Any innertubes made in the USA? All available locally for me are from China or India. I've done a lot of online searching and haven't found any. Thanks in advance for any info.
That's not a good sign. I keep hearing horror stories from the antique car crowd about constant flats with the ultra thin offshore tubes ...and I need some for two cars. Just wondering if tractor tubes are still thick?..
None made in the USA? Getting new wire wheels and tires (both made in USA) and really want USA tubes. If none avail, what are the best quality that I can get?
Havent ya heard ,we don't manufacture anything anymore here. We are a import country these days.We sold out,that's why so many americans are out of a job and cant find one causing them to loose there homes. SAD BUT TRUE! Good luck finding good tubes.
Ya couldn't manufacture em if ya had to. The EPA (govt) would find a way to shut you down. If you did manufacture, insurance would finish the deal.
Exactly! Cheap wages are only half the story as to why we are no an import country. Our govt and lawyers are just as much to blame for our de-industrialization.
Me and a friend needed tubes recently...our local NAPA stores told us that they can no longer get/sell inner tubes. When asked "SAY WHAAAATTTT?" they said it had to do with lawsuits coming from people using them for swimming...Thats all i got.
Checked the MT site and they list 15" & 16". I need 14" Will do some more checking locally, but it isn't looking good. Found out online that Firestone tubes are made in China. May have to go with a major brand name and hope the quality is high even though they are made off shore.
Coker tires sales or Wallace Wade tires sales also sell tubes = check them out - think Coker is an Alliance vender....
If you need tires or your late model, Cooper Tires are still made in USA. Just got some for the diesel.
One thing you want is NEW fresh tubes. NOS is not a good idea,kinda like eating 6 month old hot dogs.
But I'll tell ya, I was at an auction last fall and they had a bunch of NOS tubes in part of the auction and I was quite surprised, they all sold and for more than I would have paid, for the same reason - how good would they be? - although I've aired up old ones that are on cars and they seem to hold air pretty well most of the time. I guess now I know why.
Tubes in a tire away from ozone etc. will last a Looooong time. Ones setting on a shelf folded up in a bag for years will fail at the folds. Best way to store tubes is with a bit of air in them to shape them in dark cool room.
I ended up with tubes made in China for Firestone. NOT made BY FIrestone but FOR Firestone. Seems as though none are made in USA. These appear to be a bit heavier and more expensive than the $8 tube I got earlier this summer from a different tire store. My new wheels are made in USA as are the Goodyear tires - just doesn't seem right that something as simple as a tube isn't availabe as made in USA at any price.
I took apart four 650x16s today. One is a real USA Firestone and heavy. The other three have misc numbers and/or letters but no names. Two are medium weight, and the last one is real light. Now I need a small 15 for tomorrow, I will try a tractor place I guess.
I run tubetype with split rims in two jalopys. I never run a tube without a flap. It's an additional cost but protects the tube from external contamination, both atmospheric and organic. I buy mine fr http://www.universaltire.com/tubes-and-flaps/tubes.html http://www.universaltire.com/tubes-and-flaps/flaps.html Made in USA? I've been buying tubes a long time, and I don't recall wondering about it. As far as that's a way to judge quality, I doubt that. I wouldn't trust a tube to last more than five years or so anyhow. If it's been in there for more than a year or so and I have occasion to demount the tire, an new one goes in, whatever the case. I wonder if people that say that even have used tubes that were for sure made in the USA or they're merely speculating. Don't want a tube to retire whilst I'm doin' 60-65 on the way to Wednesday breakfast with the guys tomorrow mornin'............. Old used tubes are for the kids to play in the swimmin' pool.
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