Author Topic: What was the tire to have in 1971/1972? (Read 2068 times)

cleandan · « **on:** May 13, 2022, 11:30:24 AM »

I am wondering what was the tire to have in 1971/1972.
I am talking street legal tires here, not racing tires.

You have your car set up and ready to go for saturday night racing and you installed what tires?

gregaba · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2022, 12:41:57 PM »

I used Doral wide ovals.
They were a great combo for street and stop light drags.
I also used BF Goodrich TA radials and some Goodyears.
A lot of it depended on how much money I had at the time I installed them.
Greg

frnkeore · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2022, 02:20:04 PM »

In that day, performance tires where rated with letters and then the aspect ratio. Such as G70-15.

In SoCal, for cheater tires, a lot of guy's used walnut embedded snow tires (still made), made with walnut infused soft rubber. DOT was created in '67 and by '71/'72, race tires weren't policed. I ran Stock Car tires, on 10" wheels, on the back of my K-code Mustang and never got stopped.

There were still recaps back then and I vaguely remember 2 groove "Cheaters" but, not sure of the date.

Joe-JDC · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2022, 03:05:06 PM »

Goodyear Polyglass GT G-60-15, G-70-15, pumped up to 45 psi. BF Goodrich L-60-15, or N-50-15. This was for strip duty where you had to use a street tire with track prep. I have a NOS pair of BF Goodrich N-50-15s on 10" rims that I can't get anyone to dismount due to the age and DOT numbers on the side of the tires. Still have the blue soap on the white letters, but no dice on dismounting them. Insurance liabilities they claim due to old age. Joe-JDC

RustyCrankshaft · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2022, 07:25:57 PM »

I can see why a shop wouldn't want to mount them, but they won't dismount them? That doesn't make much sense. There's no air in them when you dismount them so whats the risk? Too bad you aren't closer, I'd dismount or remount them for you. I've mounted some pretty old and rotted tires without any trouble for rollers or whatever. That's they the tire machine has a LONG air hose, if it's really iffy I just hide around the corner when I hit the air.

Stangman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2022, 08:54:44 PM »

Not sure when they came out but I remember Pro Tracs on my Mustang as early as 75 when my dad had it.
I was 9 then but I geuss thats when I started to get into dirt bikes that got me into cars eventually.
But when I got the car it had the Pro Tracs. These were regular street tires.

cammerfe · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2022, 10:43:11 PM »

Back somewhat before your designated time window, but Atlas Bucron tires were the designated items for a while.

KS

rockhouse66 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2022, 07:19:55 AM »

Quote from: cammerfe on May 13, 2022, 10:43:11 PM

Back somewhat before your designated time window, but Atlas Bucron tires were the designated items for a while.

KS

Yes! They left a nice little pile of rubber dust on the pavement. I think Casler cheater slicks were a thing then too.

Tommy A · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2022, 08:13:39 AM »

I'm with CammerFe on this one.The Standard station up the street from us sold alot of those tire's to the hi-po guys..........Tom

SSdynosaur · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2022, 11:12:23 AM »

I recall, '59-'60up era, that when Standard Oil first released the Atlas Bucron Tire it was a "super" premium tire and came with a 50K mile warranty covering "tread wear". Don't misunderstand, they were expensive, very expensive, but they had better dry traction on acceleration than anything previously available. The Standard Oil Dealers soon discovered that some customers returned for tread wear warranty after, as little as, one week's service time. As I recall, the "free race tire" warranty only lasted approximately six months before it was discontinued.

oldiron.fe · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2022, 04:41:21 PM »

On my 66 fairlane in - 1967 the front hot look were 6.50-15 ATLAS POLYCRON with 4 or 4.5 x 15 Cragar s/s rim rear tires used the cheapest /largest/ softest/biggest/recap I could buy -seems my center oiler 2x4++ was hard on rear tires -a few rear 9 inch gears-and a few 3rd gear parts in my toploader too---I still have a the pair of the front tires and rims!!! -- still think crager s/s are the best look for 66/67 failane! What I miss most is sunoco pump dialing 190 up to 260 AT.35$ A GAL!!!! damn - feeling older than dirt now- late 50s - 5gal for a buck to get the friends car and girls to the drive-in for a view of the movie from the back seat

AlanCasida · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2022, 09:08:51 PM »

I had BF Goodrich L60s on my 66 Galaxie in 1975. When I wore those out I moved up to Firestone Super Sport N50s. Good times.

badcatt · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2022, 02:16:59 AM »

Nothing like Smoking a brand new set of BF Goodrich Belted T/As

Around May 1978 in Redmond WA. Sorry about the condition of the picture...

