1969 Z-28 Tires

[red69]

I was looking to purchase a new set of polyglass tires for my 12C 1969 Z-28. My spare I believe is original and it is a F70-15 Good-Year. The tire size is not printed in raised white letters on the side. I was looking at the Kelsey tire web site and it appears that their tire has the size in raised white letters. Does anyone have any experiance or input on their replacement tires?
                                                                 Thanks Pat

[JohnZ]

'69 Z/28's used E70-15 tires, either Goodyear Wide Tread GT or Firestone Sport Car 200, both of which had raised white letters. Coker makes a reproduction of the Sport Car 200, but I haven't seen the Kelsey Goodyear. In any case, I wouldn't put bias-ply tires on any car I own and sacrifice driving/handling for looks.

Edit: Just went to the Kelsey site (www.kelseytire.com), and they do have the repro E70-15 Wide Tread GT - tire looks good, but I wouldn't spend $230 per tire for bias-ply tires.

[red69]

Thanks for the reply John. My spare is an E-70 I didn't look at it close enough. Years ago when I put the car back together all I could get were NOS E-60's and I've ruined one. You are right about the drivability of this tire, seems to want to follow every seam in the road. I've considered a radial what do you have on your car?    Pat

[JohnZ]

Mine had 235/60-15 BFG T/A radials on it (on the original "YH" rally wheels) when I bought it six years ago (and a very worn original Wide Tread GT spare which I trashed); I had rubbing issues at the front at 12 o'clock on the wheel opening moldings (with original springs that have lost a little ride height), and put a set of new 215/65-15 BFG T/A radials on it last summer - no more rubbing issues, and the speedo is dead on at 70mph.

[x77-69z28]

john, you can cruise at 70? my car with 4.10's is screaming at 55mph!

[JohnZ]

That's why I swapped out the original 4.10's and replaced them with 3.55's (and a new Series 3 Eaton Posi); 3900 at 70 finally got to me - now it's around 3300, which is tolerable for highway travel.

[RamAirDave]

This is an original Sport Car 200.  The repops look pretty good, but just a slight difference in the tread.

[Dave69x33]

I purchased a set and drive on them occasionally with no problems, other than the same typical complaints people had "back then" with bias ply tires versus today’s modern tire technology.  I like to drive to local shows and often go for the pure stock look.  Due to the cost of the reproduction tires, I prefer not to put many miles on them annually.  I have a set of Corvette Rally 15 x 8 rims with BF Goodrich 245-60 in back and 235-60 on the front, and they fit, ride and handle great.  Since I was 15 (30+ years ago!) and fell for the 69 Z28 Camaro, I have liked the way the Corvette Rally rims look on the 69 Camaro.  It retains a stock but more muscular look.  Good luck with you decision!

[RamAirDave]

Correction:

Actually, the pic I posted earlier is the repop SC200.  Looked at them again today, and the tread difference I saw I believe to be due to wear. 

Original on car, repop on the right:

[aaronz28]

I have Kelsey Goodyear wide tread GTs on my car with no complaints...

it doesn't seem to lack any drivability or handling with the bias plys... plus it just looks right.

i had Sports Car 200s Firestones on my last Z and it wandered a bit,  the Goodyears seem to ride a little better, although I can't say for sure why that is.

thanks
aaron

[firstgenaddict]

I will sacrifice driveablilty or the look...
If someone would get something close in a radial it would be nice though!