MTFCA Forum

I received and email from Blockley Tyre in England and they are going to put some pallets together of 30x3, 30x3.5, and the 21s, as well as metal stemmed tubes. He is going to see again how many he can get on a pallet. Shipping is still a pain, but he is wanting to move forward and so do I. I let you know when they send the pallets over to me and the tyres are availible for purchase here in the US. Shipping to Canada will be available too.

Congrats Seamus! Couldn't be a better person to be the spearhead on this. I imagine now you'll become even more famous.... or infamous... ha.

Seamus, you might suggest that they use the plastic bins in metal frames, [don't know what you guys call them] With the top cut off they can stack them up to the top, fit more standing up on the sides, and have no worries with a stack of rubber tyres getting loose in transit, or perhaps some going missing. These bins are a standard volume and make for easy shipping calculations. They are pallet sized, but much more convenient to use.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

What's the deal with Blockley tires? Never heard of them.

What's the deal with Blockley tires?

They claim much higher quality (longer lasting) than other Model T tires.
https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/30x3-5

Their addition of beaded edge tryes to the quality range of vintage high performance tyres offered by Blockley is a direct consequence of the rubbish tyres foisted on T owners by the present cartel . At last we can buy a BE tyre that is fit for purpose.

Allan from down under.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:44 pm

What's the deal with Blockley tires?

They claim much higher quality (longer lasting) than other Model T tires.
https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/30x3-5

.. and apart from Seamus himself, we are some that are testing that claim.

On top of that, the lettering and the thread looks very true to the tires you had back then, particular pre-1920.

I am hoping I will need a bunch of inner tubes soon (30X3 and 30X3.5). Current price or availability?

They do look good mounted. [ His occupation: If we told you, we'd have to kill you. His automobile: Bugatti, of course. His cigarette: Players. His drink: Cutty Sark, over polar sea ice. His tyre: Blockley, naturally. ]

I would like to see them offer tubes with just the hole in them for the valve stem. Why? The current valve stems I've seen are not the same as originals.
It's a lot of work to remove the rubber stems to accept the PROPER valve stems. Is that asking too much?

Are the Blockley 30x3-1/2" tyres "oversize" ??

I'm saving me pennies and awaiting a stateside connection with baited breath (just ate a sardine )

Double post. Sorry.

Rich Bingham wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:42 pm

Are the Blockley 30x3-1/2" tyres "oversize" ??

I'm saving me pennies and awaiting a stateside connection with baited breath (just ate a sardine )

Nope! Just mounted my new set this afternoon

The only 30x3 1/2 tires available today that measure just 30” in diameter are the Firestone smooth tread ones, the Universal clincher ribbed tires are just a smidge bigger . The Wards Riverside, Universal T-drive, and Firestone blackwall tires are all about 31.3” to 32”. The Blockley 30x3.5 tires are listed as 795mm diameter, which converts to 31.3”.

So, yes, I would consider them to be “oversize” like the other O/S styles available in the US.

Eric

Where did you find tubes with metal stems for wire wheels?

Here is a Blockley... Here is a Universal grey ribbed... Both tires are brand new, aired up to 50 psi, and on a car. I’m on board that they are not a true “on size tire”, but are certainly closer than most

TRZim wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:16 pm

Where did you find tubes with metal stems for wire wheels?

This is the first time I have ever splurged for metal stem tubes. They are Blockley tubes and are twice the thickness of the Hartford tubes (I measured). Also trying the “no flaps” approach for the first time as this is what Blockley recommended. I have not tried to figure out what hardware and caps would be needed to finish it all off yet...

Kevin Pharis wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:24 pm

Here is a Blockley...
6F8F01C8-5C40-49E4-9E4D-90AFBFD49327.jpeg

Here is a Universal grey ribbed...
C5D48D5A-FE77-49C3-BF13-0E08971601C5.jpeg

Both tires are brand new, aired up to 50 psi, and on a car. I’m on board that they are not a true “on size tire”, but are certainly closer than most

Thanks for the first hand observation, Kevin. It shows that most specs should be good enough for comparison shopping, but direct observation delivers more accurate info.

