29 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

OK here's an easy question. Would anyone know of any Firestone racing tyres of 1965-68 period vintage which might be laying about today, looking for a museum car to grace? The sizes and types I am seeking are as follows:


Front 475 – 10.30 . GP115 – 108

Rear 550 or 600 – 12.50 . GP115 – 108.

But anything close, with the classical Firestone in-period tread pattern, could also be of great interest. Seeking to buy.

(Unlikely, I know, but if you never ask...etc)

DCN

[ZOOOM]

Doug,
Try Coaker tire here in the states.
They make all kinds of replacement tires.
They just introduced an Indy roadster tire last year.
It's a start...

ZOOOM

[Ray Bell]

Didn't Firestone reclaim used tyre carcases?

I believe Goodyear did this. When someone bought replacements, they had to return the last tyres used. This would obviously make it very hard to find them.

These sizes sound like they're off a big sports car or an F1 car...

[B Squared]

This goes back to the '60's - '80's when we were restoring Model J Duesenberg's - we preferred to do them with the original Firestone's which were almost impossible to find. Firestone still retained the moulds and they would make them, but it had a minimum lot requirement. We were in no position to do this on our own, so we utilized a similar tread and design produced by Gerig tire. Someone with the proper assets had a run of Firestones produced in the late '90's when we finally got a set for our own car. The difference in appearance was amazing. Perhaps Firestone still has these rare moulds as they did for the Duesenberg's.

[lanciaman]

I had a tire deal with Goodyear in the 1970s. They gave us whatever we wanted, wet or dry, without charge but we were supposed to return the used tires. This was mainly to prevent sponsored teams from selling their free tires. I presume Firestone had the same restrictions.

Doug, you might contact the IMS museum and ask the restoration department where they get replacements.

[arttidesco]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

917-053, Goodwood Festival Of Speed, 03 07 09, with owners permission

If your well connected and draw a blank you could always try the Porsche Museum :-)

Good luck in your search :-)

[Lee Nicolle]

Doug,
Try Coaker tire here in the states.
They make all kinds of replacement tires.
They just introduced an Indy roadster tire last year.
It's a start...

ZOOOM

That is Coker Tires, they have a lot of odd stuff. I am told you have to contact them for this type of stuff. I know they make or source Firestone 70s dirt tyres which are sold as display only though some people seem to use them ok.
Somewhere i have seen old style light treaded Goodyears some where too.

[SJ Lambert]

That is Coker Tires

When I enquired after some period (66,67) Firestones of them, Coker's came up empty on Firestone 5.50/8.10 thirteens and 6.00/10.50 thirteens.

There are Dunlops that aren't too far away vis-a-vis rolling diameter. Don't suppose Avon or any one else do an equivalent?

Edited by SJ Lambert, 25 December 2010 - 00:26.

[Aero Z-28]

I have some Firestone Indy tires from back then. Size says 10.10 - 15. One tire says R7125N and the other R7126M. They are too low profile for my '67-'68 era Trans-Am Camaro but would look good on a formula car. I'm looking for a Firestone Indy 9.20 - 15 to match another one I have. I have some Goodyear Bluestreaks that are 6.00/10.00 - 15 from the '68 era that I might trade for some comparably sized Firestones.

-Jon

[ianrand]

Hi Doug:

I hope all is well with you?

I don't know if these tires would be close enough for your application, but I have a pair of new old stock Firestone 6.00/13.50x15" R125 Compound 46D Super Sport GP's. If you wish to pursue, I'd be happy to send you pics.

R Ash
www.racingicons.com

OK here's an easy question. Would anyone know of any Firestone racing tyres of 1965-68 period vintage which might be laying about today, looking for a museum car to grace? The sizes and types I am seeking are as follows:


Front 475 – 10.30 . GP115 – 108

Rear 550 or 600 – 12.50 . GP115 – 108.

But anything close, with the classical Firestone in-period tread pattern, could also be of great interest. Seeking to buy.

(Unlikely, I know, but if you never ask...etc)

DCN

[SJ Lambert]

When I enquired after some period (66,67) Firestones of them, Coker's came up empty on Firestone 5.50/8.10 thirteens and 6.00/10.50 thirteens.

So I ended up leaving the Firestones on their original rims and am using them as "transport" tyres.

Cast new mags and mounted Avons on them for track work.

[Lee Nicolle]

So I ended up leaving the Firestones on their original rims and am using them as "transport" tyres.

Cast new mags and mounted Avons on them for track work.

I am surprised they even hold air. Most of those US made tyres have a shelf life of about 3 months. And they leaked air from new. As do some brand new ones even now.

Worse the buggers shrink making them near impossible to remove from the rims or [if you are silly enough] to try and refit. Old bridgestones are the same.

