VEP tire question

[Tom Wolboldt]

From what I have seen Goodyears were not a Ford GPW item in '42. In August, '42 either Fords or Firestones would have been the tires available for a GPW assembly plant. Coker Tire will be controlling both the Ford and Firestone repop tires.

[lt.luke]

Coker Tire will be controlling both the Ford and Firestone repop tires.

So there are Ford tires still out there, but they are no longer in production, or there is a plan to re-start production?

[calmojo]

(This is from Universal Tire) Just Posted in mid December 2011. I did send an email to Coker Tire with phots of the correct tread pattern and correct font. Lets see if they are looking to make a few changes! (improvements) Coker Tire has no photo of the Ford Script but still shows it for sale.

Universal Tires600-16 Ford Script Military NDT Tire
Description
****Due to production delays, this tire will not be available until late 2012****



Make your Ford GPW original by installing a set of Ford Script Military tires.
Proudly made in the USA!

Details
SKU U65400
Construction Tube Type 4 Ply Nylon
Load Capacity 1400 @ 32 psi
Overall Diameter 28.36"
Tread Width 4.50"
Notes:

Scroll down for more information and related products.

$194.00

[Ian Fawbert]

I did send an email to Coker Tire with phots of the correct tread pattern and correct font. Lets see if they are looking to make a few changes! (improvements)

I hope they do, but a big part of me thinks until i see it i wont believe it- many did the same as you with the 'recent'' firestones, but to no avail- they still came out incorrect! I know photos and assistance were sent/offered from all over the world when they were doing the firestones but they still turned out the way they did.

Anyway, i`m still looking on the positive side!
Cheers and thanks for the update.

Ian.

[calmojo]

Here is your answer. I was told today specialty Tire of America has the Ford Mold and they are looking to get this going (re-tooling now) for next year. 2012 Ford tires. $300-$600k he said to change the tread (major changes) is expensive. This came from Universal Tire.

http://www.stausaonline.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; They dont have an inbox for our ideas.

Thanks
Mark

[Michael O.]

$300,000 to $600,000 to redo the molds for these tires? I'm in the wrong business!!! Thanks for the idea!

[Joe Gopan]

Sounds like they quoted one too many zeroes.

[lt.luke]

Sounds like they quoted one too many zeroes.

Probably, but what if they decided to start from zero? Pretty much everything about the old Ford tire was wrong, and I'm quite certain if they made it right, a lot of money went to Ford.

[Joe Gopan]

Am sure they have to justify the investment, and a market analysis of sort will be done. Apparantly the investment was too great to duplicate the original 600X16 Ford NDT configuration back 20 some odd years ago when Denman just inserted a Ford Logo into the mold for their generic NDT 600X16 tire.

[smurf]

can't they just slap the correct Ford logo on the correct (almost) pattern Goodyear mold? This takes a half million dollars? I have one original WWII Goodyear on my GPW and it still holds air, its kind of ugly but it still works!

[lt.luke]

can't they just slap the correct Ford logo on the correct (almost) pattern Goodyear mold? This takes a half million dollars? I have one original WWII Goodyear on my GPW and it still holds air, its kind of ugly but it still works!

I don't think the Good Year tire characteristics are anything like the Ford tire characteristics. This method would make for another expensive, but incorrect tire. Since the "old" repro Ford tire was incorrect, you would not need to do any work or spend any money.

[Joe Friday]

Actually the Ford tire and the Goodyear tire have many similarities, and with proper licensing something might be done. It is the Firestone that would have to be started from scratch.

[lt.luke]

Actually the Ford tire and the Goodyear tire have many similarities, and with proper licensing something might be done. It is the Firestone that would have to be started from scratch.

Similar enough to use the logos interchangeably?

[Joe Gopan]

And do not forget, tire detail is reflected in the selling price. Enough to warrant having two sets of tires, one for display, one for casual driving.

[Chuck Lutz]

Reproducing "correct" tires is a difficult proposition for a company with any kind of PROFIT mentality...
1) Do they take a 'close' tire mold and make minor improvements to it? If so, do they get the anal-retentive restorer to purchase five more sorta-kinda-almost correct tires or does that person realize the Denmans on his jeep are "close" also and any Judge worth his/her salt will not give higher points for an incorrect tire that is "close" than the brand-new Denmans will get?
2) Do the start from scratch and end up with a ton of investment money to get a REALLY correct tire that has a hefty price tag on it? If they do, they lose some of the potential buyers who can't rationalize five new tires at that kind of a price? They WILL get the anal-retentive restorer...but then again, not all WWII mgers supplied ALL jeeps with the same tire so the pool of potential buyers may not make the project cost-worthy.

How do you convince a buyer who can purchase a similar kinda-sorta correct tire to spend 50% or more on YOUR tire unless it is 100% CORRECT?

My hat is off to the companies who are TRYING to get it right and I certainly understand they have a HUGE investment in the production of a really "correct" tire....