New tires - what is the current supply status?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: New tires - what is the current supply status?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Deichmann, Blistrup, Denmark on Saturday, May 25, 2013 - 03:09 pm:

4 years ago I swapped my very dubious tires with 4 new "T-driver" oversize tires. The cracked early as many other tires of similar age and all from the same factory in Vietnam.
Now they are well worn down - one was through 2 layers of ply :-/ - and I have got 2 Firestone of unknown age by a buddy of mine also made in Vietnam. It may turn out to be the same story with cracks - we'll see.
But I need 2 more - and I may prefer the same Firestone pattern just to make it look right.

So - what is the status of the tire factory in Vietnam? Have they got their process under control? Or will new tires crack within a year still?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Deichmann, Blistrup, Denmark on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 - 06:35 pm:

Bump!
No-one care to comment? I must say I expected I opened a can of worms (like oil and spark plug discussions) but apparently not...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Daron - Brownsburg IN on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 - 06:38 pm:

Why not contact Coker's?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Olsen on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 - 06:41 pm:

Bob has several when I was there...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 - 06:45 pm:

Did you get 10K Km on the T drivers, Michael? Those tires have lots of rubber left in the shoulders after the centers are worn away. I've had good luck with the Coker Excelsiors, and the Commanders before them. They have more rubber on the road


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:22 am:

Clincher tires are now being made in Britain, Vietnam and India. The Dunlops made in Britain run about $600 - $700 each so I doubt it matters if they are better made for most people.

The ones made in Vietnam and India all come through Coker. They are made to various specifications, that is to say the Firestone tires use a harder compound than the Universal T drivers. This is a trade off, the Firestones being tougher to mount but lasting longer and costing more.

I have not seen or tried any of the Indian made ones but don't have any illusion that it is going to change wear characteristics or quality levels.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:41 am:

As Uncle Jack says, "Why not contact Coker's?"

Any other info is second-hand, at best.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:50 am:

"Firestone tires use a harder compound..."

Where did you get this info, Royce? When I asked Coker and Universal about compounds a dozen years ago, they wouldn't even reply.

A harder compound means less traction. I wouldn't pay extra for that if my car had rear-only brakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 10:29 am:

About 5 years ago I got a set of Wards Riverside from Lucas Tire and they have not cracked. I also got a set of Bedford tires about 12 years from Lucas and they still look like new. I keep the correct pressure in them 60 lbs in the Wards and 35 in the Bedford. I park the cars in the garage and the only time they see the sun is when I am driving them.

If they are constantly exposed to the sun and if the pressure is too low tires will crack quickly.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 11:27 am:

I just put a new set of Wards Riverside style tires from Lucas on wire wheels mounted on our 13 touring. The old tires were over size T drivers that were on the car for 14 yrs. The T drivers were not badly cracked.
The Wards Riverside (30 x 3-1/2) are approx. 1" lower in height compared to the T drivers. I can notice some improvement in power going up hills with the smaller Wards Riverside tires.
I like how the Wards Riverside tires look on our T.....the T drivers looked too big......just my thoughts.
Five new Wards Riverside tires, tubes and flaps plus tax/shipping killed $900.00. They are also made in Vietnam.
Not too many yrs. ago you could buy model T tires for less than $90 each.
I recently replaced the tires on our 1910 2 cyl. REO. The old tires...Universal from Coker which I bought in 1976 were made in India.
The Universal's from India started cracking with in 3 yrs. from when I bought them. I have a set of Excelsors on our 1 cyl. REO that are 8 yrs. old and are very cracked.
My cars are stored inside and do not see much sun light.....it sucks on how quickly the tires for our old cars start cracking.
Just sharing my experience with tires for our old cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 11:51 am:

Michael Deichmann:

I have 30 x 3 1/2 UNIVERSAL T DRIVERS on four Ts. I have never seen a crack in any of them. I think I drive as many miles as any one on this forum. I drive EVERY DAY into town. I have driven my Center Door 43,000 miles. My Ts get driven on some tough touring in the mountains of Colorado regularly. I guess I just don't understand why some complain about T drivers if they are talking about UNIVERSAL TIRES????

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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 07:29 pm:

Ralph,

I have insider information. Don't want to spoil my relationship with the source as it might compromise his relationships.

