The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Flaps and Tubes

My local tire shop isn't being much help with this so I'll need to go mail order. I'm looking for a source of quality tube flaps and inner tubes for 7.50x20 tires. Might as well add I'm looking for the best price on these items.

-Mike-

Do a Google search

try universal tire in Pa.
www.universaltire.com

If there's a tire shop in your area that works on medium-heavy-duty trucks,they should be able to order the flaps/tubes that you need. I bought four tires a couple of years ago via the internet,and the P.O. stated that they were never mounted. They turned out to be 900.00x20.00's,which fit my 8.00x20.00-inch rims,but they were more than slightly WEATHER-CHECKED! Visually,they (the sidewalls) looked just fine,until they were mounted. That's when the cracks in the sidewalls appeared.I found out later that they dated back to WW-2! At least 10-years older than the tires they replaced!!Last week,I loaded her with about 5-ton of concrete slabs,drove her in "granny for about 1/4-mile before dumping the load,and now...all 4 drive tires need replaced! the side-walls split due to the extra flex from the load. I'm glad I didn't have to haul the load on the road! Usually,if one tire blows,it'll take out the one next to it. I learned my lesson! Buy NEW!!

Who has US made good tires that size? I see that China is making them and they are here already, I have 2 of them China crap tires on my truck, you spin the tire and the tread has a wave in it.Where do we find nice tires?

Coker and Firestone make 7.50 x 20 non directional tread (NDT) military tires that are the correct size for WWII Big Bolts.Civillian tires too. The price per tire ain't cheap so first I'll get my tubes and flaps and then save my nickles and dimes to get the tires. It kills me that I'll pay more for the tires than I did for the truck!

-Mike-

I paid 1000.00 for some Cokers tires for my 36 coupe,And they were pass. tires.. There's no place else? Can we buy tires for under 200.00 each? Or is that just a dream now?

Considering that even tires for light trucks are getting to the $150-$200+ mark, you probably won't find heavy truck tires for any less than that.

O Now that's good news! LOL.. Shell out more dough for the shoes for these trucks.

7.50's are getting very scarce, consider if you can fit 8.25's, which themselves aren't real common now but worked on my 46 1.5T .... and for drive tires, get Bandag recaps [now owned by Bridgestone], commonly used on big rig drives, the ones on my bus have been in place for 12-15 years, outdoors, and don't show any checking yet

Bill

Prices have really jumped in the past three years. I picked up a Universal tire catalog at Macungie. Local retailer slightly cheaper than universal. For comparision the tires on my work truck are running 550 to 650 apiece depending on manufacturer and design.

So can we run tires that have been weathered and not put a load on them? When is a tire dead?

I was always taught that a tire that is cracked and weather checked is an unsafe tire to use. Also consider that a tire that is old enough to be in that kind of shape has lost most of the traction properties out of the rubber and has very little pavement grip left.

My thoughts are tires that are old even if they look good are only suitable for low speed farm and ranch use and not safe for traffic or highway use.


-Mike-

I paid $1200 for 6 tires, flaps and inner tubes mounted and balanced at Les Shuab, They are 7.50x20 Power Kings.They are Chinese but balanced out true. I would definitally recommend the Power Kings on a 1.5 to 2 tonner. I am looking at buying 10 more for my 6x6, they have them in an aggressive tread that looks military for the same price. I'm middle class, and I just want drive my darn trucks.(safely)

I have bought quite a few tires and tubes from these guys. The ones listed are Chinese, but I think thats about you can find in tube required.

http://www.nebraskatire.com/truck/overstocks.htm