Hi dadz:

I'm glad I qualified by earlier statement with "as I recall".

I've been doing some farther research.. trying to pin down the various dates at which the Tire Safety Standards related to displaying the production dates changed.. and they seem to have changed quite often over the past 40 years. Sorry to say that the Federal Register is very hard to follow between "proposed changes" and "actual changes implemented".

I know "think".. that the "K7" is the Plant Code that indicates what production plant the tires were produced at.

I've written some contacts at Bridgestone to see if they can dig up some history for us.

Does your tire say K7002 or K7000 or K7009? I can't quite be sure from the picture.

There should be another set of characters molded into the sidewall - what do they say?

I think we need to gather a few more samples...

regards,

Carl

I am willing to part with the spare but won't be able to confirm anything until I get back to the car around the end of April if everything goes as planned. I am in the Crystal River area of FL and do get down to Sarasota/Bradenton fairly often to go sailing.

Jrome,

I am patience, thanks for the update.

Regards,

Keith

Hi dadz:

I'm glad I qualified by earlier statement with "as I recall".

I've been doing some farther research.. trying to pin down the various dates at which the Tire Safety Standards related to displaying the production dates changed.. and they seem to have changed quite often over the past 40 years. Sorry to say that the Federal Register is very hard to follow between "proposed changes" and "actual changes implemented".

I know "think".. that the "K7" is the Plant Code that indicates what production plant the tires were produced at.

I've written some contacts at Bridgestone to see if they can dig up some history for us.

Does your tire say K7002 or K7000 or K7009? I can't quite be sure from the picture.

There should be another set of characters molded into the sidewall - what do they say?

I think we need to gather a few more samples...

regards,

Carl

Carl,

I checked today the characters stamped into the sidewall and they read as follows:

K7002 V-I DOT R20N

I hope that this helps? Also kats was able to decode another Showa date found on the itemized list in the toolkit which reads:

45.8.15 which is decoded as August 15, 1970. This date coincides with the doorjamb tag of 08/70.

Now if we could decode that sidewall we would be getting somehwere.

As a sidebar 'kats' was also kind enough to let me know the historical significance of this day in history. It is the day that Emperor Hirohito is broadcast to the people of Japan ending World War II.

Image of toolkit list:

Possibly an unused spare wheel and tyre from a 240Z

click here

Hope it helps someone!

Hi guys. Only 23 hours to go!! Ebay Australia.Item number: 220253086892

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My latest acquisition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290537581144&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

My wife thinks I am planning to open a tire store!

Keith

I have a Toyo that I took off the spare rim.