Where can you find OEM TPC tires with the wide whitewalls?

[Reatta Man]

Does anyone know where you can find the OEM type Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) tires with the 1"-1.25" whitewalls? I really liked those tires that came on the 80's full-sized GM cars, but the whitewalls have consistently gotten thinner over the years. I've tried Coker Tire and ebay, but all they seem to have available are the late 50's style 2.5"-3.5" whitewalls.

Joe

[rocketraider]

I doubt you'll find any TPC tires with the correct whitewall. Closest thing I can think of offhand is the Firestone 721 with about a 1.5" to 2.00" stripe depending on tire size.

Seems there's never been a time since radial tires were introduced that Firestone hasn't had problems. Way back around 1974, the original "500" radial tire was the subject of one of the biggest recalls ever (bigger than the Wilderness A/T mess, just not as litigious- it was a more civil world back then). An uncle had them on a 1972 Torino wagon and didn't have to buy a tire for that car well into the early 1990s.

"500" and Wilderness brouhaha notwithstanding, I'm eventually gonna put a set of 721s on the 98 for the whitewall, and the Hurst will get a set of Firehawk Indy 500s in a couple weeks. Is there any more appropriate tire for an Indy 500 Pace Car replica? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Well first off just so you know tires are my job. I've been selling them for three years now and have a good knowledge for the subject. What your asking for should be found through a company called Coker tire. They have pretty much monopolized over the antique tire industry. If they don't have them then no one will. And yes the firestone "gangsta" whitewall would be the closest thing to what you want and still be resonable in price.

Hope I was some help.

[NTX5467]

The GM-spec TPC tires are still being built and installed on the assembly line. Only thing is that most are not whitewalls or in 15" sizes, but there are some white letters still around.

The original TPC tires were the first M+S rated radial tires used as standard equipment, back in '75 when that TPC deal started.

At this point in time, the best thing would be to check the individual tire manufacturer sites for tires of the size you need and then check for the whitewall width. Some will be a little wider than others, as I recall. Hopefully, when you look at the specs section for each tire, it will denote the width of the whitewall there or nearby. With that information, you can then shop for someone locally that might have it so you can look at it.

Most of the whitewalls will be in the mainstream sizes for things like Uniroyal Tiger Paw AWP or similar. If you find what you want AND it's in the Goodwrench Service Plus "On A Roll" Tire Program catalog, you might see if your local GM dealer (if they are in the program) will get them from their sources. It might be a longshot, though, that the size you need would still have availability in whitewalls with a width close to what you are looking for. Getting the tires by the GM part number in that program would result in you getting an OEM-spec a TPC tire.

Coker is a good source for tires, but I haven't noticed any radials other than the BFG Radial T/A-style tread pattern tire with a wide, wide white sidewall tire. Have I missed something lately? In their website and some of the tire vendor ads in the old car publications, the various side wall widths are listed for the respective tire too.

Just some thoughts . . .

NTX5467