MTFCA Forum

I am ordering 5 Blockley tires for my 26. I am ordering them in two orders to keep the cost per order under $800 to avoid import tariffs. Just wondering if I should wait a bit between the two orders, of if that does not matter. Anyone done this before?

I was just looking at my rear tires and thought I had better look for some new ones. I wanted to keep the same Firestone black 30 by 3 1/2".
Holy Cow!! I'm going to have to mortgage the kids And grandkids just for two of them!! $283. EACH seems to be the good boy price and then add some taxes!! How much are those funky Blockley tread pattern tires?

The price of a nice T with good tires has just gone up!

Morgan,
A few older posts about ordering Blockley tires over the last couple of years if you can find them. I will let someone answer who has done it, since I haven't.

I will say that for 21" tires, USA made Firestone tires are excellent. I purchased mine directly from Coker Tire. I did have a problem with a set of Firestones a couple of years ago, called Coker and they replaced them at no cost to me. Nice to deal with a company located in the USA.

I paid $578 for 2 tires in June, and that included shipping. Depends a lot on the exchange rate.

I can't remember who? Someone about a year or so ago bought Blockley tires in two orders, only a couple days apart. Blockley combined the orders into a single shipment which on the surface should have reduced the shipping cost. However, it bumped the declared import value to over the $800 and added nuisance and cost. I can't really blame Blockley for that, as they are not here, and do ship to all over the world. Also, governments all over the world do not like companies trying to circumvent their taxations. So they do need to tread lightly.
So, the advice at the time was to wait at least a week, or even until delivery of the first order, before placing the second order.

I am not against nations assessing fair duties to imports. It is one of the oldest and most fair taxes while protecting local companies from often unfair and sometimes subsidized competition. However, if their bureaucracies cannot handle it in a fair and reasonable manner, causing serious delays and other unnecessary costs, people, customers, should not be penalized or further inconvenienced. This is a case where US companies through greed and laziness stopped providing a decent and reliable product. Such US companies should not be protected from fair competition regardless from whatever nation it comes, and should suffer the loss of business and profits from their egregious and greedy tactics.

It should also not be forgotten that the good hobbyists in this country that began manufacturing tires for our collector cars fifty to seventy years ago are no longer with us! We as hobbyists still owe them a debt of gratitude. They aged out and retired, some decades ago. Most have long since died. Families and others took over for awhile, but for whatever reasons lacked the passion to continue to carry on. Many of them have also since aged out and retired. The current companies are owned by holding companies that care not a whit for producing a quality and safe product! The good people in this country should not be penalized for going to another nation for a quality product.

Sorry for the rant/drift. But that needed to be added. Blockley in England and their customers here are NOT the villains.

The cost of the three tires on the first order shipped to Anchorage, Alaska was just under the cost of three tires from the US suppliers, without the shipping. So, win.

I don’t want to go over $800 with a single order as that kicks in a hefty (25% +) import tariff. This is supposedly to protect US tire makers. Not sure any US tire makers are producing Model T tires, but there you are.

What size tire are you contemplating to order ?

When I ordered mine the import fees were 60 some bucks. 4 tires 4 tubes in 3 packages. Duty was 21 each package. Like I said at the time a set of wards riverside would have been a little cheaper. I have been happy with the performance of the tires.


Andy

Reno Speedster wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 08, 2023 5:47 pm

I am ordering 5 Blockley tires for my 26. I am ordering them in two orders to keep the cost per order under $800 to avoid import tariffs. Just wondering if I should wait a bit between the two orders, of if that does not matter. Anyone done this before?

You run the risk of Blocley combining the orders into the same shipment when ordering at both at the same time or even a few days apart. You could place both orders with different Ship-To addresses at the same time - doubt of if Customs would catch it or if it would make a difference

Blockley's are a little more expensive but they will last twice as long as any other tire. Even if adding import duty one is still way ahead with Blockley.It seems that essentially all of the vintage tires are made in one factory in Viet Nam, Blockley simply imposes their own standards. Why US tire companies cannot impose similar standards escapes my reasoning, other than the perceived need to to be cheapest, something Mr. Ford would understand. So, if you wish to save money up front then buy the cheap stuff in the US. If you wish to save money over the long haul then buy Blockley. Too, if you buy Blockley then there will be fewer times when tires/tubes need to be changed. And do get the Blockley tubes, material is twice as thick and heavy as any other tubes available. The only downside is that with Blockley tubes there was not room for a flap in the tire, couldn't get the bead into the clincher rim all the way around, finally had to remove the flap altogether. So far no troubles, hoping the heavier tube will not need the flap to prevent wear.

