Hartford tubes

[hull 433]

Is there a source for Hartford tubes in the US? I need a pair of 30x3s. The only source I see currently is in the UK.

Barring that, is there an alternate reliable tube available in the US?

[Steve Jelf]

The problem you're having finding them is probably because the dealers aren't telling you what brand their tubes are. I expect if you phone or email them and ask, you'll find several who supply Hartford tubes. You may already know this, but I'll mention it for those who don't. Not long ago the Custom Classic tubes were defective (prone to splitting). I don't know if that's been corrected, and I'm avoiding them. The Hartfords have been OK for me, and Blockleys may be superior enough to justify their extra cost.

[TWrenn]

I got some from Langs last year. Don't know about the current situation.

[J1MGOLDEN]

I got some, but they have a different metal stem that is slightly smaller in diameter and the place the air goes in is smaller too.

The Hartford name is a ruse, they are made in Viet Nam or Taiwan, if I remember right.

Then too, they may be the only metal stem tubes you can find.

[hull 433]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll make some calls tomorrow morning and ask, starting with Lang's.

Its definitely worth getting a good tube, I'd heard those horror stories too. I'd heard Hartfords were made in India, but not sure. Didn't know they had metal stems. I planned to get rubber stems and replace them with originals.

Thanks again -

[J1MGOLDEN]

I gave one to a friend and asked if he could get that metal stem out and put in an American metal stem.

He said he could not do it.

The rubber stems should be OK on the front if the pressure is kept up.

[Steve Jelf]

The Hartford name is a ruse, they are made in Viet Nam or Taiwan, if I remember right.

Hartford tubes are made in China. Custom Classic tubes are made in India. Blockley tubes are made in Vietnam. I don't know of any American-made clincher tube. The good news is that the country of origin is irrelevant. What matters are the standards the importer demands of the factory.

The last I knew Hartfords came with either kind of stem. I buy them with rubber stems to save about $15 a tube, remove the stems, and install my own Schrader stems. I don't know why Jim's friend couldn't do that. I know I'm not the only one who does.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG110.html

[John Illinois]

A couple of years ago I got 4 Hartford tubes from Summit racing. Do not know if they still have them. They were thicker than the tubes I got with my tires which I returned..

John

[J1MGOLDEN]

Mine are plenty thick.

They may run a fair distance even if the tire wears through.

They do look like good quality!

I'm not sure the metal stem could be removed, and a proper size metal stem installed to replace it.

The rubber stem is not as much of a problem on the front wheels, if the tube is properly inflated.

Adding air to the smaller metal stem top may be a problem.

[Original Smith]

Lucas is selling a tube called Custom Classic, and fits a 30X3, 30X3 1/2, and 31X4. I have no idea where they are made, and I don't even like the application, but I have one in my car and it works somehow!

[Mark Gregush]

Ok so here goes with the flap controversy . Some of the tubes being sold by at least one of our parts suppliers were ok for 30x3-1/2 but had a smaller inner diameter. Un-inflated they would be a real chore to install without flaps. Even partly inflated, same thing. They worked fine when everything was assembled, but flaps in this case really helped with the install part, kept the tube in the tire, not popping out to get pinched.

[Steve Jelf]

Lucas is selling a tube called Custom Classic, and fits a 30X3, 30X3 1/2, and 31X4. I have no idea where they are made, and I don't even like the application, but I have one in my car and it works somehow!

They're made in India. There was a batch of them (I don't know how many) that were prone to splitting. That's why I'm avoiding them. I hope you're carrying a spare.

[Alan Long]

Tubes and Tyres are (in my opinion) the most critical safety item on a motor vehicle and up there with Brakes and Steering.
Forget the cost and go for the very best available today! I’ve believe that at this time the best is the Blockley brand.
Just ordered 8 Tyres and Tubes (100% Butyl) 30 x 3 1/2”which are in transit from UK to the Australian Distributor. For approximately $2000 (AUS) I’ll have a set on my T that will see me out! Some are lucky to find old tubes made in the 60’s
that would be the next best bet.

The Tyres and Tubes on my 26 (4.40/4.50 x 21”) are 34 years old and drop one or two PSI for months on end. The Veteran T parked next to it drop 30 PSI in 2 months. These are made up of a compound of old rubber material melted down and not
100% thicker Butyl.
Just my view on the matter...
Alan in Western Australia

[J1MGOLDEN]

The Hartford tubes I recently bought have a smaller metal stem and valve area.

The chances of getting the covers to fit them or a new valve cap if you lose one do not appear very high.

[hull 433]

As an update, Lang's carries both Hartford and the improved Custom Classic tubes, both backordered to May or June. They say that the new Custom Classics are slightly thicker than Hartfords now, at least with the most recent batch.

[Steve Jelf]

The Hartford tubes I recently bought have a smaller metal stem and valve area.

The usual metal stems on today's tubes are the size (width) of the old Schrader 724 and 725, which were not used on Fords. If your new stems are narrower, perhaps they're 777 (Model T) size.

