Tire Life.
 

How many kilometres can one expect to get from a set of new Firestone, or any other reputable make of 19" and 21" tires?
I feel the answer is going to be very little, compared with new modern radial tires.
We all pay enough for both modern and Model 'A' tyres. Why the vast difference in tire life?
The best I have ever had from a set of 19" was 15,000 miles, where a modern radial will give around 100,000 kilometres.
Are we being quietly led up the garden path by crafty tire manufacturers?
Or is it simply the fact that our Model 'A' tyres are not of radial design?
Could not a 19" or 21" tyre be formed as a radial?
I know by changing a Model 'A' to 16" radials it improves the steering and general handling by about 200%.
I used to sell Model 'A' tyres in my parts shop, and the main complaint apart from price, was the miserable mileage from tires.
Any thoughts folks?

Re: Tire wear.
 

Holy Cow, 100,000 miles out of a set of radial tires??? :eek:

The quality of rubber is not the greatest, and most modern drivers in Model-As "over-drive" the tire in corners anyway. If someone gets 12k-15k miles, to maybe 20k out of a set of tires, (even back in the day) that was considered a lot of driving. Times have changed with advances in automobiles. Be content with 12k-15k miles of service life.

.]

Re: Tire Life.
 

:confused:maybe he means kilometers and that would be 62,000 miles

Re: Tire Life.
 

Many of the radials I'm using on my new cars go 60,000 miles, so that is quite common today. All depends on driving styles.
I think RHD is posing a good question....

Re: Tire Life.
 

I agree, I don't understand paying $200.00 for a tire that last only 10,000 miles or so. Yes I get it is a specialty item but lets get real. I would gladly pay $300.00 a tire if you could get 35000 miles:)

Needing one new tire in WV( yea and its a white wall to boot:rolleyes:)
dusty

Re: Tire Life.
 

Yes. I do mean kilometers. I will alter my inquiry to suit.
Thanks.

Re: Tire Life.
 

You can get radial tires as 5.00xR19 and 5.50xR19 that fit model A rims. LINK They are made "100" profile (height = 100% of width) so they match the old bias ply look. Several other width radial 19" and a 21" are available too, but a bit too big.

Re: Tire Life.
 

I have 10,000 miles on a set of 21" Firestones, and they have lots of tread left. They should make it to around 15,000.

Regarding modern tires on modern cars, I got 89,000 miles from a set of tires on my Infiniti FX35. They were Bridgestone Potenza P265/60 R18. Huge. Needless to say, when it was replacement time, I put the same tires on the car.

Re: Tire Life.
 

Tyre life is subjective, as it depends on how aggressive you drive your car, steering geometry etc. On my old valiant ute, one set of rears went 60,000 Km, the next set went about 35,000 Km. They were the same brand, model and size, but the difference was what I threw in the tray of the ute weight wise.

Re: Tire Life.
 

Interesting question on these. I have been curious what to expect on my Firestone tires.
Those of us who also ride motorcycles have the same pain, 10,000 miles is a good average for tires that run in that same $150 +/- range. 2 granted not 4, but still that kind of specialty type like our A.
Yes I have had up to 80,000 on car/truck tires, and glad that they last that long on the Dually - ack! 6 to buy

Re: Tire Life.
 

I'd guess more Model A tires have gone bad from sitting than from driving!

Re: Tire Life.
 

My 2011 Buick went thru a set of Bridgestones in 41000 miles and they were close to 900 to replace. So the new tires are not all that great either.
Al

Re: Tire Life.
 

WOW, I got less then 5000 on my firestones 4 years ago.

Re: Tire Life.
 

What happened?:confused:

That's the lowest I've ever heard for mileage.

Re: Tire Life.
 

I just retired my car last fall. Had 21,470 miles on a set of Firestones. There was a little tread left, but not much. Bought the Goodyears this time. Here's how I look at it. I've got $500 deductable on my insurance. If you think how easy it is today to do $500 damage to one of these new cars we're sharing the road with I'd rather enjoy the ride with new tires and the confidence they give me than to plow into someone and pay that way.

Re: Tire Life.
 

