Coker Excelsior Tires

[Dave Young]

Any pros or cons on these tires? Christmas is coming…

[RecklessKelly]

I have them on my 26 and it handles well in the curves.

[KWTownsend]

I have 30x3 and 30x3-1/2 on my 1911 touring and am happy with them.

[Allan]

Speaking to a New zealander at the Bendigo swap meet last weekend, he lamented a failure of a Warrant of Fitness check because of sidewall cracking on his 2 year old Excelsiors. He's going to Blockleys.

Allan from down under.

[Erik Johnson]

Coker Excelsior 30 x 3 and 30 x 3.5 were previously branded Coker Commander.

My dad has Coker Commander tires on his 1917 touring. They are about 25 years old.

The reason he bought them is the 30 x 3 tires (front tires) appear to be more period correct as they seem to have a narrower profile and do not appear oversize and ridiculously bulbous like the other brands currently available. I agree with his assessment.

[Tim D]

No matter what brand you buy they are all the same rubber compound. Made in Vietnam.

[Steve Jelf]

You're asking about one of the "other" tires. (There are really only two kinds.) Go to Google and enter "MTFCA Blockley" for extensive discussion.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG127.clinchers.html

Country of origin is irrelevant. Humans of all countries, including Vietnam, can make products that meet the importers' standards. What the factory provides depends on what the importer requires.

[TXGOAT2]

A number of foreign countries today have the most modern factories, foundries, shipyards, and mills on earth, with the possible exception of India, and India is catching up. We need to get on the ball HERE!

[Dave Young]

Thanks for the input

[Original Smith]

I have a full set of Excelsior tires on my 25. I've got way over 10,000 miles on them, with no apparent wear.

[Allan]

Tim and Pat make different observations on the subject. If the tyres we have become used to were all made with the same compounds we would not have the variations in longevity and cracking.
Pat is correct. most countries are capable of making very good products. The problem lies with the merchants for whom they are making the products. If they want stuff at the lowest price, they will get low quality. Blockley entered the clincher market with their own specifications of quality, and the price reflects this to a degree. Their tyres are not made with the same stuff as the others. They are Made to a standard they demand.


Allan from down under.

[Steve Jelf]

My experience matches Allan's to a small amount. When I was shopping for tyres I found that the price difference between a Blockley and a Wards Riverside was under $10. It's the shipping from Britain that makes their price high. I suspect that even with that, they cost less than Firestones.

[TXGOAT2]

Total cost is not necessarily first cost. Cost per mile of good service is what counts.

[Steve Jelf]

Pat is exactly right. If Blockley tyres last 20% longer than Wards they are the better deal, even with the higher cost of shipping. I know of one person who is doing long trips with Blockleys. He may be able in a few years to confirm how well they last.

[Original Smith]

Too bad this discussion hasn't spilled over to tubes. I just received a Hartford tube from Coker last week. I have high hopes for it. Don't bother with brass stems that are vulcanized to the tubes. That is the size they use on Pierce Arrows and other big cars. We need to get a company with lots of money to make the tire valves properly, that can be removed from the tubes. Anyone who has had to cut off rubber stems knows what I'm talking about. The Model A boys know what I mean. A&L Model A parts had them made years ago, but I maybe wrong but the TR16 Shrader 888 is the only valve that a Model T and a Model A use.

[Steve Jelf]

I believe Schrader #777 is the valve used on Model T Fords. All of today's new metal stem tubes come with the larger size (#724 and #725) used by Pierce and other big cars. The large size used today is probably because so many original covers fit them. The stems and covers used on Ford cars obviously were produced in the millions, but today they are less common than the larger sizes.

I have found that Hartford tubes are quite satisfactory. Being Mister thrifty, I buy them with rubber stems which I replace with metal. It's been a long time since I bought any metal stems, but I got them for $2 and $3 at swapmeets.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG110.html

[Allan]

Dill valve stem covers with the sliding fit adjuster will fit any valve stem, small, thick, rubber, etc. Period correct and easy to use/fit.

Allan from down under.