In the late 1960s, auto manufacturers in Detroit began building vehicles with 350-450 horsepower engines, and the tires of that day didn't have the strength to hold up to that kind of power. In 1969, BFGoodrich engineers created a low-profile tire that could accelerate fast, brake hard and pull all 450 of those horses into a corner. It was the world's first 60-series radial performance tire; this new aspect ratio created a tire that featured a sidewall that was 60% as tall as the tire's section width delivering unheard of performance for a street-legal tire.
Shortly after that initial race, T/G Racing brought the Tirebirds to Watkins Glen International. They took home class wins in both the Saturday and Sunday races, climbing the podium and proving that the Radial T/A street tire could do what no other tire could do; Win a race, then drive home after.
Of the original six promotional cars created to tout this historic win, only one is known to remain in existence. 50 years later, this Tirebird, fully restored to the original livery of the #92 race car, is still every bit as capable on the track.
