Speedway tires

[smallhurst]

OK, here are pictures of my Kelseys, I bought them mid last year. I use them as show tires and for judging.  You can see the stripe that runs from the bead out, the tire mounting goop ran over the sidewall as I drove out of the shop.  The area is like a deep scar, where the smooth rubber has become rough, almost like it was sanded with a coarse substance, etched into the sidewall.  You will also notice the seam or mold mark on the sidewall about an inch or two down from the tread, that also is unsightly.  When I took them back to Discount tire, they said they had never seen that kind of etching, and indeed I have had them mount my Diamondback, and Coker reproduction Firestones and BFGs without any of this happening.  Not sure what chemical they were using, but it etched your tires and no others.  Thanks for listening.

I will forward these onto John Kelsey.  You are correct that it looks like abrasive hit that tire.  Is it one tire or all of them?  Again, if you can, please give me a call.  We will get to the bottom of this!!!!

[TLea]

There are several versions of the polyglass, this is ther KR one,

[Shasmu]

Here's the spare tire in trunk of GT350# 02789. I think it was original to the car.

[TLea]

Here's the spare tire in trunk of GT350# 02789. I think it was original to the car.

probably, thats a 68 date

[mikeljgt500kr]

I will forward these onto John Kelsey.  You are correct that it looks like abrasive hit that tire.  Is it one tire or all of them?  Again, if you can, please give me a call.  We will get to the bottom of this!!!!

OK, it is all of them, some are worse than others, but that seam/mold mark is also on all of them.

[Swiss_Stang]

My 1968 shelby is a GT350, Car number 237, build date 12/01/67.
Did it come with large or small letter speedways?

[Coralsnake]

Most likely the small letter versions

[Bob Gaines]

To help understand the progression. The vast majority of 67 Shelby production used small letter speedways. 67 production ended using the small letter speedway so it is easy to understand why a small letter tire would show up on a early production 68 Shelby more so then a large letter. With that said the large letter version began to show up again in 68 production . I say again because the large letter speedways were only used up until approx 67 #0290 in 1967 Shelby production. It is hard to say when the large letter tires started to show up in 68 production but it is generally accepted as later production at this time.  The historical assemblyline photographs which are typically early production have large letter tires mounted. Maybe Goodyear was using up supplies or ? I have seen some later cars with large letter spares and others built about the same time with small letter. It has always been a difficult subject fortunately as time goes by we are narrowing down the changes. I hope we are able to get closer before all of the still original spare tires get changed out. Bob

[TLea]

My 1968 shelby is a GT350, Car number 237, build date 12/01/67.
Did it come with large or small letter speedways?

308 was built 12/1/67 and had small letters. Does your car have tilt?

[Swiss_Stang]

Thank you for your informations. Yes, my car 00237 has tilt steering.

[TLea]

Thank you for your informations. Yes, my car 00237 has tilt steering.

It seems like 12/1 was the first day for tilt based on info I've gathered