Hi, My 1973 Grabber has the original Goodyear spare tire. I plan to replace it with a modern, steel-belted radial, but I'd like to show off the original. Should I leave it in the trunk and show it off with the lid up at car shows? The trunk isn't all that interesting, and I'd have to have the real spare in there too. Or should I take the original spare out of the trunk at car shows, and lean it next to the rear bumper? I suppose I'll need a new wheel for the new spare. Can I find a new wheel in the original size, or should I look for an original wheel? Roz
In some shows, the Roundup included, the trunk is judges as well as the rest of the car. If you leave the trunk closed, you wont get any points in that catagory. Since its only a spare, I would keep it mounted and clean it up. I still have one of the original tires fro my Sprint. Unfortunately you cant get D70x14s anymore.
Just get another stock wheel and mount a new spare on it, leave the original at home untill you go to a show and then put it back in.
I would keep the original spare in the car. The likelyhood of you ever actually using it is pretty slim. I ALMOST had to use the original spare in my white '74 LDO. I came out of church and my tire was flat. I thought if I drove it real slow I could make it to the gas station across the street and air it up. Halfway across the parking lot I decided it wasn't worth possibly screwing up my aluminum wheel and tearing the tire to shreads. Luckily my wife drove seperate that day...so she drove me home 10 miles...I got a spare...and drove 10 miles back and swapped them out...just so I wouldn't have to use the original spare. I tried to explain the reasoning to Jill...but she just didn't quite get it????
just my opinion, but if your going to show the car i would have all the tires matching. a different tire in the trunk may get the judges attention, especially if your in a stock/original class. if you really want it to look all original can't you get tires from coker? someone else may know the answer to that.
Well if the original spare is still in the trunk it obviously wan't used in 33 years. But I've been told I can't use the original spare with new tires, because the size won't match. Not only that it's fiberglass not steel belted, so I don't want original replicas from Coker because I plan to use the car as a daily driver. It sounds like there's no big advantage to having an original tire. I thought that it would add to the authenticity. I don't expect to win a prize, but I thought it might make the car look more original (even if the other tires are all replaced). Roz
I would just get a new tire and rim for the spare, and keep the original one for the day when we have Concours correct Maverick restorations.
right... but you can always repaint the orginal wheel or power coat it. god please say it won't be so! wow your bolt matches and you kept the tag on your suspention they way it came from the dealer! thats being orginal! big wuppe! throw me a bone!
