaving the side walls for a clean canvas to lay out your letters before applying the letters and wingfoot. You pay up for that service but the finished product looks nothing short of fantastic. One of the forum members does this services or at last used to hopefully he will respond.

[SChatman]

Thanks Bob, hopefully he will reply. I'd like to get that original look and I'm not sure that I would drive the car much when I'm done anyway but just tying to kill two birds with one stone.

[shelbymann1970]

Is there a radial tire reproduction that looks like the Goodyear original style Lettering tire? I've seen the bias ply Original reproduction But I was hoping to get the original look but radial drivability.

Not yet and probably not in the near future that I am aware of. A viable alternative is to relabeling a radial tire set. A over simplified explanation is to get  one of the Goodyear tire letter kits available through various companies . It relatively easy to do .There are companies that specialize in shaving the side walls for a clean canvas to lay out your letters before applying the letters and wingfoot. You pay up for that service but the finished product looks nothing short of fantastic. One of the forum members does this services or at last used to hopefully he will respond.

Never seen that kit. Can you lead me to one? Thanks. Gary

[Bob Gaines]

Is there a radial tire reproduction that looks like the Goodyear original style Lettering tire? I've seen the bias ply Original reproduction But I was hoping to get the original look but radial drivability.

Not yet and probably not in the near future that I am aware of. A viable alternative is to relabeling a radial tire set. A over simplified explanation is to get  one of the Goodyear tire letter kits available through various companies . It relatively easy to do .There are companies that specialize in shaving the side walls for a clean canvas to lay out your letters before applying the letters and wingfoot. You pay up for that service but the finished product looks nothing short of fantastic. One of the forum members does this services or at last used to hopefully he will respond.

Never seen that kit. Can you lead me to one? Thanks. Gary

Here is just one of a number . https://www.tirestickers.com/shop/?gclid=CjwKCAjwx9_4BRAHEiwApAt0zkfGdO_nnn5OIClC0oQswIjUj6dn2YIWVwvPk0CF1ehNwN_yp7jVfxoCEn4QAvD_BwE  .You can do a google search for others.

[shelbymann1970]

Is there a radial tire reproduction that looks like the Goodyear original style Lettering tire? I've seen the bias ply Original reproduction But I was hoping to get the original look but radial drivability.

Not yet and probably not in the near future that I am aware of. A viable alternative is to relabeling a radial tire set. A over simplified explanation is to get  one of the Goodyear tire letter kits available through various companies . It relatively easy to do .There are companies that specialize in shaving the side walls for a clean canvas to lay out your letters before applying the letters and wingfoot. You pay up for that service but the finished product looks nothing short of fantastic. One of the forum members does this services or at last used to hopefully he will respond.

Never seen that kit. Can you lead me to one? Thanks. Gary

Here is just one of a number . https://www.tirestickers.com/shop/?gclid=CjwKCAjwx9_4BRAHEiwApAt0zkfGdO_nnn5OIClC0oQswIjUj6dn2YIWVwvPk0CF1ehNwN_yp7jVfxoCEn4QAvD_BwE  .You can do a google search for others.

Thanks

[SCJSTU]

Bringing this topic back up I have a 69 GT350 convertible built Jan 69 and want correct appearing tires

Found these.... are the closet to original?

[Mongo]

your v.i.n. in The Registry will show you what tires!  my original car 480448 Jan 22 and my beater 480627 Jan 30 both are F70x15 blackwall tires from the factory.

[SCJSTU]

your v.i.n. in The Registry will show you what tires!  my original car 480448 Jan 22 and my beater 480627 Jan 30 both are F70x15 blackwall tires from the factory.

Thanks for the quick reply........I guess I want the look of white letter tires then.......

[Mongo]

Extra tip!  Your car probably small bearing spindle, Shelby told dealer "not" to put the wider tires on small bearing because of bearing failure.
Hense the F60x15 were part of the HD suspension upgrade to prevent that around end of May beginning of April for the production run change.

