Early 1928 Instruction Book mistake

[frankfalcone]

I always felt misprints or mistakes were published for a reason, so there is something for everyone and some people are always looking for mistakes. This instruction book came with my February 14,1928 Tudor Sedan #24,981. The tire size is listed as 30x4.50 balloon tires, but it should say that they are 21x4.50 balloon tires. Has anyone else noticed this in the last 87 years?

[Jim Mason]

I believe at the time they listed tire diameter not the rim...ymmv

[Marco Tahtaras]

I can't recall at the moment but think the change was in '29 when the began sizing them by the rim size. As far as the sizing as quoted, 30" - (4.50" x 2) = 21".

It's not the easiest to read in the pic below but it's doable.

[redmodelt]

By the fall of 1925 you could get 21 X 4.5 tires on a Model T and that is how there listed on the tire. The outer diameter of most 21 inch tires of the day were 30 inches so they could be listed ether way.

[frank55a]

I reviewed about 200 factory photos for 28 and 29 and found several fairly clear tire sizes and manufactures. It seems to depend on the tire manufacture, ex. U. S. Royal appears to only show 4.50 X 21 in early 28 whereas Goodrich Silvertown tires were 30 (star) 4.50 - 21 well into 29. I have a very clear picture of an early 28 with Goodyear tires that are "30 x 4.50 - 21" (see photo).

[DougVieyra]

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The Ford Instruction book of 1928 was correct. You were wrong in your assumption that the book was wrong. Sooo . . . . do two wrongs make a right ?

It is common knowledge amongst tire historians that the 30X4.50 Balloon Cord is the correct tire nomenclature for the 1928 period. All the extensive literature of the time shows this to be so.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, CAlif