They wore out, the tread disappeared and the tires were rotated.

Re: Tire Life.
 

Appropriate timing of this thread, Wheels coming back from Powder coater this after noon, new set of 21 inch Goodyears waiting for them THAT was an expensive little endevour!

Re: Tire Life.
 

93,000 miles on Factory Michelins on an '11 Fusion. They were square by the time the fleet company agreed to replace them with round tires.

I've got approx 20,000 on Goodyear white wall 4.75's with undetermined prior use.

Rotate every 5,000 miles, run at 32 psi (a little rough I know). I do replace the tubes every two years whether or not they need it - my Grandfather taught me this. I don't understand it, but he was a PhD Mechanical Engineer who ran tubes in all cars, including a '69 Deuce and a Quarter, so who am I to argue.

Re: Tire Life.
 

buick electra 225

Re: Tire Life.
 

US tire manufacturers cried to the Govermnat that the imports were killing them. To "save" jobs here in the US, the government needed to raise tarriffs on imports, and it did but US manufacturers also raised their prices thus the difference in price between inports and US tires are the same but all prices are higher.

http://www.dunntireblog.com/import-t...t-tire-pricing

Re: Tire Life.
 

My 1998 Ford Ranger 4X4 pickup with almost 270,000 miles gets 100,000 miles on a set of tires. The factory Firestones A/Ts lasted the longest at 103,000 miles. The next set was Firestone A/Ts and went 100K miles. The BFG A/T's on it now still look almost new with 60K on them.

The Model A has a set of Firestones with a little over 8K miles on them (as best we can guess) and cannot see any evidence of treadwear yet.

http://ned.ronet.ru/0/1969%20Buick%2...0Hardtop_2.jpg

Buick 225 Electra

"Deuce...and a Quarter"

Smooooothest riding iron Flint ever made.

Re: Tire Life.
 

I think Jeff was right, that Buick Electra appears to be a big part of the Army duce and a half.:D:p

Re: Tire Life.
 

22,000 miles on 19" firestones on 31 roadster, rotated every 4000mi or so. some tread left, not quite legal. mostly around town driving.

Re: Tire Life.
 

It's great that everyone is giving their figures on their tires....
but back to the original question posed, which really hasn't been answered....

Re: Tire Life.
 

Re: Tire Life.
 

I had to change my tires on my Ford F150 4x4 Pick up at 60,000 miles (and I did a lot of off road too); I am at 105,000 and I need a new pair. When the tax money comes I will go get me some new ones.

I have owned three Buick Electras (1972, 1973, 1975), plus my father used to drive us all over the West and Southwestern USA in his 1973 Electra 225. A little Buick Trivia: The 1972 Buick Electra 225 is one-half inch longer than the 1972 Cadillac Sedan deVille.

Re: Tire Life.
 

I believe the jist of the 1st paragraph to be-why do model A tires not wear like new tires????
Is it the compounds used, the narrower width, are we being hoodwinked.....?

Maybe I need to put my eye glasses on.

Where is the model A tire that gets 40-60000 miles?

Re: Tire Life.
 

So, if I was to use radial 21 inch tires on my 1931 Tudor, would the ride be better than the original bias tires ?

Marc

Re: Tire wear.
 

I have 70k miles on the tires on my truck, and I bet I have over 1/3 of the tire tread left.

Re: Tire Life.
 

To me, most of the tires dry rot before they loose the tread. I have had the same BF good Rich tires on my '66 mustang for 20 years, the tread is still there but they are starting to dry rot so I'll need new ones soon and the only have 40,000 miles on them. I think your paying for longevity not miles.

Re: Tire Life.
 

a little off topic, but think other will enjoy.....where does all the rubber go that is worn off millions of tires on the road?? a lot of rubber there dont you agree??? well the good old us government did a survey,study,scientific analasys,if you will...............turns out they say bacteria eats all the rubber from the pavement...not like the laying down of rubber at dragstrip...thats fresh. good for traction................just a thought....kev

Re: Tire Life.
 

20,000 average b f goodrich . several sets. just received 200,000 mile award. i don,t think thay dry roted. hi miler 29