[Original Smith]

I put a Custom Classic in a 30 X 3 1/2, and it's working. Doesn't hold air real good, but what I don't like is it fits too many sizes. They made tubes in the USA until about a dozen years ago. Why can't they still make them? The cost isn't important.

[JohnnyBuick]

Online Coker show these tubes as their brand


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coker-30X3-TR3 ... ect=mobile

[RajoRacer]

That's NOT Coker Tire - it's a parts distributor that carries Coker brand !

[JohnnyBuick]

Point is.. its another brand choice other than blockley, custom or Hartford.

[Steve Jelf]

Hmm... $43 for a rubber stem 30 x 3½ + $35.47 for shipping. Might as well upgrade to a superior Blockley with metal stem for the equivalent of about $12more.

[Original Smith]

What is the point of buying a tube with the incorrect metal stem? From what I've seen, the bridge washers aren't correct either, but they can't be, because the metal valve stem is wrong to begin with!

[J1MGOLDEN]

I just bought two rubber stem Hartford tubes from a reliable company.

They were shipped from a different location, a Tire Distribution Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

A friend told me they will work OK, but I may have to drill the rim hole a size larger.

He did lose one on a clincher rim in a turn after the air pressure was low.

He knew the tire pressure was low and thought he could make a short drive to home.

Then the stem came off and he lost all the air.

[Allan]

Jim, your friend has learned a lesson, one from which we can all learn. You must not tun a clincher tyre underinflated. The tyre pressure is all that keeps the tyre beads in the rim in their correct setting. Under inflation allows the tyre to move on the rim and invariably, the tube stem will be ripped out and also the bead on the tyre damaged, especially if the rim is somewhat damaged/rusted on the edge.

Allan from down under.

[Oldav8tor]

I know this discussion is about Hartford tubes but a comment. I replaced my rubber-stemmed Hartfords with brass-stemmed Blockleys and have been very happy. I weighed both on a scale and the Blockleys were almost a pound and a half heavier. Thicker rubber and better overall quality. The Blockley's brass stems are less likely to be damaged by the inner edges of my clincher tires whereas I had a couple of Hartfords fail when the edges of the tire cut the stem, which is wider on a Hartford than original stems. With the Hartfords I also found it necessary to drill out the hole in the rims slightly to get a fit.

[Alan Long]

Larry,
If it doesn’t hold pressure it ain’t working to good at all. That’s it’s single function!
Statements that one Tube fits 3 sizes is also a worry as one size doesn’t fit all without consequences.
Go get Blockley’s at any price as I feel these are the best available at present as testified by others on this forum.
My humble opinion
Alan In Western Australia

[Original Smith]

The question is why can't tubes be made in this country any more. They were until about a dozen years ago. Does anyone know who made them then?
I have an old Firestone tube that was made in the sixties, that is twice a thick as anything made in recent years.

[Steve Jelf]

I had a couple of Hartfords fail when the edges of the tire cut the stem, which is wider on a Hartford than original stems. With the Hartfords I also found it necessary to drill out the hole in the rims slightly to get a fit.

I don't doubt the superior quality of Blockley tubes, but I've had no problems with Hartfords, buying them with rubber stems to save about $15 a tube and installing metal stems which are undamaged by the tires and fit the existing holes.

Made in USA is not a guarantee of quality. Plenty of products made here are shoddy crap. Have you bought a garden sprayer lately? Quality doesn't depend on where the factory is located. It depends on what standards the distributor demands of the factory.

[Oldav8tor]

Steve is a master of replacing rubber stems with original brass... Me, not so lucky. I've tried it with mixed results. To expand on what I was saying about the clincher tire cutting rubber stems, one solution exemplified by the attached photo of a 50 year old tire shows what they used to do "back in the day". I followed the old-timer's example and ground some relief in my tires after having two stems fail from side cuts. After doing so I didn't have any more flat tires but the rubber stems still made me nervous.
Since going to brass stems, no problems of any kind. The Blockley tubes I got are of such high quality I expect to be able to use them with the next set of tires I have to buy, making them very cost-effective in my book.

[speedytinc]

Thats not enough of a stem relief cut.
Will work with a metal stem, but must be much larger to not rub & pinch a rubber stem.

[Allan]

I have yet to see any modern recreation of a beaded edge tyre upon which the two beads go anywhere near each other when fitted to a T rim. Even our old Olympics with the wider foot did not need relieving. If the rim is measured, and the beads on the tyre measured, I'd be interested in the gap between the two. This observation is made by one with absolutely no experience of the narrow 3" wheels used on the front of early USA T's.

I have seen Olympic tyres with the valve stem reliefs, but I suspect they are cut to aid in getting the valve stem down the hole when fitting tyres one side at a time.

Others will disagree, and period photos will show the reliefs, and those old time tyres may have needed them, but not the skinny gutted rubbish we have to deal with.

Allan from down under.

[Eric Sole]

Deleted my post