Labels inside of new tires

[mhsprecher]

Someone else posted about this, but I installed new American Classic Radials on my car with new Hartford tubes. In my reading I saw a suggestion to remove any stickers or labels on the INSIDE of the tire. I had my tires mounted, so I didn't do that.

On my 115 mile trip to Hershey last week I had a flat tire. I changed it and made it to Hershey. When I took the tube out of the tire to see what the problem was, there was a small cut in the tube. I checked inside of the tire and found one of those little tables floating around near where the hole in the tube would have been. Looking at the tube, the split in the tube was framed with markings the same size as that little label. I went to Coker and explained what happened and they gave me a new tube.

We had a discussion bout the hole in the tube. For some tires, they put a label on the tire about removing those little stickers before you mount the tire. Who knew? In any event, I suggest removing those stickers just to be sure.

Oddly enough, the guy parked next to me on the show field had new American Classics and he had had a flat, too. I shared my experience with him. I now need to dismount all the tires and make sure there are no labels and check the tubes for potential problems.

[Gary WA]

Good information to know!

[Gene F]

I wonder if the glue grabs the tube?

[mhsprecher]

Originally Posted by Gene F

I wonder if the glue grabs the tube?

I don't think so, but who knows? The motion of the tire moves the label around and somehow there is a hole in the tube. It doesn't make sense to me.

I put Excelsior radials on my town sedan a few years ago and I have driven lots and had no problems. I don't know if those tires had labels in them. I am not going to dismount them to find out. After ten years of driving Model A's, I have never had a flat until now.

[goldie]

My experience with British cars and wire wheels taught me a few things.
Remove all stickers and the adhesive that is left behind. Wipe the inside of tires and exterior of tubes with tire talc (available at Aircraft Spruce). Make sure the installer is very familiar with inner tubes. In over 50 years never had a flat with my tubed tires, tubeless tires many flats.

[Synchro909]

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I learned in 1996 to remove those labels when we borrowed a car for a rally in NZ. We had 3 flats in 2,000 miles on new tyres and tubes. Every one of them matched up with a label in the tyre so out came the labels. Boy, were they stuck on well - ridiculously well.
I have never fitted a tube since without first making sure those labels are removed while I curse the manufacturer the whole time. I still don't know why they do that $#!T.

[Y-Blockhead]

Good idea to check the insides of tires before mounting. I did not find any stickers inside my American Classics, but I did find a warranty card in one. I'm sure that would not end well if left in there.

[w.michael]

I had my American Classic Radials in service for a little over two years when I suddenly had three flats within three months. In all three cases the leak in the tube was an abraded area that corresponded with a sticker inside the tire. WHY WOULD THE MANUFACTURER DO THAT? It’s a known problem with a tire that is going to be used with a tube—so why??

W. Michael

[mhsprecher]

Originally Posted by w.michael

I had my American Classic Radials in service for a little over two years when I suddenly had three flats within three months. In all three cases the leak in the tube was an abraded area that corresponded with a sticker inside the tire. WHY WOULD THE MANUFACTURER DO THAT? It’s a known problem with a tire that is going to be used with a tube—so why??

W. Michael

And why wouldn't Coker know this? The rep I spoke to at Hershey said that he was unaware of this problem with Model A tires and tubes.

[goldie]

The stickers inside the American Classic radials I installed several months ago were difficult to find. I had to use a flashlight to find them, they were small and were coated with a black film. A quick look and you will miss them.

[larrys40]

Did I talk to you at Hershey about this. I had the 32 coupe for sale next to Coker. It was an odd occurrence. The Hartford tubes seem thin to me.
Larry Shepard

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Another problem I encountered with Goodyears. The flag emblem is raised a bit inside the tire. Took about 8000 miles to wear a hole in the tube.

[mhsprecher]

Originally Posted by larrys40

Did I talk to you at Hershey about this. I had the 32 coupe for sale next to Coker. It was an odd occurrence. The Hartford tubes seem thin to me.
Larry Shepard

Larry, we did discuss this.

I am not sure about the thickness of the tubes. I dismounted all my tires and found another tube that was close to failing because of the labels. The pics below include a shot of the labels inside the tire. They are a pita to remove. The other pics are of a tube where you can see it is starting to fail where the label was. I put a patch on it and reinstalled it in the tire.

[divcoone]

I also had a tube failure from a Coker tire with a sticker that was’t removed. Not all the tires had the sticker.

[mhsprecher]

Originally Posted by divcoone

I also had a tube failure from a Coker tire with a sticker that was’t removed. Not all the tires had the sticker.

All of my tires had stickers in them.

[Y-Blockhead]

Has anyone contacted Coker about this sticker issue. I have American Classic tires on my Town Sedan and I am now concerned I may start having flat tires.

[Ruth]

Where are y'all buying Radial tubes? I see Coker is Out of Stock on 4.75/5.00x19 tubes.

Are you using "Radial" specific tubes? Who has them besides Coker?

[Joop]

Label on the inner-tube box.

[mhsprecher]

Good to see that. Some folks don't read instructions. I guess we are all guilty of that sometimes.

[Ruth]

It would be nice to see the instructions on the outside of the tires tho. Not everyone uses Coker tubes.