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I remember very well the day in 1968 when I had a set of Michelin X steel belted radials installed on my 300H. The Michelin recommended pressure then left the tires looking a little flat, Michelin said if people telling me my tires were low got to me, I might have to add enough air to quiet people down. I remember what a huge improvement it was over the earlier tires. Mike Moore On Mar 18, 2014, at 10:31 AM, retromobilia <retromobilia@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Mike, I am old enough to remember those tires and they were the rage in the early 60 because they were the first radial construction. I think they were created by Uniroyal. They were known as nylon radial tires or fiberglass radials. They were exceptional because they were a soft ride and had the added stability of radial cord construction. They were short lived I think for two reasons. The popular tires in Europe which came on euro-imports were steel belted radials. Furthermore, the tire companies were in a patent battle over the design. And the format was somewhat restricted. Pirelli and Michelin seized the opportunity and started selling high milage steel radials in the USA (the rest is history.) I remember my joy putting a set of Pirelli's on my 427 Corvette coupe in 1966. Thinking these tires would take the speed capable of the car. Ultimately the best tire we ever made in this country faded away. I wish I could buy them today, new. Smooth and stable without the jarring of the steelies we are forced to use. If anyone has any additions I would like to hear them. Regards, John From: "Michael Moore" <mmoore8425@xxxxxxx> To: "Chrysler 300 Club" <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 4:39:38 AM Subject: [Chrysler300] Goodyear Blue Streak tire In the 1990's, I met a Maryland man whose father had owned a Chrysler dealership years earlier and had sold 300's to Robert Mitchum (who had a nearby horse ranch I think) and also to a famous stock car racer whose name escapes me, but who also raced 300s and had a brother who was also a racer. The man and I were working together closely on a criminal investigation which eventually a trial. We met periodically in Maryland to review our status with the US Attorney. When we met, my friend (who knew I owned a 300H) would show up with some odds and ends of spare parts he found in the barn of his deceased father's Maryland farm. One story was that they had a bunch of 15 inch Blue Streak tires his dad had ended up with. He gave me a set of dual-oval air cleaners for a 300H, a set of new tail light lenses for a 300G, a set of hubcaps for a 300F etc. He said he had a new set of Blue Streaks for my car if I wanted them. I said I'd take them . But, he couldn't find the tires, and at one point said his dad sometimes used new 15 inch Blue Streaks take-offs as tires for farm trailers, he thought the little whitewall was pretty cool. He brought me one used Blue Streak tire when he couldn't find any of the new ones (Although he called me 15 years later after he found the new set of Blue Streaks and I was able to direct him to someone who was restoring a show 300H and could use them.) The used one he gave me earlier though is not like any Blue Streaks I had on my car. It is plain, size 7:60-15, and says "Goodyear Blue Streak" "nylon" on the outside, and has very large numbers 2:5:62 burned on the inner sidewall. My friend said the tires were either used for racing for that driver whose name I forgot, or they were New Jersey Highway Patrol tires. In 1993, I dragged that tire home to California as personal baggage and have had it ever since. 1. Does anyone know what it is? I do know it was never a stock 300H Blue Streak tire? 2.Is it worth saving? 3. For what? I had thought of using it as a spare, but I drive my car and would not want a 50 year old spare! Thanks, MIke Moore 300H __._,_.___ To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang __,_._,___ |
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