Firestone vs. Goodyear Tires ?

[Vic in E-TN]

I am ready to order a pair of replacement 21 inch tires. My Pickup has Firestone's that have tread some tread but are at least 25 years old. I see that Goodyear costs approximately $45 more each. I could put the matched pair on one side. On Bert's site the Goodyear's say "USA Made". Does anyone have any thoughts on which are better? I could get 4 cheaper ones for the price of a pair of either of the two brands. Anyone have any thoughts on this?


Vic

[Gene F]

My last set was Good-Year. My current set is Firestone. The firestones seem to wear longer.

[J Franklin]

Easy, made in USA or maybe Vietnam. The Goodyear tires look better to me.

[Hitman]

Goodyears are US made, and a better tire than the Firestone tires. No question here.

[JayJay]

Goodyear tends to fit better in the fender wheel well, as you likely have for your pickup. Firestones are just enough wider that I found I had to deflate to get it in. I’m trying European Classics, a real bargain Goodyear clone I got from Bert’s. Ride seems to be fine, no word on wear yet.

[P.S.]

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The Firestone tires available today for Model As are wider than the era correct ones, and made of longer lasting rubber.

The Goodyear tires available today are nearly exact copies of the era correct ones, and are slightly narrower than the Firestones, which only matters if you have fender mount spare tire(s).

The Goodyears have much better grip than the Firestones, and a slightly better ride. The Firestones have slightly more miles per tire worth of meat on them.

Edit: Looks like you and I were typing at the same time JayJay.

[DougVieyra]

My 65 odd years of driving my Ford Model A's with various brands of tires leads me to this conclusion:

Make sure you like the Firestone size and style (looks). For, while they are as the others above have stated, in my experience, I have not been able to wear out the Firestone tires.

Ever since Doug Clayton was able to get the factory-correct GoodYear tires remade, I have always wanted a set for my two Model A's. However, I needed to have my existing Firestones be in need of replacing before I made such a large $$$ purchase. So I waited, and waited, and waited. I am still waiting. At 82 years of age, I suspect that I will never be able to wear out these Firestone tires !

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, California

[Herb Concord Ca]

I did the same a Jay Jay. Not a lot of miles on them yet.

[David in San Antonio]

Barney Oldfield had painted on the sides of a racing car: Firestone Tires My Only Life Insurance thereby revealing someone didn’t understand how life insurance works.

[al's28/33]

My 22 year old Firestones are wearing on the outside according to my toe-in angles, but since they are 22 years old, I'm eager to get a new set of Goodyears. I barely go 500 -800 miles in one season and I see it as a safety issue. I just need to order the GOODYEAR's and change out the old.

[ronn]

Vic, all depends how much driving you do.

I dont drive much, so I ordered the 4 cheaper ones through Jegs.

I paid slightly over 400. for a set of 4 Excelsiors.

[rotorwrench]

Coker Tire company has been around a long time in Chattanooga, TN. It's now under new ownership as of November 2018 but as far as I can research, the tires are all still made in the USA from reconditioned and reproduced molds of the original brands and sizes. They pay royalties to the brand names that still exist in order to reproduce their products. The Coker family company was basically bought out by it's own management team with resources from an investment group. With the same company manufacturing most of these tires then they are likely all using the same basic materials in this process. Many of the tires of different brands that are the same size may use the same core for several different molds. It's the mold that makes the brand name on a new tire.

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

Coker Tire company has been around a long time in Chattanooga, TN. It's now under new ownership as of November 2018 but as far as I can research, the tires are all still made in the USA from reconditioned and reproduced molds of the original brands and sizes. They pay royalties to the brand names that still exist in order to reproduce their products. The Coker family company was basically bought out by it's own management team with resources from an investment group. With the same company manufacturing most of these tires then they are likely all using the same basic materials in this process. Many of the tires of different brands that are the same size may use the same core for several different molds. It's the mold that makes the brand name on a new tire.

I wonder why Corky decided to sell. The Jegs family decided to sell some years back too.

[rotorwrench]

Most family companies sell due to no family member that is interested in taking over the helm. Other problems can arise in family units that cause splits in agreement on outcomes. Harold Coker and his wife built a lot of this up over the years then Corky was there to keep the business functional. When Corky wanted to retire to his own interests then Wade Kawasaki took over along with his team. Corky still has the Honest Charley Speed Shop to keep him busy as long as he wants to do that.

Having been involved in a family business in its 3rd generation, I can see where things can go over time and how family interest can wan with succeeding generations. Family units can also die out with no fruit left on the family tree.

[ronn]

I wonder why Corky decided to sell. The Jegs family decided to sell some years back too.

very simple- if you have enough money- why deal with the daily headaches and the possibility of your business going down? Take the cash, put it in CDs bonds or such and live off the interest.

[Vic in E-TN]

Thanks for all the comments.


Comment that the Firestone's are a bit too wide to fit in the side mounts is correct. I needed to use a spare and it was difficult to get it out. Looking at Bert's, I looked at the $130 American Vintique 21 in BW and I liked the tread pattern that resembled the Goodyear pattern. I like that pattern. Same comment for the $150 European Classic tire on Bert's. Any specific comment on the Vintique vs the European Classic? They look the same but I have no experience with either. I know that some have comments on a tire from Vietnam. I never went there, I avoided that trip.



I looked at Jeg's and their patterns are hard to see well. Prices are good and shipping is free? I have no experience with Jeg's. Any comments on them?


Vic

[ronn]

I bought 2 sets of 19s from Jegs and am happier then a pig in slop!

Free shipping yes.There is a 10. oversize chg I believe, but still paid around 400. for a set of four with no other fees.

Looks like the European classics are a nicer tire, but I cheaped out, because I rarely drive.
otherwise, I woulld have tried a set of those.

[Jim Brierley]

I prefer Goodyears because I feel that their tread pattern is less apt to make the front end get caught in road groves, thus the car goes down the road straighter with less jerking from site to side. Just my thoughts.

[rotorwrench]

Jeg's and Summit Racing are both in competition for aftermarket parts sales. If a person is shopping for the lowest prices on the products they handle, many times they will compete on that. There are others out there too but it is a tight market when the economy is not in good shape. Tires are a dated item so the dealers for such products don't like to keep them on the shelf too long.

[ronn]

Are All Goodyear Tires Made in USA?
/Selling tires /Are All Goodyear Tires Made in USA? Not all Goodyear tires made in USA. The company also has plants in Canada, Germany, France, England, Poland, Luxembourg, Turkey, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, South Africa, etc.Aug 24, 2023