Very old Firestone tires...worth anything?

Bleedblue4life

Bleedblue4life

Member
Cleaning out the garage and came across these Firestone tires we acquired with a Roadster we bought. They have to be from the 70's? as the tread pattern is different than normal Firestones. They are not weather cracked and have been mounted once but not driven on. (still has mold flashing on tread) They would probably work great for a museum car, are they worth $150? $100? Or should I pitch them in the tire pickup next week?
 

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I would think if for nothing else they would be good for rolling a car
or chassis around.

Bob
 
If they are not dry rotted I would sell them. Just let the person buying know old they are. I think some of the rubber from back then is still better than todays stuff.
 
I gave a set to a local museum to put on a display car and took it off my taxes as a new set.
 
Those tires are definitely worth $150 for the set. Where else could you buy new antique USA made firestone tires?
 
I would not trust my life, my wife's or any other member of my family's lives to unknown forty year old tyres.

Send them to your local tyre heaven and save a life.
 
A search here will reveal more then you would think owners that drive on tires this old. While it may be that they are no longer around to tell, but I have not read on the barn of any "blow out " due to old tires.
 
Did you ever see the photos of the tires people in the thirties drove and relied on? We sure have become a different breed of human beings in the intervening years.
 
I have four (4) Canadian Goodyear tires that are about that old with no wear because my Town Sedan was owned by (2) car collectors for (10) & (20) years, total of (30) years. I am still using them.

For the past 20+ years, Model A owners on past Forums have always commented on the great road handling improvement, no more wandering, and a far softer ride "after" installing softer "new" rubber tires.

On very "smooth and level" paved highways ............. there is not much Model A riding difference between that of having solid rubber tires ......... old Model A hard tires ........... and even new softer Model A tires.

On the other hand, if there are uneven road patches, un-level pavement construction seams, dips and bumps, or other very noticeable road surface irregularities, with very old Model A (40) year old hard tires, (even at 35 mph), it takes both hands to hold the steering wheel ............ accompanied by 100% concentration ........... to avoid looking like a wandering, one-eyed drunk driving at midnight ......... while wearing a welding helmet .......... accompanied with (4") of play in his steering wheel.
 
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I have several of these old Firestone tires. Nothing especially unique or noteworthy about them. 'Parts is Parts'. As has been mentioned old tires can be quite roadworthy - IF kept in a cool place without any significant light - especially SUN.
I am not sure if you are saying $100 - $150 for each tire, or for the five. $100 each would be of dubious (some would say unrealistic) value; $150 for five would be a good deal for the buyer - IF all five were perceived to be as described.
If as described (not weather cracked and have been mounted once but not driven on (still has mold flashing on tread), then I suspect that someone nearby (no shipping involved) would find $50 per tire a fair value. I know I would, if I did not already have 50 tires of various makes and years of production from 1928 to 1965.
 
I have bought many sets of 4-5 tires off of CL and pay 75.-100. for the set.

I use them locally and would never drive far on them.

The original question is what are they worth.
 
Old (40) year old hard tires are excellent museum tires; or for driving to the corner grocery.

The price will always be governed by either tires used for show, or tires for use, and how one wants to use these tires.

But as far as use, like Mr. John LaVoy posted very recently, the minute one puts on soft riding better road handling Excelsior Model A "radial" tires as compared to old hard "bias" tires, road handling and the ride is so improved, one begins to travel very long distances far more often ..... in lieu of just an occasional ice cream ride around the block.
 
J Franklin said:
Did you ever see the photos of the tires people in the thirties drove and relied on? We sure have become a different breed of human beings in the intervening years.
Click to expand...
The thirties in the 60s I spray painted any cords showing black to hide the bad tires from the police so I could drive to school .
 
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