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Mitsuboshi / Tioga Timeline

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Gnarlyscoots:
MODS - PLEASE LEAVE THIS HERE AS IT NOT ENTIRELY COMPLETED AND MEMBERS DO NOT LOOK IN THE STICKIES, thank you.

Below you will find the Mitsuboshi / Tioga Timeline that I have managed to piece together so far, with information coming from articles, old school racers, collectors and a tyre seller from this era.

There are a few I still need to add to this but please be patient.

A little history from some Racers, Collectors and Tyre sellers:-

"The patriot logo on the competition IV was a short lived design, only lasting a few months in 1984 when they were introduced. It's the tire that came on the first generation Hutch Pro Star and initially had both logos, the one shown and the Hutch branded logo facing opposite. The very first set of Competition IV I owned in 1984 had the patriot logo, as I call it, and the word is spelt out Competition IV. The next incarnation, after the buy out, was the green/yellow/blue logo, where the logo was condensed to Comp IV. This also reflected the Tioga logo brand colours".

"A Quick overview. Anything with the entire word spelt out, Stadium, Competition II, III and IV, is pre 1984 and Mitsuboshi owned. The rights and production were sold, or acquired, by Tioga in late 1983 but finalized by mid 1984, where upon the model names were shortened, Comp ST, II, III, IV, and later, Ramp and Pool added on the Freestyle tires".

"In 1985, Tioga issued the grey/white blue/green logo without the detailing in the lettering. By that I mean the outline around the text. I can't tell you exactly when they came out as I dropped out of the scene by then, but I would guess it was the next incarnation of Comp III, the logo remained similar but better".

"The first stadium tires are also considered Competition II tires, as the tread is moulded into the skinwall. It was designed initially as an indoor or stadium racing tire, versus the knobby version, which was obviously designed for outdoor dirt track use. They were later adopted by trick riders, who normally preformed on asphalt lots, gymnasiums or flat ground venues".

"Another thing to remember is that quite a few different tire makers may have been commissioned to manufacture them at different times, or at the same time to support demand, so the logos may vary slightly as did the compound, seen in some skinwalls which appear to have red beading where others appear to have white or golden. LHR, Cheng Shin and a handful others handled production at times too. It's also noted in the serial numbering on most of the early tires. Some may start LHxxxxx or CSxxxxx etc, indicating who was producing it at the time. That's how the early ones I was connected to ran. After I was made aware of that fact back in the day, I began running the Cheng Shin for less money without issue and never looked back, until now, and I only care now from a collectors stand point. I still feel the original Cheng Shin,old logo, was the best tire for the money, one could buy".


Mitsuboshi Competition II Yellow label 1978-1983




Tioga Orange/Blue/Green label Comp II label believed to have started around 1983 - 1985



Mitsuboshi Competition III Yellow label 1981 - 1982



Mitsuboshi Yellow label Competition III 1982-1983



Tioga Comp III Black/Green/Yellow label 1983-1985



Another label variation. Appears to be Factory of Production specification 1983 - 1985



Tioga Comp III Blue/Green/Grey label 1985 - 1986



Tioga Comp III Blue/Green/Grey label 1987-1992 (Better detailing replaced the latter)



Tioga Comp III 'Rainbow' label 1992 - 1998



Tioga Comp III 'Rainbow' label 'All Blacks' 1998 - ??



Mitsuboshi Competition IV only produced from Mid 1983 until December 1983. Also used on the Hutch Pro Star release with the Hutch tyre logo being opposite, facing the Mitsuboshi logo



Tioga Comp IV 1983 - 1986



Tioga Comp V Red/Blue/Green label 1984 - 1985 These are sew ups for Araya skinny rims



Tioga Comp V Blue/Green/Grey label 1985 - 1988



The first Mitsuboshi Comp ST tyre known only as Stadium tyres 1980 - 1983



Tioga Comp ST Blue/Green/White label 1984 - 1986



Tioga Comp ST Blue/Green/Grey label 1987 - 1992



Tioga Comp Ramps Blue/Green/White label 1987 - 1992



Tioga Pro Hex. I cannot find anything on these tyres so if anyone knows anything, please let me know, thanks.

Gnarlyscoots:
This advert, found in Go Feb 1992 Vol 3 Issue 4, was the last year of the Blue/Green/Grey label, and the birth of the 'Rainbow' label.

steve69:
Here's a pic of the early version of the yellow label Competition III to add to your list Terry  :daumenhoch:

Gnarlyscoots:

--- Quote from: steve69 on January 16, 2014, 10:20 PM ---Here's a pic of the early version of the yellow label Competition III to add to your list Terry  :daumenhoch:


--- End quote ---
Thanks Steve. I will get on the case to try and find their time line  :daumenhoch:

Gnarlyscoots:
 :bump:

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