Eric

Yes, thanks Kevin ! I've yet to dismount a rear tire on my '13, the T-driver
30x3-1/2" tires are so generously oversized I'm dreading it. Practically no clearance at the fender lip. Looks like Blockleys will be a much better fit.

If the quality of the Blockley Tires is as good as the Blockley Tubes they should be great! I currently have five Universal T drivers with 5000 miles on the four drivers. My question would be whether the Blockleys are significantly smaller than the T Drivers which would necessitate buying five instead of four (so the spare matches).

I'd also like to extend my best wishes to Seamus... I hope he can make a go of it without it becoming all consuming of his time.

Nagging you, Seamus, thanks for your patience. I just reckon it's time for a monthly update, even if the news is "nuthin yet".

Hmmm. No further interest ?

I need to know more about the tubes. I understand the Hartford brand is the best available now. I need to know more about Blockley. If their tubes come with incorrect metal stems, it seems a shame for me to have to cut them off to put the real thing on. I think someone needs to talk Schrader into making the correct valve stems again, so they can be installed at the factory like original.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:53 am

I need to know more about the tubes . . .

Hear !! Hear !!

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:53 am

I think someone needs to talk Schrader into making the correct valve stems again

While I doubt Schrader would see the lucrative financial opportunity to produce these valve stems in relatively minuscule quantities... this is your chance to start a new business venture...

Rich Bingham wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 11:19 am

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:53 am

I need to know more about the tubes . . .

Hear !! Hear !!

I didn’t snap pics of the Blockley tubes... but did measure the thickness of the material. The Blockley tubes are 2x the thickness at the couple Hartford tubes I have laying around. The metal stems are vulcanized into the tubes. FWIW, the mold finish and attention to detail of the Blockley products is very impressive

Great testimonial Kevin, and I thank you. Your input helped me make up my mind to get a set. My problem now is HOW ?!?

How did you go about buying yours ? For me, time in delivery is no object, but I do want to buy a set.

Rich

Just go to blockleytyre.com and order away. Or you can contact them by phone. Long distance charges apply.

Ordering via the web was smooth... PayPal was required for export orders, and they have their own idea of what the currency exchange rate is...

Rich B. -
I'm pretty sure Seamus has spent the past week wandering the aisles at Hershey and hasn't been keeping up on the forum. I week or two ago he was excited about coming events with Blockley progress.

Dan, thanks for that reminder ! Out here in the wild west, 2200 miles away, it's easy to forget about the Hershey Holy Days of Obligation. As I said, I'm in no hurry, and I hope Seamus has a great time there ! Thanks to all who posted to the update !!

Dan Haynes wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 4:38 pm

Rich B. -
I'm pretty sure Seamus has spent the past week wandering the aisles at Hershey and hasn't been keeping up on the forum. I week or two ago he was excited about coming events with Blockley progress.

Seamus brought a tube to Hershey. The thickness and apparent quality upon inspection is awesome! Having just put Hartford tubes on it was easy to FEEL the difference! I'm sure once Seamus is home he will respond. I think he left Hershey this (Sunday) morning.

I need 6 to 8 inner tubes! As much as I do not want to have to 'pay the price'? I am so disgusted with all the tubes I have seen in the past fifteen years that I want to one way or another get the best tubes I can!
I also have not used PayPal for several years, and thanks to my 'bank' breaking its promises to me (and thousands of other customers I might add!), the account that was connected to Pay Pal no longer exists. So other means of payment would be preferred over opening a new PayPal account.

So I patiently await word that tubes become available soon through a local distributor (YAY Seamus!)

Gents,
I agree with others and wouldn’t ruin a brand new tube and be loathed to cut out its Metal stem to fit an original one!
They are the same size as the originals with a quality vulcanising job.
Tubes are twice the weight of others and 100% Butyl, NOT a mixture of Viton, Nitrile and other who knows what rubber compounds melted down.
100% Butyl is what was used in the olden days and prevents air passing through it creating a pressure loss.

Hartford would be my second choice as some have had good experiences with them.

