1971 240Z OEM Bridgestone 175/14 Value?

[7T1240]

In the hope of raising some funds for other work on my car, I am considering selling the OEM Bridgestone tire that was the car's spare.

Rarely (if ever?) used - see photos below. If I were to put this on ebay or in the Z parts forum, it would be helpful to establish a value beforehand. Opinions?

Thanks, Gary S.

[Arne]

Very hard to call. After 35 years of sitting, in my opinion that tire is good for nothing but original appearance. And looking at the tread, it is obvious that it has seen a few thousand miles on the road. For someone like myself refreshing a Z to use as a driver, it is almost valueless, other than as a curiousity.

But I can certainly see the value for someone who wants to build a car as close to showroom original as possible. (Although if you are fussy enough to want a factory spare tire, you are probably going to be concerned that the date code on the tire is consistent with the build date of your car. Limits your market some.) But it is impossible to predict how much someone might be willing to pay for a single tire for the spare. Now if you had a full set of 4 or 5....

[zman525]

did they come with bridgetsone tires? i have 2 spares one bridgestone and one from a company called Toyo Z...

[Arne]

I worked in tires and wheels back in the '70s, and Z's typicically came with either Bridgestones or Toyos originally. Later on (280Zs) Yokohamas were another possibility.

[26th-Z]

I would be interested in the tire, Gary. It is by no means useable other than show. Her Majesty came with Bridgestones and Princess came with Toyos. Do an archive search - there is a thread by Kats about original tires. What do you think it would cost to send it to Sarasota, Florida 34236? PM me and we'll chat.

I came back to edit this after you mentioned the date code, Arne. Yea, for the strick connoisseur, the date code is vital. But hell, I figure anyone is just fortunate to see one at all. I DO know guys, however, with correct tires that they show with.

Chris

[stevemasum]

Hey Gary,

I've owned and worked with a lot of the original 240Z Bridgestones and your picture of the tread pattern doesn't look like the RD-150's. I know that some of the original tires were 175-SR14 but most were 175-HR14's. Of the ones that were 175-SR14, I thought were Toyos. Do you have a date code on the tires? Do you have a date code on the rims?

Thanks.

Steve M.

[CanTechZ]

The spare in my 7/70 is what I believe to be an original OEM. It is a Bridgestone and is in similar condition with same tread as 7T1240 and it is a 175-SR14. There is small number "K7001" would that be the date code?

[Arne]

There is small number "K7001" would that be the date code?

No. The date code will be the last three numbers of the DOT number. It will be on only one side of the tire and will be in the format "DOT XXX XXXX 123". The three number code is simple - first two digits are the week, the final one is the year. So my bogus number above would be built in the twelfth week of 19x3. (At the turn of the century they went a four digit code so that the year could be two digits.) So if one of these Bridgestones said '061' it would be the sixth week of 1971.

[Alfadog]

Wht excellent information Arne! I will remember that.

[Arne]

Be aware that back in the '70s, if a tire was built that was not intended for the US market, the DOT number may not exist at all. I've seen a few tires on privately imported cars (many years ago) that way.

[7T1240]

Hey Gary,

I've owned and worked with a lot of the original 240Z Bridgestones and your picture of the tread pattern doesn't look like the RD-150's. I know that some of the original tires were 175-SR14 but most were 175-HR14's. Of the ones that were 175-SR14, I thought were Toyos. Do you have a date code on the tires? Do you have a date code on the rims?

Thanks.

Steve M.

Following 26th Z's suggestion, I read the thread started by Kats, linked here: http://classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5065&page=2

Replies 24-27 of the aforementioned thread show the Bridgestone Super Speed Radial-20, which is the tire I have. Unlike Arne's DOT XXX... example, this tire has the DOT script standing alone. As suggested by CanTechZ, my tire has the script K7009 on each sidewall, and I believe this indicates the tire was manufactured in the ninth month of 1970. The spare wheel from my car is stamped 10/70. The car's VIN is HLS30-13523, with a build date of 11/70. CanTechZ, if my logic is correct, that would mean your tire was produced in the first month of 1970.

Gary S.

[sakijo]

Be aware that back in the '70s, if a tire was built that was not intended for the US market, the DOT number may not exist at all. I've seen a few tires on privately imported cars (many years ago) that way.

It is still that way. Here in Japan, you can get fabulous tires that are not sold in America, and therefore, do not have DOT markings. It does not mean that they're not DOT compliant (I'll bet that a few of them exceed DOT stndards) but just that the tire manufacturer didn't bother certifying that they were DOT compliant . . . and why should they if they're not going to be sold in America . . . . .