Original GOODYEAR E70-15 Wide Tread GT, Date Code?

[69Z28-RS]

What was the FIRST date for required DOT tire marking (when all manufacturers were required to mark per the DOT's mandate)??  Wasn't that sometime in the '60's??   Before that DOT required time, the only 'dated' marking on the tires would have been by manufacturer and all of them would be different....?

[firstgenaddict]

Anyone have a similar decoding reference for Firestone?

My brother works for Firestone corp and he hasn't been able to get an answer on the 60's era tire codes

[JohnZ]

What was the FIRST date for required DOT tire marking (when all manufacturers were required to mark per the DOT's mandate)??  Wasn't that sometime in the '60's??   Before that DOT required time, the only 'dated' marking on the tires would have been by manufacturer and all of them would be different....?

The DOT tire marking requirement was effective for the beginning of the 1968 model year, but there was no standard format for the information and the manufacturers each used their own proprietary coding, so the markings weren't understandable or relevant. The law was amended shortly thereafter and a standard format for the TIN (Tire Identification Number) was mandated, effective mid-May, 1971. John Kelsey of Kelsey Tire can decode the TIN on Goodyear tires made between 1968 and 1971, but as far as I know, nobody can decode the TIN from any other tire brands from that period.

[69Z28-RS]

Thanks JohnZ... 
That answers the question I had...  so basically before the 1972, the only period correct tires that *might* have a relevant (deterministic) tire date code would be the Good Years....

Gary

[Bryan302]

Hi Steve,

Here is the code off my WTGT tire.  It is JU05861.  JU for 69; 05 May?.  I'm sorta puzzled because of all numbers past JU.  I looked pretty close and they all appeared to be numbers.  Would is help or make it right if the 8 was a B.

Thanks,
Bryan

[ZLP955]

Anyone have a similar decoding reference for Firestone?

My brother works for Firestone corp and he hasn't been able to get an answer on the 60's era tire codes

Thanks James

[janobyte]

Feb,1969   plant GAD....according to chart. Check on the Mustang forums ( Shelby) Lots of info(links) on some threads there. Dig deep enough and you'll  find what you are looking for.Started with a guy wanting to verify the spare he had in the trunk. Unless pure coincidence, the numbers on my tires (5) coincide with the chart and translate to the proper time frame ( build date). Sorry can't be more help Bryan ,one of many numbers, and not a lot about it. Did my reading last year around this time, found what I was looking for and moved on. Shame about the tires, they were severely abused(hole shots) very early in the history of the car and used solely for winter storage. Most likely were off the car by 69. Side walls show no dry rot. In 90 I wanted to put the Ralleys back on and had new tires mounted, decided to keep them.

[Bryan302]

Thanks Jano,

Well, I finally caught on.  The first set of letters were throwing me off at first.  Thanks for your time and effort.  I'm going to make myself a pocket chart for swap meets.
Thanks again,
Bryan