It appears that the first year a GS could be ordered with white letter tires was 1970. I also presume that since Flint was only building Buicks there wouldn’t have been any white letters in the building before 1970 assembly, thus preventing any special order of them from Flint. But what about a GMAD plant that was building other A bodies like Chevelles (which offered RWLs in ‘69)? Were tires and rims shipped to the plants as mounted units? Could an SCO have allowed either RWLs on Chevy steel wheels with Buick poverty caps or better yet a RWL/Buick rally combo be installed? Could/would a GMAD plant build such a thing before 1970? Patrick
If I remember correctly, wheels & tires were shipped to the assembly plants separately. There, the wheels would be mated with the ordered tires or default tires and balanced.
also they would run several tire brands through the plants. idk if they did back then but i remember new cars having differnt brand tires at the same dealer same plant. they bought whoever gave them a contract price that met the standards for the factory. for example if firestone beat good year in price with the same size and spec they would buy from them right after. also if one tire producer couldnt keep up they would buy from another at the same time. lastly dealers may change tires on new cars from time to time ie bad set from factory or flat spots from setting and they use the different suppliers than factories.
I worked for BFG in Kitchener, On., for awhile in 1969. They were selling F78x14 glass-belted blackwalls to GM for $8.00. Whitewalls added $0.50. At the local tire store these tires were about $30 retail.
