Firestone or Goodyear??

[BillEbob]

Firestone or Goodyear, which is YOUR preference? Why or why not?

Considering that I'll be sinking better than a grand for tires, tubes and shipping I wanted to hear what you experts think.

[michael a]

Look online for simple Tire Great discounts they handle all brands

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

[3.6rs]

You will not feel the difference. You don't have a race car.

[Larry Jenkins]

Goodyears are the nicest looking. Probably Firestones because Ford and Firestone were good friends.

Above there is a thread about when whitewalls were proper..

[CWPASADENA]

Personally, I like the looks of Goodyear.

Both will give you good service.

If you have a 30 or 31 with side mounts, The Goodyears will fit the wheel wells better. The Firestones are a bit too big.

Again, this is just my opinion.

Chris W.

[Mike V. Florida]

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Both seem to give the same service but the Firestones are cheaper.

[J Franklin]

I have GoodYear and like them a lot.

[NCRebel]

I knew the answer but that referred to a 1968 Nova when I was stupid enough to drive to drag strip, change the tires, race in street stock, change the tires and drive home. I was young and dumb then, now I'm just older and thrifty with my dollars.

[WHN]

We have a set of Firestone’s on our 29 Sport Coupe with about 4,000 miles. Very little ware showing and they handle very well.

It’s really all about what you like the looks of. Enjoy.

[BillEbob]

Originally Posted by michael a

Look online for simple Tire Great discounts they handle all brands

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

Couldn't find Model A tires on this website. What am I missing?

[40 Deluxe]

Are these tires actually made by Firestone and Goodyear, or by a "third party"?

[SeaSlugs]

summit racing has free shipping.

have you contacted coker or lucas tire direct? lucas gave me a shipping discount if i shipped it to a business address (doesn't matter what business - got a buddy that runs a company?)

[michael a]

Originally Posted by BillEbob

Couldn't find Model A tires on this website. What am I missing?

Call them

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

[BillCNC]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but I to have been looking at tire's.

I was under the impression that Firestone's were slightly wider and could cause the tires to rub towards the turning endpoint's. Is this true?

My Tudor also has the Kelsey 16" rim's but I'm considering going to 19's for the original look. Considering I haven't driven stock 19's before. What's truly the difference?

Regards
Bill

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by BillCNC

Don't mean to hijack the thread but I to have been looking at tire's.

I was under the impression that Firestone's were slightly wider and could cause the tires to rub towards the turning endpoint's. Is this true?

My Tudor also has the Kelsey 16" rim's but I'm considering going to 19's for the original look. Considering I haven't driven stock 19's before. What's truly the difference?

Regards
Bill

got a club member who can let you borrow a set of wheels for a day?

[Gil Sissons]

And the other option available today are the radials.
Coker sells them in 500/19 and 550/19.
Run about $250+ each.
Have a club member with the 500/19 on his roadster and he loves them.
Just a thought.
Gil. NoCal

[BillCNC]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

got a club member who can let you borrow a set of wheels for a day?

I joined one 4 month's ago and no, not yet. I'm not quite sure if I'd be comfortable borrowing a set of tires.

I'm just now getting the car back together after a 3.5 month long complete chassis restore. She's a roller, but on her old tires so I have been researching my options.

Regards
Bill

[burner31]

I'm running "Sears" tires.
Think they were put on in the very early 60's, tread is like new and the tires are in good shape.
The old man stopped working on the car in '63, so the tires are somewhere in that era.
Tires were put on and then the car stored for next 53 years.
I don't think the tires ever saw the road until I bought the car three years ago.
Can you still buy "Sears" tires?

[BillCNC]

You don't drive on those do you?

Regards
Bill

[burner31]

Originally Posted by BillCNC

You don't drive on those do you?

Regards
Bill

Sure I do, even had it up to 67 mph once, and only once.
Will never do that again.
But they are still good tires, I check them all the time for pressure, cracks, splitting.

[Purdy Swoft]

I would use Goodyear . I think that Goodyear looks better and lasts longer .