I’ve run all the currently availability tires and I believe the Blockley clincher to be the best quality. I don’t know what the longevity will be but I’m hoping it’s on par with my second choice, the universal driver. If money is less a factor I like that the Firestone tires are not as oversize.


Andy

Forgive my ignorance, but if the Blockley tires and tubes are the preferred choice, why are none of the US parts suppliers carrying them?

Wait. I ordered some for a friend, waited until I got a shipping notice for the first set to order the second. Unfortunately, they somehow got combined together so we had to deal with folks at UPS, fill out some forms and pay duties.

Me, I'd wait until the first set is out for delivery before ordering the second.

Joshua - my understanding is Blockley only deals direct, not thru dealers. I know some folks who have tried to work a deal with them, unsuccessfully...

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:25 am

Joshua - my understanding is Blockley only deals direct, not thru dealers. I know some folks who have tried to work a deal with them, unsuccessfully...

Thanks. I know of other companies that operate the same way. It’s just too bad there isn’t a more convenient method, or less expensive method to get their products.

Honestly, it was very convenient and as cheap or cheaper than buying tires from the standard suppliers, depending in the tire. The tires were $185 each and the shipping for three of them from England to Anchorage, Alaska was $250. I am sure shipping would be cheaper to the lower 48 (what we call “outside”).

I went to their website, said what I wanted, and requested a shipping quote. Once I got that, I paid with a card. It was as easy as buying things from Lang’s or Snyder’s. We will see how long it takes for the tires to get here, but I don’t need them soon.

Someone mentioned $283 each for Model T tires. I actually don't think that's too bad. Vintage automobile tires are a small market and low volume. The Michelin radials on my modern car are $220 each and are made by the hundreds of thousands. I'm happy just to be able to get tires for the T. I also have USA manufactured Firestones on my '27 and I couldn't be happier with them.

Back in May this year I bought four 440/450x21 tires from Blockley. The price was £596 (£149 each). The conversion rate at that time was 1.21 dollars per pound making the cost $721. Shipping was $408, however the cost of shipping was not included as part of the $800 duty free limit. I did ask Blockley why the shipping cost seemed high compared to what others had reported for Model T tires and they said the 1926-27 balloon tires were bigger and heavier than the 30” clincher tires. Within a week of placing the order the tires arrived at my place in Tulsa. Blockley used UPS Worldwide for shipping. Hope this helps.

Rich C.

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:25 am

Joshua - my understanding is Blockley only deals direct, not thru dealers. I know some folks who have tried to work a deal with them, unsuccessfully...

Interesting, because in Australia there's two dealers I know of that supply Blockley. When I ordered my tyres, the difference in cost in going through one of the dealers was actually not much higher that importing direct. As it was, I ordered direct, because what I needed wasn't in stock, and wouldn't be in time for the rally I needed the tyres for.

I bought my Blockley tires sooner than I actually needed them. I assumed with all the increasing interest that Coker would snatch up the US market and jack the price up.

All told I was right at 1300 for 4 tires and tubes, customs was only 63 of that. So I wouldn’t worry too much about juggling orders if it were me. The fluctuation in currency costs more.

Andy

I can understand Blockley retaining control over their products. Who needs another middleman adding to the supply chain, and adding additional costs.
In Australia, I believe there is now just one outlet for Blockley clincher tyres. This dealer is a long time stockist/supplier of the Blockley range of vintage/racing tyres, so the relationship was already established. A trusted outlet is gold in any market. What sense does it make to supply your superior product to those dealers who have for years supplied very poor quality tyres, and tubes which are not fit for purpose.

