g741.org

Not exactly M37 related but I'm getting ready to buy a couple of 7.00 x 16 tires for my M416 trailer.
Coker Tires has them with the "Firestone" label on them. Normally I would not use a Firestone
tire (tyre) on any of my vehicles if you gave them to me. The company has a terrible reputation
and their tires have killed an injured a lot of people, not to mention the destruction of vehicles
in crashes.
So my question is, can these tires from Coker be trusted and are they really made by Firestone?
Maybe Coker has them made under license to Firestone. (?) Calling Coker may not get me the
straight scoop.
Any other suggestions on tire brands and sources would be appreciated.
Jerry

Jerry,

I'm not sure about every reproduction tire, but from what I understand most are made by "other" tire manufacturers with the brand name licensed to the company selling them. For example the Goodyear Polyglas tires used on most musclecars are not made by Goodyear. Goodyear sold the rights to produce the tires to Coker or Universal (I forget which one sells Polyglas) and they have tires made by a second party tire manufacturer. Same thing with Firestone Wide Ovals, etc. Sometimes the molds are included with the deal if they're still around, and if they're long gone they make new ones from old prints....or from scratch.

Back in the late 90's I bought a set of new reproduction Polyglas tires from the first batch of new reproduction molds. They were perfect except the middle bar of the letter "E" in the word "Goodyear" was shorter than the other two. I never would have noticed it but the Corvette guys picked it up immediately. So they weren't made from old Goodyear molds.

So I would assume that the repop Firestone NDTs are not made by Firestone.........but you never know. If they were they'd be available from any Firestone dealer.....which I doubt they are. I would think Coker bought the rights (and maybe the molds) to the NDTs and is having them made elsewhere. By all means ask them......they should tell you the truth. I would also think by DOT regulations the actual maker of the tire would have to have his name or a code stamped into the tires they make. Let us know what you find out.

thanks,
bob

Thanks Bob:
I'll call Coker today and get the skinny. Everything you said makes sense. I see now
that's it's doubtful Firestone still produces these.
Are Firestone brand tires O.E.M. on an early '60's M416?
JB

Hi JB,

I can't speak to the M416, heck I need to Google it just to see what it is.......but for the M37 the ORD only lists the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in it's list of manufacturers, in regards to tires. But interestingly, by part number there is no call out for the tire specifically.....which is unusual....but only a Chrysler (CC) part number for the tire/rim assembly. That tidbit sure doesn't answer your question.........sorry about that.......but figured I'd throw it out there.

regards,
bob

The M416 is a 1/4 ton trailer. Mostly a Jeep trailer but very useful
to me for the M37.
I see Wallace Wade Tire and Universal have ads in Supply Line.
They have the "correct" tubes also. About $135 to $140 each
plus shipping. Never dealt with either of them.
What kind of reputation do they have?
JB

If the price is right for you get the tires and don't worry about the name on them. They aren't made by Firestone...heck Firestone isn't made by Firestone as it is Bridgestone which I think is actually another Jap company. They are reproduction tires with the name on them. Probably used a Firestone as the model for the mold to make the new tires.

As said, if the price is right, go for it, and thanks for the spelling duality

MM

Monkey Man wrote:As said, if the price is right, go for it, and thanks for the spelling duality

MM

MM:
Yep, tyres, boot, bonnet, windscreen............ got 'em all at my disposal for my "English" friends.
JB

m37jarhead wrote:The M416 is a 1/4 ton trailer. Mostly a Jeep trailer but very useful
to me for the M37.
I see Wallace Wade Tire and Universal have ads in Supply Line.
They have the "correct" tubes also. About $135 to $140 each
plus shipping. Never dealt with either of them.
What kind of reputation do they have?
JB

I bought tires for my mutt from Summit Racing in Sparks Nevada. I was passing through the area and stopped in at the store once I knew they had tires on hand. I think the shipping might be cheaper for you. Here's a link http://www.summitracing.com/search?keyw ... tary&dds=1

I got a set of 5 STA NDTs with tubes and flaps from Wallace Wade and actually met him in Portland in 2008-nice gentleman and his tires offer excellent quality and cost-I'll vouch for him.
Gary

M11 and Gary:
Thanks for the leads. I'll be in Nevada tomorrow. I'll check them out. Will also call Wallace
for their price plus shipping, tax, etc.
Thanks for the tips.
Jerry

Considering that the tires will be used 90% of the time on the road, what is recommended,
NDT or NDCC?
And what is the difference between the two?
Jerry

The NDCCs I've seen are more square on the tread ends versus being more rounded on the NDTs.
Gary

Cal_Gary wrote:The NDCCs I've seen are more square on the tread ends versus being more rounded on the NDTs.
Gary

Gary,

I think you got that backwards. NDT's have square shoulders while the NDCC's have a rounded shoulder. The rounded shoulders are suppose to give better handling when driving down the roads and highways.

Jerry,

I'd give the Nevada store a call first to make sure they have some in stock.

Tim

m37jarhead wrote: Are Firestone brand tires O.E.M. on an early '60's M416?
JB

I don't know about the 416s but I have a VERY original '53 M38A1 with 7.00x16 tires still on the original military rims and one is Firestore, one is Goodyear, one is Thoroughbred and the other a Tactical CC made by US Royal! It's too bad there's no tire on the spare rim. I wonder who it would have been made by?!