In any case I've had outstanding customer service from Coker, Lucas, and Universal. I recommend all of them highly. I think there are occasional quality slip ups that may or may not be the fault of the place of manufacture. Coker seems to care and always makes good on quality issues. Certainly I've seen this first hand. Not one Model T tire I've personally bought has made me dissatisfied. I've worn several sets bald with no cracking and no rotting.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 08:02 pm:

I would like to add that I have known two long time drivers and users of Model Ts that thought that 32 LBS was the correct pressure for 30 X 3 1/2 tires. Of coarse that soft of a tire that size leads to a lot of flexing of the side walls. The flexing in turn will lead to cracks. I like to use 65 LBS in front and 55 to 60 LBS in the front, and have NO CRACKS.
Side Bar; I have a 1909 firestone manual that recommended 80 LBS in their tires. I would be scared to even be around a tire back then with that much pressure especially as bad as tires were then.
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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 08:02 pm:

I would like to add that I have known two long time drivers and users of Model Ts that thought that 32 LBS was the correct pressure for 30 X 3 1/2 tires. Of coarse that soft of a tire that size leads to a lot of flexing of the side walls. The flexing in turn will lead to cracks. I like to use 65 LBS in front and 55 to 60 LBS in the front, and have NO CRACKS.
Side Bar; I have a 1909 firestone manual that recommended 80 LBS in their tires. I would be scared to even be around a tire back then with that much pressure especially as bad as tires were then.
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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike taylor on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 08:31 pm:

I purchased 4 new universals 4 months ago, new tubes. every one of them has a divot in the sidewall tread corner in the exact same spot on all 4 tires. don't feel it driving. around 400 miles now. still the same. ride fine. 55 psi all around. I leave it on stands if it sits more than a few days.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 08:36 pm:

For extended storage, Bay Bridge Sue recommended putting the car on stands and dropping tires to 15 psi. Makes sense to me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Friday, May 31, 2013 - 12:28 am:

Dave,
Tell me more about the picture of your un-restored early car. Can not read the sign on the windshield. That's a real barn find!
Is it a 11 or 12?

I run 55 psi all around. Royce may be correct on the Quality slip issue concerning cracks. We have some straight tread Firestone tires on our 1910 EMF that are 30 yrs. old and not cracked.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, May 31, 2013 - 01:13 am:

Speaking of tires........about this time the other night I emailed an inquiry about a 32" × 4" tire and tube.
I wrote to ask if I ordered and paid for them if they would bring them to the Iola Old Car Show.
To my surprise about 6 minutes I got a reply from Califunny to inquire with their offices in Ohio.
In the morning I had a phone message from Lucas and, early in the afternoon, I got another call from them asking how they could they help me!
Now THAT'S service from a company that WANTS customers.
I bought a Universal 30 × 4.5 from Lucas last year at Car Show.......good stuff........good people.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Friday, May 31, 2013 - 07:40 am:

I check tire pressure before driving each day. 55 PSI for 30 X 3 tires. I use 60 PSI for 30 X 3 /2 tires.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Friday, May 31, 2013 - 07:46 pm:

Les Vonnordheim:

Its a 1910 Cadillac. It was bought by a friend at an Auction of early brass cars. I had it and 3 Ts in my shop that were refugees from the High Park Prairie Forest Fire last summer. I really like that car and can sit and just look at it. I had 5 of my Ts, my pickup and a 30 foot motor home in my shop at the same time as the refugees. It was beginning to get crowded.
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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Friday, May 31, 2013 - 08:59 pm:

Dave,
You are a good care giver of model T's and a Cadillac. A friend (Dan Seeman)in San Diego is in the process of restoring a 1910 Cadillac. His is not nearly as complete as your friends car. He also has a model T.

Thanks for posting,
Les


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Deichmann, Blistrup, Denmark on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 01:29 am:

Wow - just like a ketchup bottle - you hit it in the bottom and all the ketchup comes out!
Thanks for all the comments!
The Universal T Drivers 30 x 3½ Oversize I bought in 2009 was cracked the year after but have lasted until now.
Shipping of that large items may be am issue, so I do not just buy (now) 2 tires from any dealer in the US, but I have found a dealer in the UK that seems to have most of the various brands including the Firestones I got already. They are now mounted (no particular problems there) and as soon as I have some "air" in the budget, I'll order 2 from the UK dealer.
One thing I noted was, that he also have the Dunlop Chevron pattern, which I'm told should be UK manufacture and hence expensive. Well - he have them for 195£ each, but that is maybe here shipping and taxes makes a difference! Shipping them first from UK to the US and then to Denmark may be a little too much back and forth.
Which reminds me that I also once saw some tubes from Macs that another Buddy has bought: Made in Denmark of all places!!! We have not yet figured out who actually made them.

Thanks again, guys!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 02:04 am:

Good idea to buy from UK, Michael. I've bought 21"x 4.50" Excelsiors from Northhants Tyres & got a good price, cheap & fast shipping. Ordered online monday evening & had the tires outside my garage in Sweden friday afternoon.

They have Excelsior 30x3.5 for an ok price: http://www.northhantstyres.com/beaded-edge-tyres/beaded-edge-tyre-30-35.html

I've heard others had good luck with Longstone Classic Tyres - they are cheaper with Wards Riversides, but may charge more for shipping. http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/30x3-1-2-wards-riversidetyre.html


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