Hello everyone, I want to run 600x16 fronts and 750x16 rears, I really wanted to run the Firestone 72230 Dirt Track Ribbed Front Tires but they only come in 500x16 from what I see, is there any other manufacturers that manufacture a similar tire? Any suggestions are appreciated
Those are make by Coker, using a Firestone molds. I ran 500 15 on the front of my roadster for about 7500 miles. A few words to the wise, the tires come with a statement on the side that reads "for display purposes only". The tire compound is very soft. After 7500 miles, mine were worn out across the center treads. Also, and even more important, the s tire treads were designed for dirt track racing. They will follow every line, crack, or groove in the road and you will be constantly correcting/fighting the wheel and treads. If you have power steering (which I have), you will steer the tires instead of you fighting them. I had a previous roadster without power steering using those type of tires and it was a constant corrective battle, which is why I added power steering to this build. Howevet, at the cost per tire it became pretty obvious to me that keeping ribbed front (and I love the look) wasn't worth the expense even with power steering. I went to 165-80-15 Next as have has over 30,000 trouble free miles. I an still running 14x31 double diamonds obviously the rear with no problems or unusual tire wear. My avatar shows my car leaving the garage for its first shake down ride and you can see the ribbed fronts on it. The reality is that these tires are accurate copies of racing tires meant for duty far from what we do on the street. No racing tire was EVER designed to go thousands of miles. My rears look racy, but are made from a different compound of rubber and carry an LT designation for US DO street legal use. It's your car and you can do what you want with it. I just though I would help you go into it with your eyes wide open so that you can make the best dicision for the long run and you safety. Rib fronts really do look cool, of that there is no doubt !
I am building a roadster and also wanted that look as I also like it but in researching came up with what Deucemac just said. Also I’ve heard that there tuff to get with the supply chain issues.
During their original run by Firestone, when they were made for the track, a 5.50x16" size was available. I've never seen any 6.00x16" made.
Hello, When we were little, our dad took us to Indio, CA (near Palm Springs) to visit a family friend on their farm/ranch. They grew vegetables, fruits and dates. That was the first place my brother and I were able to drive on a tractor. Actually, just steer and chug along. It was like a horse ride in a controlled area. The tractor had ribbed front tires and we thought they were funny looking. But we never gave those a second thought years later when we were getting into hot rods and drag racing. But, here are a couple of ads for Tractor Tires or now called Implement Tires. I guess it is more politically correct in the description. Jnaki There were a rash of early dragsters that used ribbed front tires. For whatever reason, flat ribs for smooth rolling, the short time, straight inline race did not make much of a big deal about traction. But, we all know power makes tires do funny stuff and the early 60s dragsters had full tread tires for plenty of steering grip. YRMV
When I was vintage dirt track racing 25-30 years ago, we were able to get what we called "Iowa Ribs" for the fronts of our cars. They were recaps, but very well done, and looked the part. Being recaps, you could get them in just about any size you wanted. We got them through a couple of brothers from Iowa, who had a connection. If this interest you at all, you may want to check the vintage racing websites (with an emphasis on Iowa) and see if you can find anything. Here's a place to start; there are many others. https://www.imcaoldtimers.com/
300-18” were use on “Georgia buggies” in our power plants for boiler clean out. They were on a 1/2” round spoked 18”rim. I was able to get a couple and Jack Underwood put them on a set of Divco wheels which he put on his 28 roadster on a deuce frame. A few yrs later he acquired a set of new ones. The roadster saw street use only. I believe they were BF Goodrich Silvertowns
there used to be a retreader bussines in newton ,ia called Bandag they have been gone about 30 years or more.
Keep in mind the famous tire seller has been known to make a FEW different width tires with the same mold. Only difference is the number on the tire. A friend used to work there.
I run a 16x5.0 tire on my motorcycles. Shinko makes em. 240 classic and a pie crust side 270. It's smaller than what you're talking about but those exist. And I can confirm they track any lines in the road like whoa. Crossing grated bridges is a party and lesson in not having a death grip and just letting it flow. They are made to run with a tube. I run em tubeless on mags without any problems for years and tens of thousands of miles.
Yeah, me too. My 1955 IH farm tractor has a set of Denman 15" with that tread on the front. Might be alright on a dirt track car, but wouldn't want them on a paved road. The few times I've had the tractor on the highway they squirmed like hell. Do fine out in the fields though....
Firestone Speedway ribs, they came in 5.00X16 and 5.50X16. Goodyear also made them. We ran them on the front of the sprint car in the mid to late 70's, they had a very hard rubber compound. I've never run a set on the street, but I think they would be awful like others have said.
Around 20 years ago, me and a buddy were Vintage Racing our Track Roadsters on dirt, and bought those tires. I never ran them on the street, but my friend Ernie did. He liked them so well, he sold his 450 Firestones. Through the years I have driven it and rode along many times, and it drives great. He passed a year and a half ago, and gave me the car shortly before.
This video was shot from the roll bar of the blue roadster, you can skip to 1:40 until 3:40, it will give you an idea of how it drives. You will have to put up with the annoying sound of a Flathead with an Isky 400 jr.
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