genuine Ford tire

[Jean Georges]

Hello all,
I have got 2 original Ford tires found in Ardennes ( battle of the bulge ) and i wanted to share some pics with the Ford guys
I have decided to show these pics for the good reasons i was unable to find some Ford tires NDT military pics anywhere on the web
as well as the G 503
I even read that some peoples were contesting the fact that Ford ever produce some !!!!!!! Maybe some negativism ?????
This Ford tire has be retreaded By an english company see add above
Hope you will enjoy
All belong to my son Nicolas Georges the Jeepest collection
Jean

[pgcf]

Jean,

Very nice and an interesting addition with the retread information.

I have friends that have original Ford tyres here in the US and agree they are part of the GPW story.

They were being reproduced years ago but I have not seen any lately. They did not have all the details like the "Military" mark but they had the large Ford logo and the basic 6.00 x 16 markings.

I have been to Jeepest several times with my friend Marc and spent time with Nicolas. Your collection is amazing and I know you are very proud of all your restored and original vehicles.

Meilleures Salutations,
Peter

[YLG80]

Hello all,
I have got 2 original Ford tires found in Ardennes ( battle of the bulge ) and i wanted to share some pics with the Ford guys
I have decided to show these pics for the good reasons i was unable to find some Ford tires NDT military pics anywhere on the web
as well as the G 503
I even read that some peoples were contesting the fact that Ford ever produce some !!!!!!! Maybe some negativism ?????
This Ford tire has be retreaded By an english company see add above
Hope you will enjoy
All belong to my son Nicolas Georges the Jeepest collection
Jean

Hello Jean,
Merci pour les photos de détail!

There is no doubt that Ford was producing military tires starting from 1942.
Here are photos taken in the Rouge plant , Ford tires workshop. Courtesy of TheHenryFord.org.
Yves

[17thAirborne]

I was fortunate to get a set of the older made reproductions that had no mileage or sun on them. The markings are shown below for comparison, and yes the MILITARY is not present and I also did not photograph the DOT markings. Not a true faithful reproduction, but not bad.

[Klaas]

Thank you all for posting this and Yves for showing what a "proper" Ford tyre (tire) looks like when new.
Like Oz I have a set of older repro Ford tyres (made by Coker) on my GPW. Apart from the tread pattern and the missing "military" marking they still look the part. If only Coker would make some more (and use the GoodYear tread pattern this time) all of us would be happy

Since the original Ford tyre plant is sunken in the Russian tundra (or sank in the Northern Ice Sea, courtesy of the Germans) , reproducing them as close to form as is possible is the only way forward.

[17thAirborne]

Klaas

I have a call into Coker. Not holding out much hope, but I will report what they say. I am guessing as many as 1000 GPW owners world wide would be interested. I will also mention the molds needing rework. I realize that is expensive, but we shall see. I understand Coker owns the old molds from the 80s. Will find out more

[70th Division]

Hello,

Thanks for posting the great tire pics !

Oz,

I was looking at a web site in the Czech Republic from a post here on the G .
The Czechs are making this tire according to their website.

They also make many other tires for German vehicles of WW2, as well as perfect reproduction parts for the same German vehicles from the Kubel wagon to the largest halftrack.

http://www.leharmilitaryvehicles.cz/

Incredible !!!
Outstanding !!!


Keep 'em Rolling !!!

Just need to get some to America to make the world right !!


PS- in case anyone was wondering what happened to original Firestone tire molds.... they went to Cuba, where the Cubans were making 600-16 tires, selling them into Europe in at least the late 1970's to early 1980's. They defaced the Firestone markings but they can all be seen still even though defaced.
They added made in Cuba to the molds.

Best Regards,
Ray

[Klaas]

Hi Ray, thanks for your link to the Czech website. Unfortunately the Ford tire markings are not visible when I enlarge the picture (low resolution), but comparing it to the photo Yves posted it looks like the thread is wrong too ( lugs are too wide, so not enough of them ). Worth looking into if a G member from the Czech republic can go and see them close up.

[YLG80]

Hi Klaas,
you have this guy on board
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=287193
Stanles should know more about that company.
Yves

[Klaas]

Hi Yves and Ray, I have sent Standa a PM. Just wait and see what comes!

[Klaas]

I have been in contact with Standa about the Lehar made Ford tires. He knows him well and lives close by. Lehar have the tire-mold themselves but there is no stock at present. Standa sent me a photo of the tires fitted to his M38. As you can see the logo and tread pattern are different to the wartime pattern. In case of the logo it is a matter of copyright. Standa will get further photo's when the tires are back in stock.

It looks like Coker is the best option for war-time pattern Ford tires, if they can be persuaded to alter their mould and produce them again. (and perhaps Ford can be persuaded not to charge money for the use of their logo.....after all it will be free advertising for them )

[Klaas]

Photo of my GPW with the Cokers fitted:

[Klaas]

i was unable to find some Ford tires NDT military pics anywhere on the web
as well as the G 503

Jean

Hi Jean, there is a photo of the Ford tyre on page 139 of the book: "The Wartime Jeep in British Service 1941-1945" by Gavin Birch ( ISBN 0-9534470-9-X).

[Humvee1]

They are everywhere!

[70th Division]

They are everywhere!

Hello,

Wow that looks like a treasure find of a jeep with a Ford tire still on the rack !!!!

A pics of the jeep ?

I wonder what time frame Ford put these on their jeeps, as opposed to the Firestones.


Excellent work Klass and Standa !!
At least that tire supply question has been answered.


Oz, keep us posted on what Coker has to say about future production !!

Best Regards,
Ray