Look at the 30 X 3 1/2 tires on these police cruisers. The current crop are nearly double the size.



Rigid tires have a unique look too!

Way I heered it is that it's the guvmint's doing. The War Production Board ordered the 30 x 3-1/2 out of production during the Great War, replacing it with the "oversize" that we have today, and have not rescinded the order since.

I don't believe that the War Production Board ordered nominal 30 x 3.5 tires out of production during the war and then never rescinded the order. If that were true, there would be no period photos of 1919 and later Model Ts like the 1924/25 roadsters with nominal tires like Royce posted above.

I've posted this in the past, but worth showing again.

From left to right:

- 1930s or earlier Wards Riverside "blem" or "second" - slight defect in the bead so the Wards Riverside name was ground off - oversize

- 1950 Wards Riverside -oversize - purchased new by my father

- 1920s Trailblazer Cord - true 30 inch

- 1920s/1930s Goodyear - true 30 inch

it makes sense that the oversize would wear longer, use less gas and ride smoother. And give slightly larger footprint for braking.
Norm

Hey while speaking of tires has anybody heard of these Garfield's before? They are super soft and all like brand new on this Tudor I'm restoring.

In 1994 or 5 I bought some 30x3 tires, Coker classic, zig zag tread. I guess they quit making them, I can't find them. In 2005 I bought some Universal rib tread 30x3 tires and they are larger. Also the tire I bought in 05 has cracks so bad it looks dangerous to drive on, the one from 95 looks new from the side.

Don, a set of those Garfields was taken off a 27 roadster here in Adelaide. The gent who fitted them drove the car almost as a daily driver and did many miles in the car. My guess is they came from one of the vendors some time in the 1980's. They are worn nice and evenly, and the carcases are still soft. I have two of them on roll around rims. They were no longer available when he went to replace them.

Maybe they went the same way as the Insa tyres made in Brazil, and the Betco brand made in Australia. Don't try to compete on price and good quality. Just buy up the competition and close them down.

Allan from down under.

Allan from down under.

I have 2 Garfields on my 26, they came from Coker about 12 years ago and they are still soft and show little wear.

Rick

WoW ! That is amazing that they can look like fresh treads and be that old. Not a flaw anywhere I can find. I guess he should keep and use them...

Same is true for the model A.
The tires now are much bigger than they were in the late twenties/early thirties.

Don,

My '31 Model A has a set of 19" Garfield white walls on it. You saw the car this year.

My tires are over thirty years old with no cracks. There's another guy in the Model A club who has a set as well and he is enjoying similar success. I used to get them from JC Whitney before finding out about the other parts suppliers. The tread pattern isn't authentic, but they wear well.

I have Garfield's on my '26 T. Bought them in 1992 through Snyder's. They still look new.

So, the quality of these tires are no longer found?? What is wrong with this world...