Anyone running ribbed Firestone front tyres ?

[japchris]

I see on Coker's website they say for the 500-15 "for display purposes only" - whats with that ? - Are they speed rated to only 5 mph or somethin' ? Thinking of getting a set.

[titus]

my buddys gottem on his duece tudor that is a Imca dirt trck car that he runs on the street, we think its just so there ass aint hangin in the breeze!! they work fine and drive good (ive driven it) But they wear a little funny in the dirt!! but ok on pavement

[36-3window]

i put a set of the rib front and dirt track rears on a `32 5-window coupe and noticed the same warning,but i found out they drive fine on the street. drove the car to GG waukasua 750 miles round trip with no funny habits. like it says "display purposes only"....just display them at 70 MPH

[kyle paul]

im running the same tires i do 80 on the freeway with my inline six and they ride great.and when u hang a turn there cooler than rads. they swill like a pig . the 500 is the series and the 15 is the size of the rim

[LIMEY]

Chris do you have any pics & size variations, i'm always keen on tyre options....mine seem to wear a little fast!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[japchris]

Thanks for putting my mind at ease guys.
Limey -Judging from the recent photo in Custom Car magazine, I thought it was your rear tyres that wear out quick !
A pic of those Firestones is at
http://www.coker.com/viewinventoryimage.asp?url=images/big/8151.gif
They do the same tyre in 500-16.

[The Blownranger]

I have an original pair that I hoarded for years that
went on my RPU.Alot of folks think they are tractor tires.
Back in the day,they where used for dirt track racing,
thus the "not for street" sign on them.Also back then the
hot rods used them because the price and the look was right
for the fronts.
I just replaced my originals with Coker repos because the
ones I had,all though the tread where good,started showing small cracks between them.All though I ran tubes,I was afraid they might blow out.The Cokers are more senseable.

Maybe I should bronze the old ones?
Before Cokers,I heared of a set of NOS ribbs going for 3 grand.

JR..

PS..On the back,I`m running 7.60x16s U S Royals, whites
turned in.They where nos.Talk about tall and skinny....

[Andy]

FWIW, I have a pair of interesting tires. They are Beck Front Runners in 500 16. They are ribbed and I think they are pre ww2. They are still as soft and plyable as a new tire. Must be natural rubber. Anybody else know about them??

[Flipper]

Are the new ones from Coker DOT approved? If not, that is the purpose of the "for display puproses only"....they aren't street legal.

[japchris]

So does the Coker ones have anything on them that says "not for street use", 'cos that could mean hassle at annual inspection time.

[Tman]

They are labled for liability reasons only. A pal has a pair. japchris, you can just sand and buff off the lable for inspection.

[porknbeaner]

[ QUOTE ]
FWIW, I have a pair of interesting tires. They are Beck Front Runners in 500 16. They are ribbed and I think they are pre ww2. They are still as soft and plyable as a new tire. Must be natural rubber. Anybody else know about them??

[/ QUOTE ]
Beck was still making motorcycle tires in the '70s. Dirt track tires and rib rubber. I never ran a set but a lot of guys I knew swore by 'em. They seemed to wear alright.
I have to assume that the company had been bought and sold several times between the 30/40s and then.