The Samson Tire

[Hudson29]

Some years ago I bought a 1914 Touring that had been restored in the 1960s and has had a number of owners since. It is tired in some respects and needs some TLC to be back in its prime. More on that in another thread.

This car came with the nicest spare tire cover I have ever seen. It completely wraps the tire to preserve it from the sun and has a spot perfect for period graphics, something that needs to be done once I find someone who can & is willing to do that job. I researched the Ford agent in 1914 and found the info needed to create some period looking graphics.

[Hudson29]

A few days ago I decided to remove that tire cover and see if I could figure out why the air leaked out as fast as it went in. What I found was The Samson Tire, 30 X 3 1/2, rock hard and still in great shape but for the age cracks.

I have known about these tires for years but never seen one. I used to live in SoCal and the old Samson plant was still there producing Uniroyal tires up until 1978. It has now been converted into an outlet mall.

[Hudson29]

From what I could find out on the internet, Samson went out of business in January of 1930 after which the plant produced US Rubber tires.

If this be true, does in mean that this tire was made before that date? If so, why does it have a serial number? I understand that during WW2 tires, even used ones were required to have a number branded into thm. Is that what we have here? It sure looks like a factory job . . .

[Steve Jelf]

That's a wonderful tire. For a display. I wouldn't trust it or any tire twenty or more years old in actual use. I know some guys will tell you they drive on sixty-year-old tires with no trouble. Fine. They're welcome to it. I wouldn't take that gamble.

[modeltspaz]

Hi, Paul. Hope you are doing well.

A good friend of mine used to own a 1907 Model R Ford that had four Samson tires on it. They were all in great shape. Of course they were all 30 x 3.

He sold the car about 15 years ago unfinished. I have heard that the guy that bought it has sold it since. He never finished it either.

I really like the remade tire cover idea. I've been wanting to get a dealer specific tire cover for my car, but it seems that nobody is doing those. Maybe someday.

Take care,

Mike "modeltspaz" Spaziano.

[speedytinc]

No reason a talented guy with an upholstery machine couldnt easily make one.
I expect that zippered cover was made around the time of the car build. (1960's)
Probably by woody's wife?

[M.Sinclair]

On the model t I drive a tire cover was made up 10 or so years ago to match a crumbling one that came with the car originally. Through this experience I can vouch for not making it out of adhesive vinyl lettering, after a while it will bubble and come off.

[Herb Iffrig]

I know of a sign painter that would most likely do that job by hand.

[signsup]

Just picked up three demountable rims 21" that had old dry rotted tires on them, and I was planning on just cutting them off the rims. But it was pointed out that these were Gates tires and embossed with a laargs S-3 on them. Some quick research and, although Gates rubber is still around today making hoses and belts, they no longer make tires. And, the S-3 on the tire was a WWII designation for synthetic rubber tires. So, Model T or Model A tires made during WWII.
I am keeping one for a WWII Homefront display at a local museum. I guess if the 4.50 x 21" tires were made in 43, it would have been for a car that was only 13 years old at the time.

I also have a set of tires on my WWII jeep that are Ford script tires.

[John kuehn]

Here is the Samson tire and rim I was given around 40 years ago when I was restoring my 1919 Roadster. My neighbor picked it up somewhere and had it in a water well pump house.
Of course it’s rock hard and holds air but not sure I would use it. Not sure I could get it off the rim without sawing it off. It’s good to use for a spare for looks I guess!!

[speedytinc]

Hand painting would be period correct.
I would develop some artwork & find a T shirt silk screener. Screen print the cover.

[TXGOAT2]

I once came a cross a Ford script tire in a pasture. I believe it was a 6.00 X 16 or maybe a 5.50 X 17. That was many years ago, and it was hard as a rock.

[signsup]

It would have been a 6/00x16" NDT military tire. NDT stands for non directional tire so the enemy would not know by your tire tread pattern in the soil which way you were headed. On paved surfaces, it stands for no damn traction. But the Ford logo on the tires is a neat look on a Ford built jeep from WWII.
I also have a Model T slick tire that is just hot stamped "military". What little research is available points it towards a tire that would have been used on WWI aircraft. Or immediately post war. Is anyone else have any information on tires that would fit a Model T that also would have been used on a biplane?

[Allan]

I find it somewhat disturbing that some suggest cutting off old, rock hard tyres. A friend I was helping to restore a 1926 tourer did just that with some 30 x 3.5" rims and tyres he found, destroying 4 as new Olympic butyl rubber tubes, the ones that hold air!

i fought a pair of new Goodyear diamond tread tyres off two rims I found after his experience. They yielded two as new red rubber Goodyear tubes, the good thick ones that also hold air, and that have the correct metal stems. Those tubes are in one of my T's to this day, I suspect in my 1017 shooting brake.

Allan from down under.

[Hudson29]

This Samson will not be used on a car. I'll hang it up someplace in the garage as a display. The inner tube with a rubber stem is shot so there is nothing lost there. Its value now is just as a piece of history.

I certainly agree that cut vinyl letters would not work for this tire cover. They don't like flexing very much. There are new printing processes and old fashioned hand painting to explore. Sadly for me, it doesn't sound like there is a way forward with this project. The cover will not fil a modern 3 1/2" tire.

Paul

[YellowTRacer]

For some reason Samson tires seemed to be the most common old mfg. tires found other the Riversides, here in northern California back in the 1960s. The original 1918 Breeden and Cole speedster that I'm re restoring has a full set on it. I'd use them except that I'm going to put white tires on it, at least to start with. I may change them if or when I get tired of the maintenance. Ed aka #4

[Hudson29]

Ed, that's pretty neat! Are your Samsons as badly cracked as mine is? Mine is very hard into the bargain, probably would not grip the road very well. It will make a great display.

Paul

[YellowTRacer]

Paul, my Sampsons are not what I consider badly cracked and the rubber is still plyable supple.

Ed aka #4

[Hudson29]

Paul, my Sampsons are not what I consider badly cracked and the rubber is still plyable supple.

Ed aka #4

Your tires have truly earned the name "Samson."

Paul