MTFCA Forum

I have a fresh Extra Quality brand 30X 3 1/2 tube. It's very nice quality, and I used them ten years ago when I restored my 1925. It is made in USA. It has a Dill rubber valve stem. Why aren't they still available?

Damn good question, Larry.

Probably because the present suppliers went for the cheapest units, with no regard for quality or being fit for service. Yours probably hold air too Larry. I thought that's what tubes were meant to do, but not so these days.
There are alternatives in Michelin and Blockley. They are more expensive but at least they do hold air. In a recent post a question was raised about a product which cold be used to make the present offerings to hold air, with a suggestion that adding a $50 dose of stuff would be a good investment! At that point, the extra dollars needed to purchase a quality product makes sense. Why would anyone suggest paying $50 to make a new tune fit for purpose?

Allan from down under.

Blockley's are a few $$$$ more but well worth the investment. Rubber at least twice as thick as the "standards". They come with a nickel plated metal stem, couldn't possibly ask for more. Always arrive in USA within a week of ordering. Can't imagine it would be any more time for you folks down under. Recently sought tubes for some 31x4 tires for Buick. The lady at Blockley looked up all the possible sources for that size, recommended their size close enough to fit, did my homework for me. Blockley wins all the contests!

From my experience, rubber notwithstanding, seems perhaps the biggest issue is that "innocent" $5 Schrader valve inside the stem. They're nothing but probably Chinese junk anymore, and that's why they don't hold air! Unless Blockley uses their own, or a different make of valve, which I have no idea, who knows if they'll stand up to the hype down the road or not.

I had a talk with Blockley a while back, and they aren't interested in offering their tires with a rubber valve stem. The metal ones they used are not what Ford offered. They are way too big, even though they will work. Reproduction people now days don't do the research needed to make the product correctly.