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Lucas was mentioned. I did not like the way they handled, and changed back to Goodyear within 2000 miles. They are also a smaller footprint then Goodyear.

[SeaSlugs]

Lucas also carries the goodyears and firestones. I prefer the looks of goodyears but cant comment on ride.

[MickeyT]

Giver Coker a look as well. Got my Firestones there with free shipping. What ever you do don't pay for shipping. It's pretty expensive.

[noboD]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Are these tires actually made by Firestone and Goodyear, or by a "third party"?

Guess number three is correct.

[old31]

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Originally Posted by burner31

I'm running "Sears" tires.
Think they were put on in the very early 60's, tread is like new and the tires are in good shape.
The old man stopped working on the car in '63, so the tires are somewhere in that era.
Tires were put on and then the car stored for next 53 years.
I don't think the tires ever saw the road until I bought the car three years ago.
Can you still buy "Sears" tires?

I really believe running on tires that look good, but are that old is just an accident waiting to happen. I would not do it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by burner31

Sure I do, even had it up to 67 mph once, and only once.
Will never do that again.
But they are still good tires, I check them all the time for pressure, cracks, splitting.

I'd also use them, but keep a close eye for any cracks in the sidewalls or in the tread pattern.

I bought some good looking old used tires at a swap meet once, but they split wide open before I had them inflated to even 20 PSI.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The name, "FIRESTONE" gives me a "WARM" feeling, like a hot rock in bed, to keep my feet WARM!
Bill Chilly

[updraught]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I'd also use them, but keep a close eye for any cracks in the sidewalls or in the tread pattern.

I bought some good looking old used tires at a swap meet once, but they split wide open before I had them inflated to even 20 PSI.

So you looked for cracks and then the tires exploded.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1473548635

[al's28/33]

I have had Firestone blackwalls on my "A" since 2002. 16 years later they are still looking good, no cracks and no issues. Same tubes just keep properly inflated. I don't go over 45 mph. I prefer the look of the Goodyear treads, maybe sometime in the future I will get the Goodyears. They were not available for 21" rims in 2002.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by updraught

So you looked for cracks and then the tires exploded.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1473548635

That was the first used tires I bought years ago, and before I tightened my parameters on used tires. They were harder and had light cracking, which I would pass on today. Properly stored tires can last a long time.

[BillEbob]

The Firestones on my car were put on by previous owner (P.O.) about 7 years ago. They are very weather cracked and dry rotted; this is why I began this thread. I will not drive them on the highway.

I began asking about preferences between the two brands because I was told by one well admired parts vendor that the Goodyear brand rode better and proved worthy of their extra cost.

I was hoping to discern comments akin to that statement.

[CapeCod_28A]

I've also been looking and leaning towards Goodyear but I have yet to find free shipping on them whereas I've found Firestone's that ship for free. I'm not planning on letting shipping dictate which tire I get but free would be nice.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by BillEbob

The Firestones on my car were put on by previous owner (P.O.) about 7 years ago. They are very weather cracked and dry rotted; this is why I began this thread. I will not drive them on the highway.

I began asking about preferences between the two brands because I was told by one well admired parts vendor that the Goodyear brand rode better and proved worthy of their extra cost.

I was hoping to discern comments akin to that statement.

you being out in the dry air doesnt help tire life. do you use tire protectants that prevent dry rot? (not all tire shines are protectants)

[BillEbob]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

you being out in the dry air doesnt help tire life. do you use tire protectants that prevent dry rot? (not all tire shines are protectants)

I have always used tire treatment on my vintage Mustangs (both sides of the tires!) but as I just purchased the Vicky in November, I had no say in how they were treated by P.O. in Tucson.

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by burner31

I'm running "Sears" tires.
Think they were put on in the very early 60's, tread is like new and the tires are in good shape.
The old man stopped working on the car in '63, so the tires are somewhere in that era.
Tires were put on and then the car stored for next 53 years.
I don't think the tires ever saw the road until I bought the car three years ago.
Can you still buy "Sears" tires?

