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Hi,
I am going to buy new tires for my ’34, and am considering Bedford Coach, Firestone, and Lester (since Denmans no longer available in 7.00-17, nor Goodrich). Open to any comments from experience regarding whitewall width and general subjective appearance, tube reliability, noise, “wandering”, wear, modern lettering, etc.
Thanks,
Bob Jacobsen
Bob,
I’m using 7.00 x 17 Bedfords on my ’34 Conv. Coupe. I know that 7.50 x 17 are the correct size for a 12 cylinder, but they won’t fit inside my spare covers. I’ve got about five thousand miles on them and they don’t wander on the road. I run 45 lbs in them. They are also ROUND and feel just fine at 55 to 60 mph.
Bill
I put new 700 17 Firestones on several years ago. They’re fine. The biggest problem I’ve had is getting a decent tube. The tubes sold with them now are actually for 18 inch and are too large and get folds when installed. I had two flats after returning from an event immediately after getting them installed. I found a smaller tube,can’t remember for sure but it I think it was for a 16.5″ radial and no problems since.
Nothing like the originals that were “”safety tubes”” with a tube within a tube and heavily reinforced on the wheel side.
Good luck! Jim
“
Bob, be alert to ratings of the 4/6 ply tires. I’ve seen some 6 ply rated 1300lbs@32PSI and others at 1600lbs.
I like the look of Bedford myself.
Best-John
Bob has heard most of this from me already.
I am delighted with the Bedford Famous Coach tires on my 1930 roadster (700 18) and 1934 Silver Arrow (700 17). The sidewall design near the tread is authentic, they wear VERY well, and two of the 17s have survived high speed flats (see below). However, they are wider and greater in diameter than original equipment and will not fit in sidemount wells and under sidemount covers.
Just before the Temecula Meet in 2009 I bought a set of the 17s from Lucas and their tubes with rubber stems. On the return trip from Temecula I suffered two high speed (58-62 mph) flats due to the Lucas-provided tubes. In both cases, the tubes split along the bonded seams and were not repairable. There were no punctures, just tube failure.
Subsequently I replaced all five tubes with 16-inch light truck tubes sourced through my local Big O dealer and those tubes have done very well–no further difficulty in the last six years. But I carry TWO spare tubes for tours of any distance. And I’ve been unable to add plated valve stem covers to these tubes.
My tire wallah tells me that ALL tubes are now made overseas. The newer the tube, the thinner the construction seems to be.
When replacing tires on these cars, allow time to remove the usual rim strips and address the rust that almost certainly is lurking under them. “Address” means using wire wheel, sanding, Metal-Prep, and paint. For 1933 and later drop center 17″ wheels, do NOT buy 17″ rim strips, as they will be too large; 15-inch rim strips may work.
Greg Long came up with the excellent idea of using heavy duty HVAC tape to wrap the drop center in lieu of rim strips. As I recall, we used 20-mil tape on the center and 10-mil tape on the shoulders. 17-inch flaps might serve as well.
George
George thanks for sharing this useful information!
John
How would you guys rate the Denman 750-17 with the Bedford. I need to put new tires on my 1933 1247 as the Lester that are on it now are of unknown age. Do Bedford wander less than Denman. Thanks Doug Vogel
Hi Bob, I went with the Bedford Coach from Lucas for my ’29. The tread appearance is authentic, and the tires are ROUND, and are very well made.
As George stated, don’t bother buying tubes from Lucas Tire. Buy heavy-duty truck tubes in 700/750-16. The drop center wheels are only about 15-1/2″ diameter, so the tube has to stretch a LOT to fill the drop center, and the thin tubes stick to the tire, and the rubber tube wall thickness gets to be about like a party-balloon. The result is a tube failure.
To give credit where it is due, a Coker Tire salesman told me about the HVAC high temperature tape.. Actually called PVC Tape. I suggested regular duct tape, and the guy from Coker said the glue on the duct tape was so low temperature quality, that the tape unravels, makes bunches of tangled threads and goopy-glue balls between the wheel and tire, and creates tube failures.
The PVC Tape is a firm, yet flexible plastic, that has high temperature adhesive on it, The plastic tape will conform to the compound curves of the drop center wheels. The slick surface of the tape provides a surface for the tube to slide evenly into the drop center as it inflates, making the tube much more reliable.
When I mounted my new Bedford’s on the ’29 wire wheels, they are 19″ snap ring type wire wheels, I balanced the rim first then again with the tire mounted and aired up. The tires were very well balanced, two of the mounted wheel/tires did not need any change in the weights after the tire was mounted.
I have found the tires to be quiet, nice riding and nice looking.
I personally do not like the appearance of the Lester tire tread, or sidewall to tread area. The tires look like a set of tires I bought from Montgomery Ward on sale in the late 60’s, WAY too modern a look for your car, maybe for a ’36 and later sedan?? But not on your Convertible Coupe/roadster or on my ’29 roadster. The Bedfords also look great on George’s Silver Arrow, I think a set of Lesters would not look very good on the car.
Greg Long
The above message shows the 6.50-19″ tires that were on my roadster when purchased, they are the same tires I see in a photo of the car taken in 1983. So they are at least 32 years old.. Even though the tread was almost like new, and there was only some very minor surface ‘cracking’ on the whitewalls ONLY, I still didn’t fee comfortable with driving the car at freeway speeds with the know-old tires.
There were no 6.50-19″ tires available last fall, so I ended up using 7.00-19’s. I kept two of the original tires for my side-mount spares. In the ’29, the side mount tire well in the fender is a zero-clearance fit. And ANY larger tire than the smaller 6.50-19’s will not fit into the tire well. I guess a person might be able to deflate a spare tire/wheel, put it into the fender well and reinflate it.. but it would be a gamble that a person could remove the inflated spare when it is needed. Especially after the tire is firmly inflated against the fender for a few years.
Here is the ’29 with the new tires.
Greg Long
Gobs of tire talc(powder) will help with the tube sticking or motion
between the tube and tire or rim strips.
“Gobs”” (literally) are clumps that will create friction and tube failure. Use **plenty** of talc but spread it around the casing interior and also on (my preference) an inflated tube. Be sure to inflate and deflate a new tube before placing it in the casing.”
I would add another step to George’s advice; After lightly inflating the tire bounce it smartly on the ground several times, then deflate it completely and re-inflate to final pressure. This will ensure that no folds remain in the tube from the initial insertion into the tire.
Peter,
Tsk,tsk,tsk, really, “eyre””?
Wouldn’t that be “”ire””?
Bob”
Oh Dear! Oh Dear! you two are such fun!!!
Bob, you beat me to it. Perhaps Peter is infatuated with Miss Jane Eyre.
I’ll tweak Peter’s (figurative) beard for his phrase “an ample sufficiency” by quoting W.C. Fields, “Pardon my redundancy…”
Have a wonderful day, my Pierce-Arrow friends!
George
I hear gobs of laughter!