tire manufacturer

I own a 1951 Studebaker champion in original condition. I am restoring the vehicle as I have owned it for several years and this is the next project up. I have never asked what the correct manufacturer and white wall width is for my car. Does anyone know the correct answer? I know the tire size is 670-15. I like to restore my cars correctly and knew I could find the correct answer here. I am joining both the national club and my local club as well. Thanks for any help.

[rockne10]

I don't believe they used one brand exclusively but primarily Firestone. It may have also depended on which plant did assembly. I think the WW width was 2 7/8". Perhaps one of our SDC judges has more precise information.
At any rate, I don't think points would be deducted in competition as long as all five tires matched.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Coker Tire sells what you are looking for.
http://store.coker.com/product.php?p...4&cat=0&page=1
(copy)
Details

670-15 FIRESTONE BLACKWALL TIRE
SKU 568800
Construction: 4 ply polyester
Load Capacity: 1450 @ 32 psi
Tube Type: Tubeless
Overall Diameter: 28.58
Cross Section: 7.01
Tread Width: 4.50
Tread Depth: 12
Max Inflation: 32
Rec. Rim Width: 5-6
Price: $114.00
(pic shows whitewall, but SKU is for blackwall)


Hope the info helps.
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by 51champion

I own a 1951 Studebaker champion in original condition. I am restoring the vehicle as I have owned it for several years and this is the next project up. I have never asked what the correct manufacturer and white wall width is for my car. Does anyone know the correct answer? I know the tire size is 670-15. I like to restore my cars correctly and knew I could find the correct answer here. I am joining both the national club and my local club as well. Thanks for any help.

Deep-N-Hock Acres
Brooklet, Georgia
DEEPNHOCK at Gmail.com
'37 Coupe Express
'37 Coupe Express Trailer (project)
'61 Hawk (project: Ist Gen Owner - project)
Mysterious Project Z
http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[JDP]

they have the white walls too, but I think they were 3 inches or better wide.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT cost to date
$58,185.77
64 Daytona HT/R2 clone
63 Lark 2 door
58 Packard HT
56 Golden Hawk
52 Starliner
51 Commander
39 Coupe express
39 Coupe express (rod)

[StudeRich]

Commanders are 6.70 X 15 or 7.10X15, but I believe Champions are 6.40 X 15 They were usually Firestone, in 1950 probably all were! There was a plant on Firestone Blvd. South Gate, CA close to the Los Angeles (Vernon) Plant.

quote:Originally posted by 51champion

I own a 1951 Studebaker champion Does anyone know the correct answer? I know the tire size is 670-15.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[HookedonStudies]

For the record Firestone (now Bridgestone-Firestone) does not make the "Firestone" labeled tire sold by Coker Tire. They are sold under a licensing agreement. Michelin, BFG, and others do the same type of thing. If you want an authentic tire for your car - these types of repops are your only choice. Firestone hasn't made anything like that in years...

55 Commander
58 Transtar
62 GT Hawk
66 Cruiser

[bonehead007]

Another place you can try, if you live near there, is www.universaltire.com Their located in Hershey, Pa..

Stopped by there to get a quote on 800-14 tires for my Hawk..It has the original spare and its a Firestone..

[studegary]

For 1951, your car probably came with Firestone tires if it was assembled in the US. Later years used a large assortment of tire manufacturers.
Get the build sheet for your car from the SNM. It should have tire, and a lot more, information on it for your particular car.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[51champion]

I want to thank everyone who pointed me in the right direction. I am going to buy 5 new 670-15's with the 3 5/8 white walls. I know the 640's are correct but the difference is only 3/4 ". I have 670's on it now and it seems fine. I like the look of the wider whites. I live in St petersburg Florida and enjoy driving it but it does need some more work.

[StudeRich]

Gary; did you ever see a Studebaker with anything other than the Studebaker preferred Firestones or the few '63, '64's that had U.S.Royal tires?

The only one I ever saw would be the Wagons & Wagonaires with 3rd. seat, that had Goodyear Captive Air, simply because it was the only Mfg. that could provide inner "spare" tires!

I remember back in '56 the dealer Dad worked at was installing a few English Vogue "Tyres" like they used on Caddies, on Golden Hawks, we had a set on our Power Hawk that someone did not want to "pay for" on their GH, so Dad had them swapped for our Firestones.

quote:Originally posted by studegary

For 1951, your car probably came with Firestone tires if it was assembled in the US. Later years used a large assortment of tire manufacturers.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[52hawk]

My '60 Lark had the captive air tires and spare tire and jack delete.
[4dr sdn]
LaSalle,Il
61Hawk

[ROADRACELARK]

If you're going to use the original wheels, make sure you clean and check them very closely for any cracks. Also, because the original wheels did not have the "bead-lock" feature, it is imperative that you use tubes, even though the tires are tubeless. Many owners are opting for later model wheels, new or used, to eliminate these issues. There have been many earlier threads regarding replacement wheels. You can check the "search" feature above to view these. Hope this helps.

Dan Miller
Atlanta, GA

[img=left]http://static.flickr.com/57/228744729_7aff5f0118_m.jpg[/img=left]
Road Racers turn left AND right.

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

Gary; did you ever see a Studebaker with anything other than the Studebaker preferred Firestones or the few '63, '64's that had U.S.Royal tires?

The only one I ever saw would be the Wagons & Wagonaires with 3rd. seat, that had Goodyear Captive Air, simply because it was the only Mfg. that could provide inner "spare" tires!


StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

One example that comes to mind is that my 1964 Avanti came with Sears Allstate tires, as many Avantis did.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[StudeRich]

That was just a temporary "marketing arrangement" and "give away" contest advertising gimmick. on a limited number of '64 Avantis only.
It was done partly because Allstate Tire was a sponsor of the 1964 Studebaker Bonneville Speed Record Runs.

So that makes total of (4) in 114 years (not that we talking about the pre-war years anyway), and three "other than" Firestone all together, make up less than 5% of the tires used!

So I don't think you could say, "there were a large assortment" of tire manufacturers used by Studebaker.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA