Thanks for the info. Any idea why wood was used? Weight?
Wood is inexpensive, light, and quite strong. Plywood is even stronger, and molded plywood has to be drilled with metal-cutting drill bits.
With British cars, enough engine oil spray saturates the wood to keep it rot-free. ;-)
As you know, race tire rubber compounds are not made with storage in mind. In fact, three months and a single day of use is probably about the design life.
All of my track tires are DOT approved track tires—and the factory did make good on that one.
I'm going to guess you parked it immediately downwind of a sulfur plant or someone vandalized it or damaged it in an accident.
I think the Florida sun did it in. I've since bought a stainless steel wraparound cover, but don't trust old tires that aren't in regular use.
While tire technology has greatly improved since the late 70s, a tire that isn't rolled on the ground regularly is going to fail elsewhere before the tread is worn away. IMHO.
The original 1963 tires on my boat trailer are fine. They aren't kept dry, either!
'Probably not a radial. The term for those tires in the garage lingo of yesterday would be, "Maypops". ;)