OK ,I dont want to get in trouble but I thought radial tires were not used on american cars until 1973. Im probably wrong but my senial brain tells me the instructor for cje tires said radials where first used on G M cars in 1967.We rec. a real good hand out, but I cant find mine and I just about tore the truck apart. With out stiring a tu-d how about some honest discussion on this?

Dodge was still on bais in '73. Mom's Dart had them. '76 Aspen had radials.

1967 was the first year for optional radials on a Buick, although some sources incorrectly list 1968 as the first year. I'm not sure when they became standard issue.

BTW, my father's 1976 Aspen had bias plys. Lunched the whole first set in 4000 miles! Never got more than 8000 miles out of any set, but I was never able to convince him to try the radials. "It didn't come with them."

My 65 Skylark list a option for size, no mention of radials. The wifes chevelle (72) also list a option for size. I have the manufactures book for both cars, god help me if she is allowed to run radials and finds it out.

Dick, Eric is right about the '67 Riviera having radials. Although we have never seen it in factory new car literature there is a service bulletin from Buick and Olds (probably Caddy too) that we have seen showing it as being available after new car introduction.

This subject is one where our judging system really has worked as a Buick owner provided us with the service bulletins which were verified from another source and we were able to change our guidelines.

Thanks for the reply Steve. I will admit to being a bit of a bull head, but I also know you can learn something new every day.To do our job right we must continue to learn. With that said Please dont tell my wife she can have radials on her 72 chevelle

Steve, I was the one that submitted the info noted about 67 Buicks introducing radials. There was a letter from Buick from 1967 to dealers, a service bulletin, and a "Brochure" introducing radials submitted to AACA for review not just a service bulletin. Also the brochure clearly lists the entire Buick line as having radials as an option, not just the Riviera as memtioned.

Boy do I come to this party late! Just saw this post.

If there is some factory evidence of radials being available from the factory...I suppose there is some wiggle room in the judging.

However...at least in Buick's case...were radials available as factory installed or as a "dealer installed" upgrade or accessory?

If indeed radials were available on Buicks....were they letter size or metric size? The wrong size could be another deduction headache.

Radials indeed where a factory option and came in 205 R 14, 225 R 15 , available on all models, Radials only available in whitewall. It was option Code F7. I am sure the dealers retrofitted many cars with the option as well if customers requested the upgrade.


Special, Special Deluxe, Skylark, GS 340 $88.47

Sportwagon $77.93

GS 400 $56.87

LeSabre,Wildcat, Riviera $107.36

Riviera GS $89.47

Electra 225 $89.47

Thank you Keath and Eric. This information should be made public at every judging school and placed in the new judges manual

Keith, Did the '67 bulletin continue into later years until radials were standard on Buicks? I have a 1970 GS455 and have radials on it because of the touring we do.

Chuck

BCA 2586
AACA

Buick had the radials 1967, 1968, and 1969, then dropped them again for the 1970 models, and went thru 1975 without offering them again, if I am correct, 1976 once again saw radials on Buicks.

Keith,
I wonder if they were dropped in 70 because of the mid-year 1969 intro of the fiberglas belted tires, in new alpha-numeric sizes? That was touted to be a pretty big deal at the time, and perhaps they were seen as "enough" of an improvement to eliminate radials?

We had radials on our 76 Electra. In fact, they were subject to recall(Firestone "721"). I remember my dad was pleased that car came with them as he had put Sears (Michelin) radials on our 72 Estate Wagon.

Ed

I don;t know the specifics as to why, but that sounds plausible.

What brands of radials would have been available from the factory in '67 or '68 for Buicks?

Withe a little luck maby Keith (my3buicks) will chime in.I think he provided the info. to judging comitty.

Thinking back I remember Eric told us that if a car was held up for lack of a part it left an empty space in the line. This was called pushing air.This was not a money maker,so the plant manager would send out for a stack of tires. They would be what ever was available so long as it was a major brand such as goodyear,general or B F goodrich. With that in mind if I judge a 67 Buick with radials he gets a pass so long as they are not Sears or jc whitney with raised rainbow letters. You get my point.

Does anyone know the real answer with pictures or brochure??

I know the judges will have a stroke, but I think radial
tires are safer and provide a better ride than bias ply
tires. Like seat belts I think it makes more of our collector cars usable an keeps them off trailers. Another option is a third brake light. (I have one on ebay made by Stewart Warner in 1928) Yes, I know not a factory option but a good idea, that's been around a long time, like seat belts and radial tires. So if a car is not perfect, and very few are, it should only be used for points off as a tie breaker if at all.

Well said. I'm with you. Being a 'purest' doesn't mean you should jeopardize safety.

My electric wiper motor is invisible, but works way better than any Trico vacuum motor, under all conditions.

Paul, this issue has been debated all over the place. It boils down to money and whether owners are willing to spend it. I just captained a team at Charlotte and low and behold a guy had done what needs to be done if you want to drive on radials and still show a correct antique car. He has radial tires on rims for driving and bias-ply tires on correct rims for show. It can be done, he proved that it can.

Susan Im not sure where I read it,but because of the way radial tires FLEX ?? they should not be used on older wheels that where not designed for radials. They can cause the wheel to split,creating a serious safty hazard. I also agree it boils down to parting with the bucks.Sometimes your the windsheld ,sometimes the bug. Put the right tires on.

Hello, I'm Eric Marsh and I'm the guy who teaches the CJE on tires. I've studied this subject for years and am still learning things about tires and their history.
I recommend that our members restore their vehicle to reflect how they appeared when they were new. You should also drive the vehicle (yes, show cars can be driven) and when exercising an older vehicle for some distance, a new set of rims and tires can be an option. We have two sets of wheels and tires for our Kaiser. Rims and Bias ply for show and radials on modern wire wheels for touring.
I make it to most AACA National Meets and try to teach CJE at each one (including twice at Hershey). Please join in and spend 1/2 hour to cover this subject.
I do not consider myself an expert but, I'm happy to share what I've learned.
I also don't spend much time on the forum as I'm not what you would call a good typist.

Nice to see you and get to talk to you after the Charlotte show. I had taken your CJE class a few years ago and still have the wonderful reference sheets about tires on my clipboard that I use for judging.

Folks, if you want to learn about tires, this is the man to see. You don't have to be a judge to go to the judging schools or CJEs. But just incase you might want to someday, go ahead and sign the cards that they give you and get your chips. Who knows, you might enjoy this side of the hobby.