1969 L78 Camaro Tires

[Denis]

The GM of Canada docs for my February '69 L78 Camaro list the following tire option:

PL5 F70-14-4 PR TIRE - HWY - OE - B/WALL WHITE LETTERING

Jerry MacNeish's book asserts that there were 3 such white lettered tires offered:

Goodyear Polyglas F70x14;
Firestone Wide Oval F70x14; and
Uniroyal Tiger Paw F70x14.

So all three brands of tires would be considered correct for my car?

Also, does anyone know of a nice modern reproduction for any of these tires?

Thanks.

[camarojoe]

Actually, the only currently available correct reproduction tire would be a F70 14 Goodyear Wide Tread. (not polyglas) The current version of the Firestone Wide Oval repros are correct only for 70-up, and they don't repop any Uniroyal Tiger Paws at all. You can order the F70 Wide Treads from Kelsey for 160.00 each. Here's a photo on their website, kelseytire.com that shows what they look like.

repro F70 Wide Tread tire

[Denis]

Awesome info. Thanks!

[CamarosRus]

While on the 69 Camaro tire subject, can you please list:

1) What was correct tire brand name, model and size for the 15" Rally wheel on a COPO

2) What was correct brand name, model and size for the 14" XT (IF) on a COPO

3) What is best suggested modern 14" replacement tire for COPO that can be driven on for moderate mileage trips.

Thanks,

[camarojoe]

The only correct repro tires currently availale for 69 Camaro are the Goodyears ...69 COPO with 9737 option (15" wheels) would have E70 Wide Tread GT's, same tires as 69 Z/28, and Yenko. Edit: E-70 Firestone Sport Car 200's were also used and are reproduced correctly and could also be found on the above mentioned cars. I don't know if Uniroyal tires were ever used on these cars with the 15" wheel option, I know I have never seen evidence of such.

COPO without 9737 (14" XT wheels) would use the same tires I mentioned above, the Wide Tread F-70 14. The Firestone Wide Oval and Uniroyal Tiger Paw would also be correct, but the Wide Oval repros are of the 1970-up variety, and the Tiger Paws are not repro'd.

I believe a 215-70-15 is the closest modern equivelent to an E70 15, not sure about the 14, but I think a 215-70-14 would likely be a close interchange, maybe even a 225 70. I have put 1000's of miles on repro bias ply tires without much concern. They don't handle quite as nicely as modern tires, but nothing ruins the look of a classic car quicker and easier than a set of modern radials IMO.

[CamarosRus]

Thanks for the accurate info......I still need IF wheels to replicate the XT look, before I consider buying the Goodyears...........but may resort to using 70'+ 14x7 wheels

[camarojoe]

With so many different "new" wheels on the market it's surprising one of the aftermarket wheel places don't offer an inexpensive reproduction 14x7 steel wheel for GM applications. It seems like it would be easy enough to make, and there would certainly be a market for them. Not necessarily for the purist restorers, but for the guys who just want the "cheapie" look for their cruisers. Wasn't someone selling repro XT's on ebay a few months back? What ever happened to the guy selling/making those?

[William]

February '69 is too early for Polyglas tires on a 1969 Camaro. I believe they first appear on the April 1, 1969 ordering info.

Having said that it is not known that Goodyear Polyglas tires were ever available on a 1969 Camaro. One of the members here becomes apoplectic at the mention. I do not know but believe it was possible for later production cars.

I agree. Just like a CAUTION-FAN sticker modern tires ruin the appearance of an otherwise properly restored 1969 Camaro.

[bigchevydaddy]

The ebay XT repro guy wanted about $100 per wheel for his wheels, and would stamp anything you wanted next to the valve stem. His wheels didn't have the raised nibs near the valve stem hole, so they were pretty easy to spot. He claimed that not all the XT wheels had the raised nibs, and although that may be so, all the XT/IF/JZ wheels I've had had the nibs.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[ QUOTE ]
I have put 1000's of miles on repro bias ply tires without much concern. They don't handle quite as nicely as modern tires, but nothing ruins the look of a classic car quicker and easier than a set of modern radials IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto that