How to ID Original Wide Oval Tires vs Reproduction

[musclecar fan]

Does anyone know how to determine if a set of F70x14 Firestone Wide Oval tires are original or reproduction? Any particular codes or sure way to tell?

Thanks

[Mr70]

If your looking at one,relay the DOT.

[GRB]

I don't believe the original Wide Oval or Wide Boot would have date coded DOT numbers. A newer tire would have have date codes imprinted on the sidewall. Also, the manufacturer's name should be molded onto the sidewall, so a reproduction would have to remove Goodyear or Firestone from the original mold. I'm not talking about the cosmetic name but the small print found near the bead, of course.

[Mr70]

That's true to a point,as beginning with 1968 production,the Dept.Of Transportation mandated all tires sold brand new in the USA,have plant/mold and date manufactured on them.
Earlier versions of these tires did not have to show a DOT as you said.
Notice it states USA too,as I have seen a few original 1970 vehicles sold new in Canada & Mexico w/tires that don't have a DOT..
1969 into 70 production appears to be the dividing line so far.

[firstgenaddict]

If it is a small letter wide oval then it is not a repro as they are not reproduced...

Here is an example of the small letter tire

[GRB]

I believe both Gdy and Firstone changed the size of the lettering at some time.