Stangman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2022, 09:42:57 AM »

No reason to be sorry about that. I which I would have taken more pictures when I was younger.

Heo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2022, 10:19:43 AM »

When i was 14-15, 77-78 we built dunebuggys. The tire sourse was the dumpster
behind the tireshops. So the choice was a few years old, lets say 72 isch.
Those i remember among the wide tires is Firestone wideoval, Goodyear Pollyglas
Pos-a-traction torque twister, Kelly Supercharger.

Lowrider · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2022, 06:31:07 AM »

I always liked the Goodyear Polyglass w/RWL. I recall the old front end mechanic where I worked mentioned in the late 60's that Goodyear would have a great tire if they ever got the lumps out of them.

shady · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2022, 03:42:34 PM »

On my $65 a week pay check all I could afford was recaps. They lasted about 5000 miles if I was easy on them. I did buy a set of Mickey Thompson G-60 blems for my '65 Comet Boss 302 circa '78-9. Good tires.

Rory428 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2022, 06:17:06 PM »

I never got my drivers license until 1973, so 71 and 72 was just a bit early for me. But in the mid 70s, I was running Fisk Sprint F60-14s (front) and G60-14 (rear) on my 1970 M code 351C 4V Mustang Sportsroof. It had the original Goodyear Polyglas F70-14 small letter tires when I bought it, which I still think were about the nicest looking tire ever made. But when the Polyglases wore out, the Fisks Sprints were about 1/2 the price of new Polyglas. A buddy had Mickey Thompson J 70-15s (with the "I" shaped treads), on his 4 speed 68 Chevelle SS 396, which at the time, seemed to hook up great. Other tires that I used in the mid 70s, were Road Huggers, and Concorde L60-15s, both worked decently, and Goodyear "Rally" GTs, which were great for laying down crazy long, and loud tire tracks, but virtually zero traction. Later on, I tried Formula 1 Super Stocks, Pos A Traction Torque Twisters, and Pro Tracs, all worked fairly decently.

cleandan · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2022, 08:53:39 AM »

Thanks for all the replies, I realy appreciate the information.
The reason I am asking is my 1966 7-Litre Galaxie is in need of new tires.
I have always built this car with the goal being it was owned and loved by a high school kid in the 1971-1973 time frame.

So far I have stuck to that with just about every repair, mod, and upgrade except for the MSD box and the SPOHN rear suspension parts.

I am toying with the idea of using "period correct" tires....but those tires kinds suck when compared to just about everything else I can put on the car with todays tire choices.

Still, knowing the options is helpful.

As much as I am going for the high school build I will not install N-50-15's and air shocks to raise the rear end up and over the too big tire for the wheel well lips.....
Again thanks, I appreciate all of it.

Joe-JDC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2022, 11:10:47 AM »

Reproduction Goodyear Polyglass GT F-60, H--60 tires are available made by Coker tire for about $285.00 each. Joe-JDC

AlanCasida · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2022, 07:53:05 AM »

Quote from: cleandan on May 22, 2022, 08:53:39 AM

As much as I am going for the high school build I will not install N-50-15's and air shocks to raise the rear end up and over the too big tire for the wheel well lips.....
Again thanks, I appreciate all of it.

Actually there is a lot of room in the wheelwell of a '66 Galaxie. I was able to get N-50s under my mine back in the day on 15x8.5 ET slots with no air shocks and in my current Galaxie I have put 28x10.5 Hoosier slicks under it with 15x10 Magnum 500s with a 5" backspace. The street tire I use now is a BF Goodrich T/A 275-60-15.

machoneman · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2022, 05:30:23 PM »

Had Goodyear Blue Streak race tires on the rears of my 1967 BBC Camaro (sorry!). Forget the size exactly but they were on 10" wide real magnesium 16" diameter Halibrand wheels. Looked like this: https://bangshift.com/general-news/ebay-pick-of-the-week-amazingly-rare-halibrand-magnesium-wheels/

They were take offs from a road racer but like new when I bought them for a song. Looked great and allowed a terrific launch with a 4:88 gear!

frnkeore · « **Reply #22 on:** May 25, 2022, 03:14:31 AM »

If you want to run, new G 60 15's. Hoosier makes them.

They are treaded, dirt track tires and should be pretty soft.

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Author Topic: What was the tire to have in 1971/1972? (Read 2068 times)