[SD455DJ]

What tires did our birds come with from the factory? My way of thinking is:
70, 71, 72 TA: Goodyear RWL F60-15 Polyglas GT's (and 70-72 Formulas w/ TA pkg or 15" wheels)
70 Formula 400: Goodyear BW F70-14 Polyglas GT's
71/72 Formulas: Firestone BW F70-14 Wide Ovals (seen some Goodyears)
73 TA: Firestone RWL F60-15 Wide Ovals (never seen Goodyears)

I haven't seen any odd-ball General or Uniroyal (except radials maybe?) in the biased ply offerings like you see on the A-bodies, not that they didn't ever come with them on. It seems that Firestone was the tire of choice for the 73 TA, while Goodyear for 70-72 TA's.

Open to your thoughts....

Dennis

[njsteve]

73 optional radial was GR70x15 Firestone Radial 500.

[eaglesan13]

This was the spare from the trunk of my recently acquired 70 Formula 400, although I don't know if it was original to the car.

[Bentwheelbob]

Here's a picture of the Black Car's Canadian documentation. The tires are listed as option PM7. Also note that it has option Y99 - Handling Package. To the left is a picture of the car in approximately 1985 sporting whitewall tires.

[SD455DJ]

eaglesan13, that's different to see it mounted backwards. It could very well be original. The date code on the tire will tell you for certain (if they had them back then).

I know the A-bodies came with Goodyear Polyglas and Firestone Wide Ovals predominantly, with a few General and Uniroyal Tiger Paws in the 70-series, but Firebirds? I've never seen anything but Goodyears on 70-72 Birds in 70 & 60 series tires.

Anyone have pictures of 70-72 magazine road test Firebirds with other than Goodyears? Or factory brochures? I believe the 71 performance brochure shows both Goodyear (60 series on a TA) and Firestone (70 series on a Formula 455) that appear to be airbrushed.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Bob, I bet your Formy came with Goodyear RWL F60-15 Polyglas tires. Those white walls look atrocious!

Dennis

['ol Pinion head]

Dennis, I believe you have it down correct. have had over the years a lot of JW's and KR's with well worn original F60-15 Poly Glas GT's, never any with Firestones.

On G60-15's used in late 71 and '72 on optional 15x7 equipped Pontiac A body's, have only examined well worn Goodyears.

[Bentwheelbob]

Here are pictures from the 1972 Firebird sales brochure. General Scramblers and Firestone Wide Ovals.

['ol Pinion head]

Problem is that's preproduction artwork.

[Bentwheelbob]

I didn't say it was right right. I just responded to Dj's request for pictures from factory brochures.

Oh well, Happy New Year.

[Norwood]

No way those Generals came on that T/A once production started

[Jim Rotella]

I recall all of the original '72 Trans Am's that I've seen were equipped with Polyglas GT's. There was a blue '72 pre-production Trans Am press car that was pictured in most of the new '72 car issues. It had Rally Wheels with no trim rings and Firestone wide ovals. There was also a white '72 T/A press car featured in a 1972 British car magazine (possibly Custom Car) that had Firestone tires mounted on Rally II's. That same car was featured in Car Craft's March '72 "Redskin Revue", but this time it was wearing American Racing mags and B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A's, which were provided by the magazine's staff.

[SD455DJ]

Bob, wow, General Scramblers. I have seen a real G60-15 Scrambler, but not a F60-15.

Roger, PMD did like to show things in the brochures that weren't gospel on the production side.

Jim, you don't happen to have those old magazine articles that you could post?

Dennis

[Jim Rotella]

Dennis, I'll have to look to see if I can find those magazines. Right now they're all packed away, since I just moved. I know Motor Trend and Cars magazine both featured that car. I know I don't have that British publication but I've seen that article several time.

[cjatx]

Here are a couple of pictures from the 1970 Firebird brochure.
The Firestone tire from the Formula description. The TA picture didn't come through as clear, but shows Goodyear's.

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Bob, I bet your Formy came with Goodyear RWL F60-15 Polyglas tires. Those white walls look atrocious!

Dennis

I kinda like the whitewalls... guess I'm getting old..

[keith k]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

This was the spare from the trunk of my recently acquired 70 Formula 400, although I don't know if it was original to the car.

Check the date code if you can, but I suspect it is original.

Picture below of the original spare tire from my '70 Formula (a 14x7 Rally II equipped car), ...a similar Firestone Wide Oval.

[SD455DJ]

The '71 performance brochure shows Firestone Wide Ovals & Uniroyal Tiger Paws in 70 series and Goodyear Polyglas GT's in the 60 series (Trans Am).

1973 seemed to be Firestone for the Firebirds and Goodyear Polyglas GT's (G60's) on the A-bodies when optioned with the 15" wheels and handling pkg.

[J GLASGO]

We had a 71 Formula in 73? that had the original General Scramblers on it,14 inch white letters with dog dishes.

[SD455DJ]

Cool John. Do you happen to have any pictures of the Formula with those wheels and tires?