MTFCA Forum

Several days ago, I had the tire removed from a wheel for my 1927 coupe. I then took my five wheels to a local powder coater. I will share some information about the tire and some photos of it and the wheels.

The tire was one of the four tires that had been on the coupe since 1954. To the best of my memory, air had never been added to it nor to two others.

However, the fourth tire would go flat in storage. During the time period from 1954 to 2020, the coupe was stored (never ran) in seven different locations in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. At the last three storage locations, the tire would go flat so I would air it up each move. It would stay up for a couple of months and then go completely flat again. It is surprising to me that the tube could hold air after being crushed while flat.

Attached are three photos of the tire removed several days ago (it is not the tire that would go flat). The tire is at least 68 years old!

Also attached are photos of the powder coated wheels. Note that the contact area inside the hub is not coated.

Not sure what you are asking, but I have two riverside and two firestone tires that I bought used in the early 80's because the seller said they weren't show quality anymore. I still run on them. Apparently the material quality is better than the current batches.

If you are going to order new tires and tubes, you should order them now in case it takes them a long time to get to you. Like a lot of Model T parts, I think tubes, flaps and tires are very hard to get now, so save your tires, tubes and flaps, make repairs to the tubes where needed and re-mount them on your rims when you are ready in case you are unable to get new ones, you will be able to drive your car. Those old tires probably have a lot of life left in them. You can make them look like new and preserve the rubber by rubbing the rubber down with brake fluid. Jim Patrick