The Sears Allstate tires will probably outlast all of us , As long as they are nylon cord . Don't even try an older one with rayon cord , no matter how good the tread looks . .Weather cracks don't mean that much if the tire is nylon cord . If a piece of weather cracked rubber falls off it doesn't mean that a nylon cord ttire will instantly blow out . Nylon cord is very strong. The town sedan that I got in the early 60s had 5.50 X 19 Firestones on the back , one Allstate on the right front and some off brand on the left front . The Firestones were the first to wear slick and blow out . The off brand on the left front was nylon cord with cracks , it eventually slung off a good sizeed piece of tread and I run it for a while until it finally blew out I've still got the Allstate tire and it still has pretty good tread . I've ran the old Allstate tire on several of my model A's over the years . The Allstate has lots of weather cracks now and I finally retired it. I had an old weather cracked nylon cord Acme tire as a spare on the speedster . I got tired of the wise cracks about the road runner and the Acme kit and removed it .

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by burner31

I'm running "Sears" tires.
Think they were put on in the very early 60's, tread is like new and the tires are in good shape.
The old man stopped working on the car in '63, so the tires are somewhere in that era.
Tires were put on and then the car stored for next 53 years.
I don't think the tires ever saw the road until I bought the car three years ago.
Can you still buy "Sears" tires?

We have a set of Bedford's that look just like these and they are wearing great. At least 40 years old. Garfield-Sears-Allstate-Bedford had to be made by the same company they all have that ugly zig-zag tread pattern. I wish they'd go bad so I can buy new but I'm too cheap for that.

Ugly tread pattern. You know, the one that looks like Charlie Brown's shirt

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

We have a set of Bedford's that look just like these and they are wearing great. At least 40 years old. Garfield-Sears-Allstate-Bedford had to be made by the same company they all have that ugly zig-zag tread pattern. I wish they'd go bad so I can buy new but I'm too cheap for that.

Ugly tread pattern. You know, the one that looks like Charlie Brown's shirt

Those tires are made from carbide and solid granite it seems - i cant say ive ever seen a worn one.

[Purdy Swoft]

I've never seen a worn one either . I always liked the zig zag tread .

[Keith True]

I have some Allstate (Garfield) tires that were put on my Tudor in 1967.I'm not really afraid of them.A few years ago the car started wiggling a little,and pulled to one side when stopping,I was looking at the brakes and front end,but it turned out to be the 4 pounds of air in the right front tire.Valve core was bad.The tire didn't even look soft.I don't like to go too fast with them as they are hard and ride rough.As for Firestone and Goodyear,I think that's a matter of personal preference.Kind of like Ginger or Maryann.About 15 years ago I put a set of new Firestone WW's on a car for somebody.In less than two years they all had cracks starting where the black and whit meet.A couple of years after that they all had cracks in the grooves of the tread.That car spends it's parked time in a climate controlled building with a bunch of antique furniture.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by BillEbob

The Firestones on my car were put on by previous owner (P.O.) about 7 years ago. They are very weather cracked and dry rotted; this is why I began this thread. I will not drive them on the highway.

I began asking about preferences between the two brands because I was told by one well admired parts vendor that the Goodyear brand rode better and proved worthy of their extra cost.

I was hoping to discern comments akin to that statement.

If you live in a hot area, with a lot of sun light, and leave you car out in the sun.

The tires are going to weather faster.

I have a car that hasn’t been outside over night in over 40 years. Never left in sun more than a few hours. Tires look brand new, Firestone’s. Tires are 15 years old with about 4,000 miles. I should drive this car more.

They ride and handle great. All mechanicals on car have been rebuilt to factory spec’s. This helps.

Tires are maybe like oil. We all have our own view of what is best.

Just don’t leave them in the sun if you can help it. Enjoy.

[BillEbob]

My final question: Have any of you discovered a website seller who offers free shipping on Goodyear tires? I have been quoted $25/tire for shipping!

