MTFCA Forum

Forgive my ignorance, but I was wondering where do you get tires for the rare vehicles, with odd sized rims. Are they custom made somewhere, or does one or two companies manufacture them somewhere and sell them?
I do not have a vehicle myself, nor does anyone in the family that needs special tires or anything, I was just wondering...
I know that you can buy Model T tires from multiple sources, but what about all the odd sized tires for other models?

As you can see here in this photo, there are numerous different sizes and shapes.

Nice photo Austin.
There are several companies that offer a variety of types and sizes for most antique car, truck and motorcycle rims. Coker, Universal, Lacas and others can be found on the net.

Once upon a time, it was not that uncommon to re-rim a set of wheels to accept more available tire sizes. Similar to the recent 30x3-1/2” white tire availability issues, obscure tire sizes are made in occasional batches and may be several years (or more) between batches

My father has a 1910 IHC Model T roadster which he acquired in 1951.

It has 27 inch wheels and came with 34 x 3.5 clincher tires from the factory.

34 x 3.5 tires weren't available when he restored the car and I don't think they are available now.

Originally, he installed 36 x 4.5 straight-side Firestone Non-Skid tires and put ropes in the clincher rims to make up for the lack clincher beads on the tires (this is an old trick that some folks still use today). However, 36 inch tires didn't look right on the car.

To remedy the above, he bought metric 875 x 105 Dunlop tires (34.45 outer diameter and 26.18 inch inner diameter) and put them one at a time around a deflated truck tire and rim, inflated the truck tire to stretch the bead and let it sit overnight. That did the trick and he was able to mount them.