I was cleaning up my set of 4 tires when I noticed contrasting Blue and white lettering within the treads

2 are white script are coded Q06R and Q06L near the date.

2 are Blue script are coded Q16L and Q16R near the date

My theory blues were either fronts or rears and whites were also either fronts or rears--anybody have an opinion?


Tires are dated for November 1986.

 

Right and Left might more sense if they were directional tires once mounted on wheels. Of course the offset of the wheels would determine front/rear, but I would think those would be marked on the wheel themselves (they are on the inside) they state FRONT or REAR.

 

Here is a good shot of the Blue, whites are the same.

 

Here is the tire box from the build sheet, I see a match.

 

In for info

 

I suspect White is front and Blue is rear.

Both front tires White both Blue tires rear.

 

Subd

 

I just checked my 87, rims have never been off the car. All text is white on all four tires. I have the original gatorbacks on my 91 and 92 as well but I can't locate the text on those, but they are on my lift, I'll check again this weekend

 

When you look see if you find the same or different mold designation.... here is one of the two blues coded Q16L

 

Have you tried contacting Goodyear... I doubt they would tell you, but they might if you push hard enough.

 

The blue lettering is W9HJ . . . I see the match on your build sheet . . . assume it is an inventory coding? Are there four designations? . . interesting

 

The 2 that are white script are coded Q06R and Q06L near the date.

The 2 that are Blue script are coded Q16L and Q16R near the date.

I think this is part of the mystery.

 

I have a copy of a build sheet for a 92 that says W9HA in the same box . . . really have to assume its a inventory part code . .

Does the lettering on all four tires say the same thing? . . . then at that point one would have to assume it its a Right/Left or Front/Rear color coding . . .

 

Looking at your original post . . . all 4 tires clearly have W9HJ printed on them . . .

 

Yes W9HJ all 4 2 white script 2 blue.

 

I guess after re-reading this, the L and R in the code would make me think that my initial supposition that the colors were intended for Right or Left may likely be in error. Here is some of my thinking It is probably more than likely that the tires and wheels were delivered to the assembly plant pre-assembled,

1) it would reduce shipping costs of taking delivery of 2 units into 1,
2) it would reduce the square footage of the plant required for storage,
3) it would speed up production.

The Build sheet of my 87 Formula also shows W9HJ.

Obviously there are front and rear rims and they cannot be interchanged, and color coding for assembly would make sense, of course we have an instance of all white.

What is the history of the tires or the car that they came on? Where did you get them, was it on a car you have owned since new?

 

5000 original mile day two-new car take offs. 1987 production.

 

Hmmm... I don't have seem to have that (though I only had a minute to check tonight). Mine have "HJO" and "177". I assume the 177 is the date code which would make sense. I took a pic I will post it up soon. I'll take another look tomorrow when I get home from work.

BTW my car is a Norwood car.

 

Thanks for having a look

 

Sorry for my delay! Lots of stuff going on recently... Am I looking in the right spot? Take a pic of where your code is an i'll have another look.

 

Here you go!

 

Are you planning on using these or selling them?

 

Using them--Just thought it was interesting that they would be color coded.. I expected white but not blue and white!

 

I checked again tonight... Thanks for the pic! Found it!

Left front lists H03L and the left rear lists H04L. Can't see the right side as they are on the inside of the tire. I will post a pic tomorrow and will check the inside ones this weekend.

 

As a note to the discussion - the way you found your tires mounted matches the way my set was configured. One installed pair had the dates inside facing and the other pair were outside facing... Neat!

 

In regards to the spray paint on the treads, I would guess Goodyear wouldn't know for a few reasons. 1, they most likely just supplied tires in mass bulk to the factories and didn't make/designate them specifically for use on front/rear. The factory would most likely have done something that specified where on the cars the tires went, such as spray painted the numbers on the tires that coincide with the numbers on the car's documentation. 2, these tires stopped being manufactured something like over 25 years ago and it would be amazing to run across someone at Goodyear who was there back then and/or would have that knowledge today. For example I bet if you went into your local Chevy Camaro dealership and started asking specific questions about third gens, 9 times out of 10 I bet they wouldn't have the answers.