Lucas tires wear report

[Bob Johnson]

A couple of years ago I purchased a set of Lucas tires for my Model A pickup. They cost approx $100 each. After 10,000 miles here are the results (see picture below).

The right rear tire shows extreme wear in the center. No it was not over inflated. It had the same 30-35 pounds of pressure as the other tires. I measured the "crown of the RR tire and it is taller in the center than the others even with the wear. The right front has uneven wear around the circumference of the tire. There are patches of wear maybe due to a tire that was not round when new.

I will not be buying any more Lucas tires.

Bob

[1955cj5]

I just bought a set of Lucas tires this spring....350 miles so far...

Did you rotate them?

If so at what mileage interval?

[mrraford]

Looks like you've been burning rubber. Don't smoke the tires so much and they will last longer.

[DougVieyra]

Bob - in the future, it looks like what you need to do . . . . . is buy 4 left front tires . . . .

A lot of what goes on with the tyres, is what / how the chassis mechanicals inter-react with the tyres. If all systems are perfect (rare), then your 10,000 mile tires do indeed tell an interesting story.

I am sure that rotating tyres would help - but who rotates their tires every 2,500 miles (it is a good idea) ? I am sure there are some . . . but few.

[BlueSunoco]

Wow. At least it looks like the toe-in is on the money, there isn't any chaffing or slippage type wear

Sad that antique car tires are as pricey as they are but are really kinda poor in quality anymore.................

[SeaSlugs]

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well the right rear wear makes sense to me: the way the car is supported when only a driver is behind the wheel the added weight kind of rolls the body to the left side lifting the right side up due to the arched springs parallel to the axle. this essentially makes the pickup, like all modern pickups, light in the rearend and even lighter on that right side, i bet if you ran 30psi on the right side of your truck and 35 on the left you would have even tire wear. or ran around with 150 lbs of sandbags purely on the right side of your bed it would wear evenly.

if your front right has weird wear, maybe check for a bent rim? that would wear tires out quick and irregular

your left tires still have life left in em.

rough guess but a model A weighs about 2200 lbs, about the same as a newer 2012 mazda Miata. Miata has that weight resting on 4 tires that are 8" wide each while the model a is just about half that at 4.5" wide. Simply put, narrow tires wear out faster as they have to carry more pounds per inch of tread.

[Bob Johnson]

I do not think rotation of the tires would have helped.

Bob

[Tinbasher]

Are these Bias Ply tires? You may have found that they weren't round when they were new. In the day there was a machine that would grind the tires and make them round. Yes the new ones!!!

John Poole

[700rpm]

Many factors contribute to tire wear. I wouldn't be too quick to blame Lucas.

[1955cj5]

How many miles would you expect from repro Goodyear's or Firestone, at one and a half times the price?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Good evening, Bob,
Sometimes WEIRD things happen, that don't compute. If they were just cheep built tires, you'd think they would ALL have worn out. If you didn't rotate them, I've "heard" that "sometimes" the pavement is poorer @ the R/H side & sometimes causes more wear on the R/H tires???
Have you chatted with Lucas about it? Maybe, send them the Pics. I'm sure they don't want to get some "BAD PRESS".
Bill W.

[duke36]

I'm told the new Lucas 5:00 x 19' offerings are made in Vietnam, so hope the quality control is OK.

[1955cj5]

My 4.40/4.50 -21's were made in Vietnam....bought in May of this year....

[Mitch//pa]

follow your car down the road and see if t doglegs.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Many factors contribute to tire wear. I wouldn't be too quick to blame Lucas.

I agree and had they all worn the same I would point a finger at the tire manufacturer. In this case it would suggest that the vehicle is a good part to blame. Wayne

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

follow your car down the road and see if t doglegs.

GOOD THOUGHT! Might possibly be the cause.
Grandpas' Short Haired German Pointer, "RATTLER"' did that, with that funny crook in his tail, where it got caught in a door, once!
Bill W.

[rogerkb1936]

i got 21000 miles out of 19" firestones on my 31 roadster, still had tread but not legal. rotated them every 4000-5000miles. 19" diamond tread goodyears on my 31 pickup have 12000 miles, can hardly notice any wear, also rotate these.

[H. L. Chauvin]

FWIW, just a few experiences:

A. On a homemade utility/boat trailer made with a Model A Ford front axle, my Dad installed a pair of used, well worn used tires on a trailer in 1935 which he used often for 32 years until 1967. We even often piggy-backed two (2) boats on this trailer. We dismantled this trailer in 1996, 61 years later, and these tires were still holding air.