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by BillEbob

My final question: Have any of you discovered a website seller who offers free shipping on Goodyear tires? I have been quoted $25/tire for shipping!

have you called any of these places? usually they work with you if you buy in sets. also if you can ship to a commercial address thats cheaper as well. I got 4 20" AA tires and flaps shipped for $80 from CA to IL doing that.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cok-73200/overview/

check summit - free shipping and carry coker tires in firestone and goodwrench.

[CapeCod_28A]

Originally Posted by BillEbob

My final question: Have any of you discovered a website seller who offers free shipping on Goodyear tires? I have been quoted $25/tire for shipping!

I just ordered 5 new Goodyear tires and shipping was $145 ($29/tire). I looked around and couldn't find any prices that were much better.

[Gary Karr]

I just changed Schrader valve stems on both my Tudor with Firestones and OCPU with Goodyears. It was an unbelievable chore to dismount and remount the Firestones. It took two of us to get them remounted. The Goodyears on the other hand were easy to dismount and remount. From now on, I will use Goodyear tires only.

[CapeCod_28A]

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This is good to know with the Goodyears. I really had no information to go by when it came to tires so I went on the conversion here on and it sounded like many liked the Goodyear tires.


The current tires on the car are Marathon INSA's, made in Canada. From my little research, these where an older inexpensive reproduction tire. I could be totally wrong.

[updraught]

Going by this size difference:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1473548635

and these diff ratios:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showp...0&postcount=16

The 2.65% bigger Firestones put you almost half way to a 3.54 diff ratio?

[a_crazy]

on the tire topic... I wonder if anyone can tell me how that military tread is ... I mean that non directional ... "NDCC" ? how does it perform ? are they good in mud and snow?

[rogerkb1936]

goodyear does it for me. better looking and the 19" will fit in fender well, where firestone will not (unless deflated). 14000 mi on goodyear on my pickup, about half worn

[steve s]

Concerning tire storage, my understanding of rubber chemistry is that the main culprit for degradation is ozone--not heat, cold, sun, dry, wet, or anything else. Ozone "normally" is only produced by sparks in the air, which are normally only produced by crappy electric motors, like old furnace blowers or my Lionel train layout. Alternatively, my college roommate from southern California told me they had to replace their wipers every time it rained because the ozone produced by the photochemical smog ate the rubber so quickly.

For whatever reason, my experience with Allstate tires is similar to others'. I stored my Ford in 1965 and when I retrieved it 22 years later, the tires seemed as good as when I parked it in Grandma's garage (unheated, no electric motors or toy trains nearby).

[TerryO]

my college roommate from southern California told me they had to replace their wipers every time it rained because the ozone produced by the photochemical smog ate the rubber so quickly.

I remember a song from the early 70's that said "It Never Rains in Southern California" so that may not be any more often than the rest of us.

Just teasing...

TerryO

[steve s]

Originally Posted by Gil Sissons

And the other option available today are the radials.
Coker sells them in 500/19 and 550/19.
Run about $250+ each.
Have a club member with the 500/19 on his roadster and he loves them.
Just a thought.
Gil. NoCal

I would like to hear more about how these look and work. Tube or tubeless? Exactly how are they better?

[steve s]

Originally Posted by TerryO

I remember a song from the early 70's that said "It Never Rains in Southern California" so that may not be any more often than the rest of us.

Just teasing...

TerryO

No tease necessary, Terry. The fact that it basically only rained once a year or so was an equally big part of the fellow's point along with the air pollution. We just expected air pollution back then! My understanding was that the difference between them and the rest of us was that wiper disintegration was so complete that not swapping them out was really not an option.

[jhowes]

I don't know if they are tube or tubeless but I suspect that they carry a tube just because of the 80 year old designed rims. I put them on my 1965 corvair (then new) and found they had excellent road manners, but, I had to realign the front end because they have a smaller "slip" angle than the bias ply. Road cracks and imperfections are masked out by the radial tires. Just my experience. Jack