In 1995, I did a very extensive study of the available tires that were
suitable for vintage racing. Bear in mind that we have a lot of different
eras and car types to deal with, so this is a generalized posting. Charlie
Gibson (Dunlop & Goodyear) and Bob Woodman (Hoosier & Avon) helped. We even
had Gary Wassel from Dunlop, UK come over to help shed some light on the
subject.
Charlie and I have compared tire sizes, measurements, compounds, tread
patterns, and more, until we see black donuts in our sleep.
Some conclusions:
1. Dunlop L section hard (204) compound is very similar to the Green spot of
1962. The soft (484) compound was available in 1964 as the White spot,
primarily for wet usage.
2. The Dunlop M section represents their product line of the late sixties.
3. Current Goodyear Vintage Bluestreaks represent 1965 sizes, although the
compounds are a lot softer.
4. Hoosier Vintage TDs are similar to Goodyear 1965 era production.
5. Hoosier Street TDs sizewise compare to late sixties Firtestone & Goodyear
production, except that the tread pattern is a lot different than anything
back then.
Remember that all of the "Big Three" (D, F, G) were using a pre-slick tread
by 1968. That is what we refer to as the chicken scratch pattern. Sort of a
slick with little slits or zits all over it.
6. Avon produces very little that is suitable for production cars.
7. BFG & Yokohama, et al; Radial tires that offer excellent wear, cost,
performance returns, but really alter the characteristics of pre-1970 cars to
an unacceptable level, in my opinion.
8. The Dunlop L makes sense on the pre-1959 cars.
9. SVRA group 1 and three cars are allowed to prepare to 1967 GCR with
appropriate exceptions, regardless of year of manufacture. It seems to me
that the our tire rules are the best compromise from a historic as well as a
practical stand point.
10. To "mandate" just one manufacture's product in these groups would only be
acceptable if that manufacturer would make a major cost concession. None seem
willing to do that.
11. All of the tire manufacturers are content to let the market decide whose
tires you use. That means that they all will continue to develope their
product. If you don't want this to happen, then don't keep buying the tires.
The solution resides in the racers, not the organizations. If enough of you
just stop building these so called "cheater cars", and do it your way
regardless of where you finish, I think that eventually you will prevail.
Peer pressure on the rengades works wonders if applied properly. No one
enjoys winning very long without the recognition of his peers. Choose the
events and organizations that will listen to your concerns, and enforces
their own rules, what ever they may be. There certainly is a group for
everyone I think.
JW
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