When it comes to a critical safety item that Tyres and Tubes are, I go for the very best that is currently available.
$2000 or just over is a great investment in safety and long life on a set of Tyres and Tubes in my opinion.
Alan in Western Australia

Are the Blockley tubes only going to have the incorrect metal stems? Are any of them going to have rubber stems that should be easier to cut off.
What I hate about most reproductions, they are never done correctly.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:19 am

Are the Blockley tubes only going to have the incorrect metal stems? Are any of them going to have rubber stems that should be easier to cut off.
What I hate about most reproductions, they are never done correctly.

Cars other than Model T's use 30 x 3.5" tubes. Are they wrong for all cars???

Well, Original, looks like you are stuck with other brand rubber stemmed tubes. Myself, I'd much rather tubes which hold air. I can live with the larger stems used on most other cars.

Allan from down under.

I would much prefer stems of the correct size myself. However, I am fairly sure I can live with the larger stems IF the tubes are good, reliable, and hopefully patchable if needed. Most synthetic tubes in recent years won't hold a patch at the pressures required for clincher tires! If I have to, I can drill my rims/wheels to allow the larger stems. I know I know, some wooden felley wheels have thin steel sleeves to pass through the wood. But I suspect the small increase in size (with the steel sleeves removed) won't seriously harm the wheel.

I emailed Blockey on Saturday and said their is great demand here for their tubes and tyres! I asked what's the hold up, besides covid, and what's taking so long to get this rolling?! I'm making it easy for them, I think. I very well may just take the charge and give them a call!!! Its tuesday, havent heard from them again.... sometime Julian responds in a couple day, but sometime a couple weeks.

If I have to, I can drill my rims/wheels to allow the larger stems.

Most likely not necessary. I use the larger "wrong" size in my wood felloe wheels. No alterations needed.

Wayne Sheldon wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:34 am

If I have to, I can drill my rims/wheels to allow the larger stems.

I second Steves statement above. I just mounted my Blockley tires with Blockley tubes on my 30" x 3½" rearwheels on my 1914. No modifications needed, but yes, it was hard to get the stems aligned and put through the hole.

Almost twenty years ago, I did get a couple oversize stem model T tubes (they are some of what will not hold a patch over 40 psi!).
What I discovered then, was that some of my model T wheels would accept the oversize stem with no problems. However, a few of my model T (wood felley) wheels would not let the oversize stem pass through. My simple solution then was to use the couple oversize stem tubes in the wheels I had that would take them, and use a couple proper size stem tubes I had in the wheels that would not allow the oversize stems. I really did not like that. Because it meant that in the future, it would be possible to require a tire repair and hit that obstacle in a less convenient time and place. However also, I really did not want to unnecessarily alter my original wheels.
At this point in time, I am ready to surrender to the realities at hand (the ability to adapt to situations is one of the most important of all survival attributes!). I have wheels restored and waiting for tires which are waiting for tubes. I haven't checked to see if/how many will need modification to accept the available stems (because I kept hoping for better options?). And I really don't wish to fool around with cutting out the oversize stems in order to install original stems (which I do have a few of) because of the size difference and my more recent experiences with modern tubes not holding patches at higher pressures

Been a long time since I tried to vulcanize tire patches. However, the Chem-bond type patches in recent decades do not hold if the tire pressure exceeds about 40 psi. Numerous and very careful attempts to patch seam leaks (poor quality manufacturing!!) and even a couple self inflicted tire tool pinches resulted in tires that would hold 35 psi for several months! However, once I upped the pressure to 45 psi, the patch would peal off on one side and the tire would be completely flat in hours.
Whether the change has been in the tubes themselves, or the patches and glue, or both? I don't have the answer. I have been patching tubes with Chem-bond type patches since I was eight! I would like to think I know what I am doing. But nothing I have patched in the past 15 years has worked at any more than about 35 to 40 psi (I actually upped the pressure on one very gradually, at 38 psi, it failed!). Doesn't work very well for tires that require 55 to 65 psi to remain tightly on the rim.

Michael, did you put the tube inside the tyre first? Then inflate it just a bit? Then fit BOTH beads with the valve stem down the hole? Once that is done, a clamp can be applied while you lever the tyre, both beads at a time, over the rim.
Fitting one bead, then trying to wrestle the valve stem down a wooden felloe valve stem hole is fraught with difficulty.

Allan from down under.