New Tires?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2018: New Tires?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyler on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 10:43 am:

Anyone have experience (good or bad) with the Universal “T-Driver” tires? I’m getting ready to order tires for the ‘16. I want some mild tread. The pattern on the Universals looks like it is more well suited for modern roads to me than the tread on the Firestones. The car has original 30x3 non-demountables on the front and original 30x3.5 in the rear. Thanks for your thoughts and advice!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Longbranch,WA on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 11:58 am:

It pretty much comes down to tread preference - they're all made in the same factory overseas.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Idaho Falls on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 12:05 pm:

I have gotten good service using them on my '25 Tudor and '09 Touring. I probably have 10,000 miles or more on each. About 16 and 12 years respectively. I will look at buying them again when the tread gets thinner.
Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 12:11 pm:

In my opinion, Coker Excelsiors (previously Coker Commanders) look the best and most appropriate on a pre-1919 Ford because the 30 x 3 tires don't look bulbous and oversized on the front wheels like some of the other brands.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Kiefer - Adams, MN on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 02:25 pm:

I thought the side walls with the lines going up and down were harder to keep clean on the T Drivers. That was my only complaint other than being made overseas.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rich Bingham, Blackfoot, Idaho on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 02:59 pm:

Yeah, Dean, but they're great in mud ! (Clean them ?? Whuffo ?? They'll just get dirty again ! )

The Universal T Drivers have an "era authentic" tread pattern. A set came on my '13 runabout, I don't know how many miles, they're a bit worn, but holding up well. Since all the tires are currently coming from the same place, the only variable is the cost difference, and that depends on the fees required to use registered trademarks.

Rich E. says he'd buy them again when he needs tires, and based on my experience with them, so would I, but I'm wondering what the picture for tire supply will be when I've finally worn these out ??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyler on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 03:01 pm:

I didn’t even notice the ridges on the side walls. I’m disappointed to hear that even the Firestones are made overseas. It’s a shame to put foreign tires on a car that is all American! Does anyone have any idea how many times “Made in U.S.A.” appears on a stock T? Maybe that’s a topic for another thread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brad Marble - New Hamshire on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 03:52 pm:

In my experience, the T drivers are as good a tire as you can get today for a model T. They have less tread and more tire in contact with the road, should last a little longer and run quieter than some of the others.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyler on Friday, November 09, 2018 - 07:47 pm:

Sounds like the Universal is a good, solid choice. Thanks for the input!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Osterman, Rochester, NY on Saturday, November 10, 2018 - 08:20 am:

I have about 2800 miles on a new set and they are starting to show wear. The fronts were wearing faster than the rears before I readjusted the toe in.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Kiefer - Adams, MN on Saturday, November 10, 2018 - 09:22 am:

I put a set of Wards Riverside on three years ago and they are wore out. They wore evenly except the right rear which is bald, probably caused from all the burnouts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Saturday, November 10, 2018 - 09:59 am:

As all clincher tires currently come from the same factory in Vietnam, there's no difference in quality among the various "brands". If there's any difference in how they wear, I think that would be due to tread design, not construction or materials.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rich Bingham, Blackfoot, Idaho on Saturday, November 10, 2018 - 10:34 am:

I'm sure you're right about that Steve, the "wild card" would be how diligent they are about quality control. Some batches may be better or worse than others.

Any road (pun intended) I'm pretty sure some tread patterns may certainly wear better than others. Example, the "non-skid" tires seem to wear quite rapidly according to the posts on the forum.

This grieves me, as I always loved the look of them, and would consider paying the premium for the Firestone branding, but I'd think twice (maybe thrice) as they seem to wear so fast.


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