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"Wide Oval" meaning?

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    #1

    "Wide Oval" meaning?

    Watching a '69 Camaro SS/RS 396 4 speed Hurst Pace Car convertible on Mecum (today's my birthday, if anyone wants to buy me this car) and it's got the Firestone Wide Oval tires.

    What was the "oval" referring to? Does anybody know?

    A 1970 Chevelle SS LS6 or almost any Corvette would also make a nice gift, but to save the embarrassment of me looking disappointed, please, no automatics!
    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.
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    #2
    Originally posted by Rob S. View Post

    What was the "oval" referring to? Does anybody know?

    :
    Possibly the cross-section of the tyre. It would have been just about that time the aspect ratios started coming down for street use - racing tyres had been getting low for some time.
    ---- Dave

    Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

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      #3
      The name of the tire... the emblem had a wide oval and a "F" inside of it.
      Current:
      1993 ZX11 - 2nd build in progress
      1977 GS750 (710 is getting closer)
      1998 Kawasaki Voyager - selling
      1998 Chevy C2500
      1999 Rav4

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        #4
        Originally posted by unfocused View Post
        The name of the tire... the emblem had a wide oval and a "F" inside of it.
        They where made by Firestone

        Grimly got it right, took a look around and his story matches. If you remember tires where 80 and 78 series in the late 60's & 70's and when they went to 70 then 60 for muscle cars that name stood them apart.
        Last edited by LAB3; 05-17-2024, 09:28 AM.
        1980 Yamaha XS1100G (Current bike)
        1982 GS450txz (former bike)
        LONG list of previous bikes not listed here.

        I identify as a man but according to the label on a box of Stauffers Baked Lasagne I'm actually a family of four

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          #5
          Red Stripe Wide Oval Tiger Paws.

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            #6
            So it's the shape of the contact patch?
            1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

            2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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              #7
              Originally posted by Rob S. View Post
              So it's the shape of the contact patch?
              The cross section of the tire I believe.
              Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

              I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

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                #8
                Google says the Wide Oval tires have a wider tread than the height of the sidewall. In other words, low profile tires.
                Ed

                To measure is to know.

                Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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                  #9
                  I always thought it was a marketing/advertising reference to the shape of the contract patch of the then new wider low profile radial tires.

                  ​​​​​​

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                    #10
                    Always seemed such an odd marketing slogan. Tires should be round, no?
                    '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

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                      #11
                      It's like Corinthian leather, something they thought up to have a different product and make it seem desirable.

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by KiwiAlfa156 View Post
                        I always thought it was a marketing/advertising reference to the shape of the contract patch of the then new wider low profile radial tires.

                        ​​​​​​
                        Well, you can't fit a 2" wider tyre onto the factory rim, so that means getting new rims and the new tyre, unless you want to bugger the drive ratios up, will have to be a lower profile than the old one anyway.
                        So yeah - in a roundabout way it's just marketing BS for wider low profiles.
                        ---- Dave

                        Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by Don R View Post
                          It's like Corinthian leather, something they thought up to have a different product and make it seem desirable.
                          Like thundering herds of naugas, sweeping across the plains of the Serengeti.
                          ---- Dave

                          Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window
                          • Likes 1

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                            #14
                            Originally posted by Grimly View Post

                            Like thundering herds of naugas, sweeping across the plains of the Serengeti.
                            Thems good eatin! You just gotta know how to cook em right, tastes like chicken.
                            1980 Yamaha XS1100G (Current bike)
                            1982 GS450txz (former bike)
                            LONG list of previous bikes not listed here.

                            I identify as a man but according to the label on a box of Stauffers Baked Lasagne I'm actually a family of four
                            • Likes 1

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                              #15
                              SO its an ellipse? WHy are marketers so dishonest?
                              1983 GS 550 LD
                              2009 BMW K1300s

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