Lucas Tires Don't Cut It

[Brobrian]

Thought I'd raise the issue of payload again.

To bring everyone up to speed:
The other day we were posting about the weight of payloads our A's could carry. One gent was wanting to put his Harley in the bed of his pickup. I'd been messing around with my rear spring and discovered it was an 8 leaf spring instead of a 10 leaf. Someone on the forum commented that the pickups were quarter ton trucks, not half ton.

Today I was hauling block again. As some of you have said, it really is fun to use the Model A for runs to Home Depot. With a 500 lb. load the truck sat low on the spring, but otherwise was fine with plenty of power and no complaints from the drivetrain. On one trip, however, I loaded about 700 lbs in (all foreword of the rear axle) and things didn't go as well. Though I was doing fine until I made a slow turn. The rear end felt squishy and the truck drifted badly. It felt like the tire was going to peal right off the rim.
I really think the weak link was the Lucas tires I just put on. I noticed how flimsy the sidewalls were when I mounted them. Though they provide a fairly nice ride when not under a load, today they looked positively mashed. I think they are 4-ply. I wonder if there is a better tire out there. One that would be better under a load. I'll be replacing the spring when I get some cash, but a 6-ply tire would also be nice.

[J Franklin]

What PSI are you filling the tires?

[Keith True]

I think you're just asking a little bit too much out of a passenger car tire.You seem to have found your limitation is between the 5-700 pound mark.It is very important to keep them pumped up hard,as the A wheels do not have the rim design to hold the bead tight like a more modern tire.I really have no idea if anybody makes 6 ply tires in 19 inch or not.I don't think there would be much of a market for them,people want their A's to ride smoother,not harder.You are the first one I have ever heard of wanting a heavier tire in 19 inch.Everybody I have seen that needed a heavier tire went to the 16.If you go to a 16 inch you can buy any capacity tire you want.My Dodge 2500 takes the same size tire as an SUV,but if I put an SUV tire on there,hook the trailer with the excavator on it the SUV tire won't get 5 miles.

[PetesPonies]

Might be worth have 2 16" solid wheels to put on the rear when you want to "work" her.

[Brobrian]

Originally Posted by PetesPonies

Might be worth have 2 16" solid wheels to put on the rear when you want to "work" her.

Now there's an idea.

If I had the room to keep it out of the way I'd build a little trailer with the right wheels and tires, maybe 16's. But having just an extra set of wheels is a good idea.

I have Firestones on the coupe. While I don't haul stuff in it like the pickup, it just seems to me that those tires have a stiffer sidewall.

Anyway, it was worth a shot. Might've been a 6 ply available.

[1931 flamingo]

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Make two trips??
Paul in CT

[Del in NE Ohio]

part of what you are describing re Lucas tires vs others is the fact that Lucas are Nylon tires which have sidewalls not as strong/rigid as polyester tires...

[Duffy1]

1931 Flamingo ; Great post . You make me smile .

[Bruce Adams]

Soooooooooooooo?
now we have taken an eighty year old CAR, having a bed with a load capacity of 500 advertised pounds and put 700 pounds in it and we blame the TIRE MANUFACTURER for poor handling?

The GOODYEAR brand named tires I purchase from Lucas Tires perform quite well, though I believe they are manufactured by Kelsey Tires. The car has easily handled five hundred plus pounds plus, which, I believe, is closer to a safe working load for the Model A Ford. Oh, yes, don't forget to add the driver and passenger's weight to compute the load being carried.

[CarlG]

Driver + passenger only leaves 100# payload in the back

[MrTube]

Is this an "A" or an "AA"?

I can't imagine putting 700 pounds in the back of our "A" pickup no matter what tire is under it.

[BrianBurkert]

Get an AA with duallies.

[gibby]

Paul, you always know the right thing to say. Always to the point.

[Keith True]

I put 500 pounds in mine quite a bit.If I have a little sandblast job that doesn't warrant running up to the power plant for a pallet of sand I just buy it from the brickyard.I get five 100 pound bags at a time,only because five is as many as I want to pick up to chest level and set in the truck.

[Crazydaddyo]

Stock A wheels don't have bead lock rims. loaded side thrust like you describe will peal any brand "car" tire off of the rim.

It is not fair to blame the brand of the tire if you have not had any experience doing the same thing with any other brand.
.

[LukeDahlinger]

I've hauled 7-800 lbs lots of times and never had any problems. I run Universals on my truck and keep them @ 40psi.

Perhaps you got a bad tire?

[J Franklin]

Luke, you are airing them up for the job they will be doing. that's why I asked about PSI.

[spdway1]

My Home Depot rents trucks for $19.99 for 90 mins with air condition!

[J Franklin]

Yea for the Depot! that's a great service, I bet it boosts sales. Wonder what they charge for gasoline?

[eagle]

I run 50 lbs in my tires. In small printing along the bead it says maximum PSI 55. Firestone on the front, Universal on the back, Interstate on the spare. In general, running your tires harder will make them last longer (now let the comments roll!). I drive a lot on soft gravel roads and there is less pulling with harder tires.