Just trying to decide on which tires to buy for my 1910 Touring.

I want to go blackwall and trying to decide between the Universal ribbed or Firestone all black with tread 30x3 for the front or 30x31/2 for the rears. Not sure if the early T's had any tread at all or were they available as an accessory?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

It really depends on what your planning to do. I've got Name Brand white smoothies on one of the early Ts, a year old with almost no miles on them that are cracking but thank goodness not turning brown yet. If I were to do it again and I'm about to, I'll buy black tires because I'm going to drive it not trailer queen it. Just my opinion.

Thanks for the information John, I have heard that thy have had issues with the white tires.

I drive my '10 a lot and have Universal ribbed tires on the car.
They have a little over 3,000 miles on them and they show no wear. They are now 2 years old and spend a fair amount of time in the Florida sun.

Tires were smooth (and white) on Fords up until 1915. In 1916 they were also smooth, but the wear surface may have been black - due to rubber shortages during WW1, experimenting showed that rubber mixed with carbon black wears better.
The Rip Van Winkle 1917 had "Ford" branded tires that were smooth in front and with threads in the rear, all of them with double white sides and a black wear surface. Some evidence points to that most Fords were equipped like that (but with threads on the front too from some time in 1918-19) up to 1923, then the all black tire era started with the 1924 model year.

If you want some era authenticity, but not the browning and poor wear characteristics of current white tires, then there are black smoothies available: https://www.cokertire.com/tires/firestone-smooth-all-black.html

I like to Non Skid Firestones on the front just because of a good talking point. They don't wear very well but so cool and unique like the rest of the goodies on the car.

One piece of information - the Universal ribbed tires are closer to the original 30 inch diameter than many other brands / styles.

https://www.universaltire.com/universal-brand-tires/clincher-tires.html

Thanks for all the information it sounds as if the Universal blackwall ribbed tires will be the way to go with 30x3 on the front and 30x31/2 on the rears?

Sounds like a winner to me, be sure to post a picture when they're mounted up!

Dave,I drive and show my 1911 T Touring a lot. I don't like white tires. They look good if they stay white, other wise they look like S---. I used Coker tires for years. I have changed to Universal
tires because they are easier to clean up when I show the car.

Pete you're just saying that because it's true, ha

Hmm, didn't somebody drive in to the show at Hershey last year with booties on their tires?

It wasn't me Mark. I drove from the camp ground with black rubber on the road. I know who it was though!!

They did do the job of keeping the white tires white for the show! Beautiful car, Bob.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/683820.html?1476499018

Personally I like the idea of an early T with well a good patina on the brass and dirty white tires. Something you don't really see.

Thanks to everyone for their help I have ordered a set of Universal ribbed blackwalls from Universal Tire