Another Tire Question - Page 2

Shop Rat · July 19th, 2009

S-I, I am sure they would welcome your offer. And I know that others would as well.

We got a 1974 Mercedes Benz 450SL in May of last year. We know that items have been changed. We will need information at some point to get it back to where it should be. For now it could go DPC and be okay with some minor work.

windjamer · July 20th, 2009

I was told by a former vise.pres.of judging that a spair tire is NOT manditory and if in poor shape,take it out to avoid loosing a point or points. I do not deduct for lack of a spair, am I wrong???

Semi-Intelligent · July 20th, 2009

Susan, I guess I was lucky as the original owners never changed anything in 21 years. They even kept the European tail lights that were on the car when they bought it. They put on USA taillights after they shipped the car home. I was very lucky with my purchase.

Semi-Intelligent · July 20th, 2009

windjamer, I'm not sure about the spare, but I think it is possibly judged if it is visible in the trunk. This may be a question for Joe Vicini, the current vp of judging.

windjamer · July 22nd, 2009

SI I know the spair is judged if visable, my question is, is it manditory to have it. Some older cars had a place for two spairs, if that vech. had only one should you deduct for lack of a second spair??

Semi-Intelligent · July 23rd, 2009

WJ, sorry I did not read your question properly. I do not have an answer if a spare is mandatory for judging. I know I'll be asking at the next judging school.

MCHinson · July 23rd, 2009

windjamer,

I don't know of any cars that come without a spare tire now. Every older car that I have experience with also came with a spare. If documentation shows that the car in question could be ordered without a spare tire, you should be OK. If, however, as I suspect, that the car originally came with a spare tire, and it is visible, a missing spare tire would cost you some points.

DaveBerg · July 28th, 2009

MCHinson is correct. If a vehicle came with a spare tire then it would be required to have it. The owner would need documentation to show that the spare was an option if that be the case. This proves true mostly with some commercial vehicles which did not automatically come equipped with a spare. Passenger cars, excepting "some" of the very early ones, generally did come with a spare. Sometimes even two spares.

Semi-Intelligent · July 30th, 2009

David, Thank You for clearing this up, especially for me. Guess I won't need to ask the question at Judges School.

MCHinson · July 30th, 2009

That is correct. If it is visible without moving anything, it is judged. If there is a cover over it (from the factory), then only the condition of the cover matters. Nothing is removed by the judges to judge what is under it.