The Ford Barn

Old Henry · 10-12-2023, 05:31 PM

Coker will not have my 6.00-16 3½" whitewalls in for 3-4 months. I've got one worn out and need to replace it so am looking for other alternatives.

I see a Lester 6.00-16 3 7/8" whitewall for sale for less than the Coker and wonder if it is as good a tire.

What do any of you know about Lester tires compared to Coker's BF Goodrich tires?

1942deluxe · 10-12-2023, 05:42 PM

Old Henry, check with Summit racing and Jeg's in Ohio. I bought my Coker tires from them and they seem to have things when even the manufacture is out of stock.

wga · 10-12-2023, 05:53 PM

Henry - I used Summit Racing for my Coker tires, which they had in stock, and verified the date code for me as well. Check this some tire shops have old inventory.
Also Summit will pay the freight.

Old Henry · 10-12-2023, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wga

Henry - I used Summit Racing for my Coker tires, which they had in stock, and verified the date code for me as well. Check this some tire shops have old inventory.
Also Summit will pay the freight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Old Henry, check with Summit racing and Jeg's in Ohio. I bought my Coker tires from them and they seem to have things when even the manufacture is out of stock.

Thanks for the advice.

I've checked all of that - Summit, Speedway, Jeg's - none have my size.

Anyone tried Lester tires or know anything about them?

DavidG · 10-12-2023, 07:38 PM

Historically, Lester tires were top of the class and while the tread design wasn't/isn't of the period, it was and remains a much more modern design with superior traction, especially on wet pavement. My experience with Lester is recent with 17" tires and more dated with their tires for Lincolns of the classic era.

19Fordy · 10-12-2023, 07:41 PM

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I used to run 6:00 x16 whitewall Lester's on my 40. They were good tires. I remember I bought them out of Hemmings ad.

GB SISSON · 10-12-2023, 08:49 PM

You might also want to consider looking at the Diamond Back line of tires. They have a very good reputation and while expensive, they are radials which last longer and handle better. With the kind of miles you rack up, the tread life can make the cost easier to bear.

petehoovie · 10-12-2023, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

I used to run 6:00 x16 whitewall Lester's on my 40. They were good tires. I remember I bought them out of Hemmings ad.

Zax40 · 10-13-2023, 08:31 AM

I have Lester tires on my Model A Roadster. They were on it when I bought it. I haven't put very many miles on them, but they look well made.

Old Henry · 10-13-2023, 10:10 AM

Thanks for all of the input.

I've gone ahead and bought the Lester 3 7/8" whitewall.

Steve in Denver · 10-13-2023, 10:43 AM

I see you just bought the Lesters, but I will put a Second in for Diamond Backs. I asked Coker if they could make 6.00x16 4-inch Double Whitewalls for me in radials. They can do it in bias, but not radials. I asked Diamond, they said, "How many do you want". Diamond does make tires to order, they don't stock anything, or not much anyway. I think it took them a month.

PS. that raised area around a tire is called the Beauty Ring, like the chrome ring on the wheel. Diamond said they could do that in the whitewall giving me the 4" I wanted.

Old Henry · 10-13-2023, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

You might also want to consider looking at the Diamond Back line of tires. They have a very good reputation and while expensive, they are radials which last longer and handle better. With the kind of miles you rack up, the tread life can make the cost easier to bear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve in Denver

I see you just bought the Lesters, but I will put a Second in for Diamond Backs. I asked Coker if they could make 6.00x16 4-inch Double Whitewalls for me in radials. They can do it in bias, but not radials. I asked Diamond, they said, "How many do you want". Diamond does make tires to order, they don't stock anything, or not much anyway. I think it took them a month.

PS. that raised area around a tire is called the Beauty Ring, like the chrome ring on the wheel. Diamond said they could do that in the whitewall giving me the 4" I wanted.

Thanks for the recommendation of Diamond Backs. I'm familiar with them but still run the original authentic bias ply tires, not radials.

Thanks again.

10-12-2023, 05:31 PM	#1
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Lester Tires Coker will not have my 6.00-16 3½" whitewalls in for 3-4 months. I've got one worn out and need to replace it so am looking for other alternatives. I see a Lester 6.00-16 3 7/8" whitewall for sale for less than the Coker and wonder if it is as good a tire. What do any of you know about Lester tires compared to Coker's BF Goodrich tires? __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

10-12-2023, 05:42 PM	#2
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 713	Re: Lester Tires Old Henry, check with Summit racing and Jeg's in Ohio. I bought my Coker tires from them and they seem to have things when even the manufacture is out of stock.

10-12-2023, 05:53 PM	#3
wga Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 900	Re: Lester Tires Henry - I used Summit Racing for my Coker tires, which they had in stock, and verified the date code for me as well. Check this some tire shops have old inventory. Also Summit will pay the freight. __________________ Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer.

10-12-2023, 07:38 PM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Lester Tires Historically, Lester tires were top of the class and while the tread design wasn't/isn't of the period, it was and remains a much more modern design with superior traction, especially on wet pavement. My experience with Lester is recent with 17" tires and more dated with their tires for Lincolns of the classic era.

10-12-2023, 08:49 PM	#7
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,940	Re: Lester Tires You might also want to consider looking at the Diamond Back line of tires. They have a very good reputation and while expensive, they are radials which last longer and handle better. With the kind of miles you rack up, the tread life can make the cost easier to bear. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

10-13-2023, 08:31 AM	#9
Zax40 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 303	Re: Lester Tires I have Lester tires on my Model A Roadster. They were on it when I bought it. I haven't put very many miles on them, but they look well made.

10-13-2023, 10:10 AM	#10
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: Lester Tires Thanks for all of the input. I've gone ahead and bought the Lester 3 7/8" whitewall. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

10-13-2023, 10:43 AM	#11
Steve in Denver Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 566	Re: Lester Tires I see you just bought the Lesters, but I will put a Second in for Diamond Backs. I asked Coker if they could make 6.00x16 4-inch Double Whitewalls for me in radials. They can do it in bias, but not radials. I asked Diamond, they said, "How many do you want". Diamond does make tires to order, they don't stock anything, or not much anyway. I think it took them a month. PS. that raised area around a tire is called the Beauty Ring, like the chrome ring on the wheel. Diamond said they could do that in the whitewall giving me the 4" I wanted. __________________ Steve in Denver