Firestone Date Code
 

I am looking for some help interpreting the date code on the Firestone Wide Oval that came with a 71 Corvette I recently purchased. Thoughts?

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...pszzpez1v6.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...psszt6xgyd.jpg

In advance.......thanks!

Tim

Tim,
Unfortunately no one knows or has advised how to date Firestones as of yet...
My brother works for Firestone and has questioned some of the "gum dippers" the retired former manufacturing engineers and they don't remember or he hasn't gotten to the right one yet... I know the current NCRS books for the 70-72 illustrate the dating of Good years and states they will not judge dates until they know how to date firestones.
There were a set of claimed original 1971 Firestones for sale in the NCRS driveline a few months ago... I meant to call about them but forgot and they were not in the next issue, you may be able to locate some other 1971 cars with original firestone spares and compare the markings.

Not only did I want your 68-RS/SS L78... I looked at your current car so many times since late last spring it makes my head go around... great pickup... it is soooo original with beautiful original blue comfortweave.. does it have the crazy late 71 & 72 only T3 headlamps?

Tires
 

I would say 27 week of 69 or 79

It has T3's that I suspect to be original. I do not know the difference (as of yet) if they are the late style or not.

This is the late 1971 and 1972 Style T3... they are not reproduced and they are quite scarce as they were only available during that time. GM went to the POWER BEAM marked lights in 1973.

I just have the old boring original T3's................yawn;)

I agree but 1969 since they weren't making them any more in 1979.

Here's one of the original Firestone 500's from my 73 Super Duty. 25th week of 1973

I hope it is that easy, however given the sheer number of Corvettes with original Firestones I would think there had been some analysis which could confirm

FWIW - If that is the actual tire date for Tim's spare, there were roughly 30,000 - Corvettes built between the time the tire was manufactured and the time it was installed as the spare. Not saying it did't happen however you would not get any points in the NCRS if it were judged.

“253” That is the correct date code decode (two digit week, and one digit year)
Four of my five tires have the same date code. Confirmed original to the car by original owner as well as by Vintage Certification Judging.

Prior to 1971 there was no requirement for nor was there required standardization of any tire or date coding amongst manufacturers so the tires could have been manufactured in 1969. I wonder what some of the small letter Firestone wide ovals (not reproduced and available during the time period) have for coding?

Steve your tires were DOT marked, correct?
Tim is your tire DOT marked?