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Topic: 1978 Pace Car Tires

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


1978 Pace Car Tires

Posted: 2/19/09 10:39am Message 1 of 4
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Joined: 1/3/2009
Posts: 5
Did the Pace Car come from the factory with solid white lettered tires, or white outline lettered tires?
 
Also, which brand?



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1978 Pace Car Tires

Posted: 2/19/09 11:44am Message 2 of 4
Former Member
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Franklin, IN - USA
Joined: 5/3/2008
Posts: 117
Vette(s): 1978 pace car replica
The pace cars came with "Goodyear GT Radial" tires.  They are raised white outline style, not full white say as with the current "Goodyear Eagle GTII" tires. 
 
The original style tires are no longer available through Goodyear or any of the reproduction tire companies such as Coker. 
 
I've seen some "Goodyear Eagle GT" tires with the raised white outline style.  I don't know if they are the correct size or if still available. 
 
Many folks have talked here as to what tires they have chosen for their cars.  I will be putting a set of "Firehawk Indy 500" tires (made by Firestone) on our pace car in the next couple months.
 
Take care - spring is on the way.
GaryC - Franklin, IN - '78 Pace Car replica



1978 Pace Car Tires

Posted: 2/20/09 11:01am Message 3 of 4
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Joined: 1/3/2009
Posts: 5
Thanks.  I know a little about date coding on tires before 2000.  But is there anyway to know that the tires on a 1978 Pace Car are original.  In other words, can you tell which decade the tires were made, since the date codes back then only showed the last digit of the year.  So, how can tell a tire made in 1978 (8 year code), from a tire made in 1988 (still an 8 as the year code)?


1978 Pace Car Tires

Posted: 2/20/09 11:11am Message 4 of 4
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
One of our members(hunt4cleanair) here has written several articles about this very subject(tire dating) in the NCRS Restorer magazine. The info is quite surprising.
I think his last article dealt with the '78-'82 tires, and the differences in "factory installed" tires vs. replacements.
Perhaps he'll see this, and shed some light. If not, I can dig out the articles and post some of the info...


Joel Adams
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in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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