I once had to cut some off with the angle grinder, luckily you get half way through the wire and the come off quite easily.

[SJ Lambert]

Am having a lazy night in the shed - was checking the tire codes were facing the "correct" way on the new Avons. Fronts "check" , rears were marked up wrong, luckily swapping left to right has the codes facing right!

Edited by SJ Lambert, 04 July 2016 - 12:13.

[SJ Lambert]

[E1pix]

 All you gotta do now is shred 'em. 

[SJ Lambert]

[E1pix]

Those are going to look, and work, marvelously! 

[RonPohl]

Such a lovely 60s era formula car- can't quite figure out what it is. What is it SJ ( you lucky dog)?

[SJ Lambert]

Such a lovely 60s era formula car- can't quite figure out what it is. What is it SJ ( you lucky dog)?

 

 

It's an Elfin Type 100 Monocoque!

 

Aussie built, this one's a Mk2C from 1966 , built to Australian National Formula 1.5 (ANF 1.5) rules.

 

It raced in Formula B in the States in 67/68 but is now back Down Under being prepped for Group O Historics  after having had a full skins off restoration over these last few years.

 

They're known as Elfin Monos and this one's been christened Elmo!!!

 

 

Woof Woof!!!

 

Edited by SJ Lambert, 05 July 2016 - 04:26.

[RonPohl]

Beautiful. Who raced it back in its FB days in the states? Perhaps I saw it in action, although off hand I don't recall ever seeing an Elfin.

[RonPohl]

And what engine will be used in its group O life? Thanks.

[RonPohl]

Do my old eyes deceive me or is that a push rod front suspension? Surely on of the first!

[RonPohl]

Ok, I found the thread in "historical research"( a bit of a mystery to me what goes there vs main chat). It answers my questions. Cheers

[SJ Lambert]

Here's a period shot of the other Mk2C Mono with John Walker who was very quick in it (and other machinery, JW went on to be a leading F5000 driver in Oz).

 

Mine was always Firestone shod, John's looks like it's wearing Dunlops, as did the Works Monos (most of the time).

 

I'm not sure whether my car had Firestones because the original purchaser had access to them as an "Americain" or whether they were readily available in Australia at the time in any event. It's my understanding that my car's guy, Phil Hotchkiss (from New York) came out to see the car be finished off at the factory - I guess he could have brought boots with him...????

 

[E1pix]

Fan-bloody-tastic! 

[Rupertlt1]

Here are some questions — where were Firestone racing tires/tyres manufactured? Did they have a special plant/factory?

Were they exclusively "made in the USA"? 

Did they ever manufacture racing tyres in the UK? YB11/R106?

Is there any indication on the tires where they were made? Codes?

 

See: https://www.f1grandp...nes-man-europe/

 

Update: https://sportscardig...tscar-memories/

 

Update: https://forums.autos...bob-martin-rip/

 

Update: https://forums.autos...ng-west-london/

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 August 2023 - 08:10.

[Patrick Sumner]

Just noticed this thread whilst I'm having a clear out.  I have two Firestone YB11 which it seems a shame to throw away if they're any use to anyone for a static display.  Sizes are 5.00/9.50-13 and 6.25/12.50-13.  They're off my F Atlantic car in 1971/2.  Can be collected, near Petworth, W Sussex.

 

One answer to the above post is that these YB11s are marked 'Made in Great Britain' and marked R-125.

[MarkBisset]

Rupert,

 

https://www.sergent....tor/tas65s.html

 

Bruce McLaren was an early Firestone adopter - the funds helped get Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd underway - his experiences in the '65 Tasman Cup (Cooper T70 and T79 Climax for Phil Hill and Bruce) with his new tyres may be of interest. The Firestone man on the spot was Bob Martin.

 

There are more tyre snippets among Bruce Sergent's race by race reports - Jack had just signed with Goodyear too.

 

 

Bruce and the boys ponder geometry changes perhaps…the front rocker set up made changes ‘in the field’ more difficult. Cooper T79 Climax, Wigram 1965 

 

m

Edited by MarkBisset, 29 August 2023 - 01:18.

[Lee Nicolle]

In the 70s the speedway sedan I was involved with used Firestone 13" tyres that had came from a Speedcar. And originally an open wheel wet tyre.

First race tyres I ever bought were 10/23/13 M&H which were used on Formula Atlantic as well as midgets, this probably 1978

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 31 August 2023 - 03:34.

[brucemoxon]

Veering wildly off-topic...

Click on the first link. Turn up your sound. Poor Warwick, dragged out of bed to report on the most alliterative fire in history.


https://www.andrewho...o-bloopers.html

 

 

 

BRM