1990 Gatorback opinion? Chris?

[Aurora40]

Hey Chris, you probably have more experience with ancient Gatorbacks than anyone! hnoes

These tires have about 10-12k miles on them. They are currently on the original rims as mounted from the factory. But I'm thinking I should remove them because maybe I'll switch back to the salad shooters, but even if not it would be easier to store them without tires on.

The date coding appears to be the 16th week of 1990. They have a good bit of tread left. There is cracking in the two outermost grooves though, you can see it in the second picture:

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/6a10w*B1xzvT5MDPrKp7qx3O2ThWYOS1VyQlv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/6a10w*B1xzvT5MDPrKp7qx3O2fW4SA3M1Qaav4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/6a10w*B1xzvT5MDPrKp7qx3O2cxAD8ETPk0Qv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

Does the cracking make them pretty much worthless? Or are pretty much any 17 year old gatorbacks the same way?

 

[*89x2*]

The tires as "high Performance" tires, are suspect at best ;squint:

They will serve well as original tires for judging in the NCRS/Blomington Gold arenas however, I would not count on them for daily use.

Probably the best thing to do, is this:

 

[Aurora40]

The tires as "high Performance" tires, are suspect at best ;squint:

They will serve well as original tires for judging in the NCRS/Blomington Gold arenas however, I would not count on them for daily use.

I agree, I wouldn't dream of doing any aggressive driving with those things. But I wouldn't use them at all. Really I'm thinking I should dismount them and either sell them or throw them away.

So that's why I'm wondering if they are worth anything, or should I just toss 'em?

I'm considering putting the salad shooters back on my car, but I'd transfer over the GS-D3's if I do that. No way I'd run on these ancient things. Even if I don't go back to salad shooters, it would be easier to store the wheels without tires on them.

I don't believe my wife would be too keen on the tire coffee table! :W

 

[jonstr]

I agree, I wouldn't dream of doing any aggressive driving with those things. But I wouldn't use them at all. Really I'm thinking I should dismount them and either sell them or throw them away.

So that's why I'm wondering if they are worth anything, or should I just toss 'em?

I'm considering putting the salad shooters back on my car, but I'd transfer over the GS-D3's if I do that. No way I'd run on these ancient things. Even if I don't go back to salad shooters, it would be easier to store the wheels without tires on them.

I don't believe my wife would be too keen on the tire coffee table! :W

They may be worth something to the NCRS crowd. If tires (or any parts) can be identified as reproduction, they will lose originality points, and worn out originals will lose condition points, so many of the 'serious' NCRS guys will buy a set of good looking, used original tires just for the judging field.

I picked up a couple of 'judging tires' for my '69 on ebay. It might be worth listing them there. A few searches of ended items might also give you an idea of what they are bringing.

 

[*89x2*]

Keeping them for NCRS/Blomington Gold Judging useage is the only thing they would be good for, I agree w/ Jonstr.


From the NCRS book:

Assign equal pts to ea. tire:

A. Deduct 10% - OEM brand/size which differ frm original only because of markings or other minor differences.

B. Ded. 20% - OEM brand, type and size tires which differ slightly frm orig. in design, const. material, tread pattern, style lettering, or pattern.

C. Ded. 30% OEM brand, type and size that differ considerably frm orig. in design, const. and material, tread width, tread pattern, style lettering, or pattern

D. Ded. 90% - as above, but non-OEM brand.

E. Ded. 100% - Oiginality and cond. for incorrect size or those with white letters mounted inboard or outboard.


If you plan on tossing them in the trash, let me know - I'll pick 'em up.

 

[KANE]

Hey Chris, you probably have more experience with ancient Gatorbacks than anyone...

I wish I could offer something more meaningful to your threads here, but since we are on the subject of older tires...

I loved the Gatorbacks I used on my 4th gen F-bodies (1993 Z28 & 1994 Formula) some 13 years ago. I think they were the best tires I'd ever had. They outlasted every other tire I had. I had a set of Yokohamas and only got 6k miles out of them.

Are there repros out for these yet? I may have missed that somewhere. I'm running Khumos and they aren't too bad- especially for the price.

So do most Callaway owners have a second set of tires/wheels-one set for shows and the other for driving?