[Mongo]

i'm sorry i made a typo  early small spindle bearing cars got E70x15 black walls later big bearing HD cars F60x15 white letters.

[Bob Gaines]

Bringing this topic back up I have a 69 GT350 convertible built Jan 69 and want correct appearing tires

Found these.... are the closet to original?

No, not correct for your car given the build date. Yours most likely came with the E 70 15 black wall tires like many 68's used. End of March 69 was the approximate changover date.  If you are pleasure driving I would reconsider the repro tires. You will not like them compared to even the worst radial.

[Bill]

1584 came with the F70 Goodyears per Mongo, but the larger KKX spindle assemblies when new. I used the BFG's for many years and recently (IE two years ago) switched over to a Goodyear Assurance 215/65R15 (smooth black wall which I can eventually add raised white letters to with the kits out on the market). It fills the wheel wells fairly well, not quite that same look as the F60, but the ride and the handling are great, both around town, and at "highway speeds" 


Spec wise, they are close enough for me
Original F60
Overall Diameter in inches-25.9
Section Width in inches-9.2

Goodyear Assurance 215/65R15
Overall Diameter in inches-26
Section Width in inches-8.5

Other than the Avon's, or the radial version of the Firestone wide ovals, not original, but still a period look, I have not found a worthy alternative...I was recently told that the Cooper Cobras are a nice, all around tire, I'd have to mount them blackwall out though. Have yet to hear from anyone running the radial version of the Firestone, would be interesting to know how they are for mixed driving.

[shelbymann1970]

Extra tip!  Your car probably small bearing spindle, Shelby told dealer "not" to put the wider tires on small bearing because of bearing failure.
Hense the F60x15 were part of the HD suspension upgrade to prevent that around end of May beginning of April for the production run change.

Even though most of 69 Mustangs(Shelbys or reg cars) out there are not driven daily I still shutter on all those on Facebook Mustang groups that are putting such big tires-tall and wide as well as larger rims on stock 69 Mustang suspensions(earlier years also). I wonder if any of them were doing extra curricular activity and had a failure or even rubbing issues. I think an E-70-15 equivalent(215-65-15) up front is more than enough tire to stuff inside a stock front wheel well(I've gotten 255-60-15s on 15x7 rims) to work in the rear on virgin cars) owners are hell bent on stuffing in tall fat tires up front on stock 69 suspensions.

[shelbydoug]

Extra tip!  Your car probably small bearing spindle, Shelby told dealer "not" to put the wider tires on small bearing because of bearing failure.
Hense the F60x15 were part of the HD suspension upgrade to prevent that around end of May beginning of April for the production run change.

Even though most of 69 Mustangs(Shelbys or reg cars) out there are not driven daily I still shutter on all those on Facebook Mustang groups that are putting such big tires-tall and wide as well as larger rims on stock 69 Mustang suspensions(earlier years also). I wonder if any of them were doing extra curricular activity and had a failure or even rubbing issues. I think an E-70-15 equivalent(215-65-15) up front is more than enough tire to stuff inside a stock front wheel well(I've gotten 255-60-15s on 15x7 rims) to work in the rear on virgin cars) owners are hell bent on stuffing in tall fat tires up front on stock 69 suspensions.

The "official" reason for the change is often quoted as bearing failure.

When I compare the differences between the small and large spindles, just the spindle itself is thicker. The outer bearing is the same. The inner bearing is smaller.

Engineering wise, what I am reading is that it was a spindle failure rather then a inner bearing failure?


I personally am now running the "big spindles" but for 35 years ran the small '68 spindle with some serious tire combinations. I had no front bearing issues at all even after running the car hard.

Considering the possible tire combinations and hearing absolutely no talk of front end failures, I'm wondering if this was an over reaction?


I'm ok with it because it resulted in a better part but I suspect is a little bit of overkill?

What about T/A racing? Never hear much about bearing failure on the pre-big spindle cars?