The company which sponsored the signwriting on my 1912 T Chocolate van is a family owned business. Their chain of shops in three states is entirely operated by them, from manufacture, storage, distribution and retail sales. That way, they have total control over their product, and the reputation they have well deserved over a century of business.

Allan from down under.

$500 triggers a customs inspection and a UPS “handling”’fee. The first two Blockley tires and tubes came in at just under $500 (including shipping) and were on my front porch 3 days after ordering. On my second order I added a third tube to have a spare, putting the total over $500, which triggered a customs inspection requiring an extra 3-4 days and about an $80 fee from UPS.

Just an update and sorry for the drift but it is a tire post....

I found 2 Black Firestone 30 by 3 1/2" clincher tires on EBay shipped for free for $625. total. I decided for my '12 Torpedo to pay the extra for the Firestone tires because I like the look of the tread pattern and the relationship to Ford.

They do have a slightly wider cross section profile than the Wards or the T Drivers. I've been very happy with the same ones that I've had for many miles and several years. The tires run very true a with only a Very slight amount of runout..

I just got a notification that the tires, which shipped Sunday from England have cleared customs and will be delivered to my house in Anchorage, Alaska tomorrow. That is amazing. I will order the final two tomorrow.

Last year I ordered Blockleys twice — two in spring, three in early summer — for two reasons. 1 To spread the cost over a couple of paydays. 2 To avoid the possibility on the British end that the two orders might get combined into a single, more expensive, shipment. (Yes, it HAS happened to others.)
In both cases I placed the order via internet very early on a Tuesday morning (Before 8:00 AM in Britain). In both cases the tires arrived on my front porch in Kansas on Thursday afternoon, a shipping time of three days.

Wonderful! That made my day!

Steve's post, by the way.

I think Blockley tires are ugly, and they don't put the proper valve stems on their tubes either. I've had good luck with Firestones. I only wish the current tubes were of better quality.

Mark Nunn wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2023 8:44 am

Wonderful! That made my day!

Steve's post, by the way.

Mine too!

...and they don't put the proper valve stems on their tubes either.

Can you name one maker of tubes for clincher tires who uses "the proper valve stems" (777 size)?

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG110.html

None that I know of Steve. At least Blockley tubes hold air, and the period valve stems they use are acceptable to most.

Welcome back to the forum. I look forward to your continued improvement in your recovery, and your input hrer.

Allan from down under.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:58 am

I think Blockley tires are ugly

I think they are great looking. They remind me of the old Goodyear Diamond treaded tires that were available for many years.

Paul

And here they are… The bit of rim visible on the side is one of the Dayton wire wheels they are going on.

For some obscure reason I had lousy luck retrofitting metal stems on tubes... they never sealed right, and I'd end up with a flat. Now I know (Thank you Steve!) about the bridge washer debacle, and I wonder if that was the cause of my heartache for years. Something so simple... yeesh!

People complain about the Blockley stems, but they're a sight better than the old motorcycle tubes with their short (and occasionally off-center) stems. I've used them (used to carry a pair just in case, along with a patch kit), the upside were they were Michelins, the downside was they were a skootch too small (21" vs 22 or 23") but they were available... necessity being the mother of, um, yeah!

Anyway, I find it funny that, having dealt with the numerous and sundry crappy tires cming out of VN (one set of 3.5's had Angel's back end bouncing like a clown car) we finally have tires that are not only built to modern quality standards with superior rubber and an actual honest to God authentic and viable tread design (Paul mentioned the Diamond Tread of Goodyear, which were a good and grippy tire in the day)... True, they're not Non-Skids, but how many people here drive on gravel and dirt most of the time (which is where NS's excelled) or on clincher motorcycles (again, their profile is amazingly good compared to the otherclincher motorcycle designs), compared to how many people just wear them flat and wear them out because they "look cool"? Or worse, run 50 year old Riversides because they worked, sure, 50 YEARS ago, before the rubber turned to rock....

For the money - and for auto use - make mine Blockleys. And by the way, WELCOME HOME, STEVE!!! We were pullin' and prayin' for ya over here, and it's D@n&ed GOOD to see you here again... just goes to show you can't keep a dauntless geezer down!!!