Topic: 1969 San Jose Mach I with 14/70 wide oval tires question

[keeper]

My 69 SCJ Mach 1 came with 14" wide oval tires from factory. Very rare option. Any one know what they would of been or have any info on this. Thank you, Keith

[RoyceP]

Your window sticker actually says FR70-14 white wall tires. The only ones that I have seen that are original are BF Goodrich brand. I believe Coker Tire offers reproduction FR70-14 tires in Firestone wide oval brand. If the reproductions are not good enough then you are going to have to find good originals. Very limited choice here.

The original tires are really nice looking with a very skinny white wall that was uncommon even then.

My 69 SCJ Mach 1 came with 14" wide oval tires from factory. Very rare option. Any one know what they would of been or have any info on this. Thank you, Keith

[RoyceP]

Just looked at Coker's site - they also offer a BF Goodrich Silvertown P21570R-14 tire which from 10 feet away looks similar to the original BFG FR70-14 tire but the sidewall markings on the Coker tires are completely different than on the OEM BFG tire.

Link: https://www.cokertire.com/tires/p215-70r14-bf-goodrich-3-8-pin-whitewall.html

[keeper]

Thank you Royce, the Coker link is helpful. Is there a link you can share showing the oem radial tires. I was able to pull up some poor resolution quality photos of my former brother in laws 69 Mach1 back in 69. I have to assume these were the radials we are speaking of. Apparently, he later changed out for after market wheels.

[J_Speegle]

I looked through San Jose examples I have of Marti reports for 69's and realize that yes this was a rare and unpopular option. Radials were sort of a new thing and not sure if there was an additional cost over belted tires. That combined with the look may have all played into the lack of sales.

Have pictures of other examples with the white wall and styled steel wheels but no way of telling if they are radials or not from the pictures

Not top get off thread but looked through all plants and only found one copy with the same tires and it was a early production show unit built at Dearborn. Sure there are a few more

[keeper]

Jeff, do you think it is a point deduction in judging if I don't have the w/w radials and do have Goodyear poly glass bias ply tires. If yes, is how much of a deduction is it ?

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, do you think it is a point deduction in judging if I don't have the w/w radials and do have Goodyear poly glass bias ply tires. If yes, is how much of a deduction is it ?

If your in a concours style class and you don't display or offer the Marti report I can't think of a way the judges could figure out which of the original style of tires available on your car it came with originally. Most likely a confirmation of the tire style, their condition and move on if everything is in good/as new condition

Remember the matching spare

[RoyceP]

The BF Goodrich FR70-14 tires are the whitewall version of the “770” tire. The same tire was sold as a black wall. I don’t have a photo.

[keeper]

Well that is a relief. I really don't want to shell out another 1250 bucks for five radials. However, with no Marti report they will still be able to judge accurately  ? It seems odd to me that one can judge an original concourse restoration with out the verification as to what it came from the factory with. Some parts are next to impossible to come up with and allowances have to be calculated I presume. But this is an interesting discussion to be sure.

[Armond]

I wouldn't worry about the tires, just get the Poly's  I have never displayed a Marti etc at an MCA show.  It might be required for thourobred. ??

[keeper]

Thanks Armond. I already have the Poly's on the car. 1200 bucks worth. Fortunately, I did not have to buy the spare other wise 1500 bucks.

[carlite65]

I wouldn't worry about the tires, just get the Poly's  I have never displayed a Marti etc at an MCA show.  It might be required for thourobred. ??

no marti required in any mca class.

[J_Speegle]

Well that is a relief. I really don't want to shell out another 1250 bucks for five radials. However, with no Marti report they will still be able to judge accurately  ? It seems odd to me that one can judge an original concourse restoration with out the verification as to what it came from the factory with. Some parts are next to impossible to come up with and allowances have to be calculated I presume. But this is an interesting discussion to be sure.

Getting a bit off topic - more of a judging question now rather than just tires

No allowances for difficult or expensive parts. That would be unfair to the owners that had those pieces and the focus is on originality to a point in Concours classes at most organization. Some are not really interested in how the cars were originally built - allowing for color changes and other changes as long as the door tags reflect what the judges see on that day.  That is a whole long discussion that has gone on for decades and is best left to a whole other thread