B. Because of gravel roads, used tires for trailers were preferred he said because there were no tire crevices that could pick up rocks & throw gravel at the rear of one's vehicle.

C. He explained that "if" large automobile type tires were installed for trailer tires on a well aligned axle, they should last a lifetime -- my 1960 Model A front axle built boat trailer with 1965 Chrysler tires are still good today after 55 years.

D. His prediction for trailer tires lasting so long was that trailer tires:

1. Unlike vehicle front tires, were never redirected in a curve; and,

2. Unlike vehicle rear tires were not rotated with the force of an engine; and,

3. Unlike all four vehicle tires, trailer tires had no brakes which caused a tire to grip the highway.

If one ever thinks that "non-very-carefully-adjusted" mechanical brakes work like the even pressure of hydraulic brakes, try jamming your Model A brake pedal on a wet, "slick" highway while traveling in a Model A at about 45 mph.

Even though some brands of tires last much longer than others, thinking about well aligned trailer tires can shed a bit of light on this subject; and in many cases, if one has mechanical brakes, unknown caster, camber, and toe in, & a frame not checked for front/rear alignment, it can never hurt to investigate same prior to installing new tires.

Hope this helps.

[BlueSunoco]

Bob you need to go get a set of Garfields or Bedfords, with that butt-ugly zigzag tread pattern.

The stupid things never seem to wear out! I've been trying for years before I can justify buying some new Goodyears, I'm far from it

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

Bob you need to go get a set of Garfields or Bedfords, with that butt-ugly zigzag tread pattern.

The stupid things never seem to wear out! I've been trying for years before I can justify buying some new Goodyears, I'm far from it

Yo, Blue,
Chiefs Goodyears, on his '52 Chev. P.U. were recapped by his friend, with AIRCRAFT RUBBER He couldn't ever wear them out. When the sidewalls began to look like a DRUNKS' CHECKER BOARD, he finally dumped them. Wonder if anyone can re-cap 16's, 19's & 21's?
Bill W.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

I've noticed the tread width on my new Lucas tires are about an half inch narrower then my goodyears I replaced.not sure just yet how happy I am with them? Probably have about 800 miles so far. Seems to handle ok. Only problem was the roofing nail I picked up some where near the Oso mud slide memorial.

[RandyinUtah]

I replaced my Firestone tires after 20000 miles with Goodyear Diamond Tread abd the side walls on all four Goodyear tires were badly cracked after two years. I'm not to happy with the service of the Goodyear tires. Wonder where they were made?

[40 Deluxe]

It should say somewhere on the sidewall where they were made.

[C26Pinelake]

i have Goodyears on at least 6 of my pre 33 cars and I could night be happier. I always say figure the cost difference over 19 years and it is not that big of a deal, Wayne

[ronn]

Bob - in the future, it looks like what you need to do . . . . . is buy 4 left front tires . . . .

Doug, I like your take on the matter!

honestly, 10k miles at 100. bucks a piece I consider a fair purchase. They still have
5000 miles left in my book......................

keep them doggies rollin-rawhide!

[msmaron]

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The tires i believe are rated for about 15K....what you have is normal and they look good to me!

[Y-Blockhead]

IMO If you had rotated them you would get longer life. The tires that were wearing faster would be rotated to the position that was wearing slower so your tires would be more 'evenly' worn out.

Instead now you have two with tread and two without.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by ronn

... Honestly, 10k miles at 100. bucks a piece I consider a fair purchase. They still have
5000 miles left in my book......................

keep them doggies rollin-rawhide!

That works out to 1¢ per mile...

[ODFever]

I agree that the wear pattern is unequal. Is the right rear on a Model A the primary driven wheel? If so, the right rear tire will always have more wear than the left rear.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by ODFever

I agree that the wear pattern is unequal. Is the right rear on a Model A the primary driven wheel? If so, the right rear tire will always have more wear than the left rear.

Typically, the R/R is the "BURNOUT TIRE".
I put a 2800 Mustang V-6 with C-4 automatic, in my '68 Datsun Pickup, the L/R was the "BURNOUT TIRE", never figured that one out???
Bill W.

[Gold Digger]

Originally Posted by rip94611

I'm told the new Lucas 5:00 x 19' offerings are made in Vietnam, so hope the quality control is OK.

I hope I never have to buy tires made in Vietnam.