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Old School Mud & Snow Tires And Vintage-look Radials

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by maurywhurt, Dec 14, 2018.

  1. Dec 14, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    For the past 8+ years I've been running Nanco All-Terrains on my '67. Before I bought them back in early 2010, I started a thread about the Nancos comparing them to the early Firestone Town & Country tires, and also to the Goodyear Suburbanites, which were the original tires on my jeep: Copy of Firestone Town & Country Tire in 7.00-15

    The Nanco All Terrain 7.00 x 15:

    [​IMG]


    I've actually been pretty happy with the bias-ply Nancos, which have less than 1000 miles on them at this point. However, I've thought for awhile that I might give radials a try, given the benefits they offer in terms of ride and handling.

    After looking at the available radial options for some time, I could only find one that has the vintage look and size I want - the Yokohama Y742S in 7.00 x 15. From an appearance standpoint, I was surprised to discover how closely the Y742S resembles one of the popular mud & snow tires from my Jeep's era, the Firestone Town & Country "Wide Oval" tire.

    The earliest version of the Firestone Town & Country tire dates from the mid-1950's. The Wide Oval, made between 1967 and 1969, appears to be the second iteration of the Town & Country. Firestone continued to make different versions of this tire for decades, the last being the Town & Country Super Radial that was sold until around 2001.

    Speaking of "Old School", here's a 1967 TV ad for the Firestone Town & Country Wide Oval:




    Below are a couple of photographic comparisons of the Yokohamas and the '67-'69 Firestones. Brian (BJHitson60) was kind enough to take and send these photos of his Y742S 7.00 x 15 tires.

    The Yokohamas are shown at left, paired with images at right from Firestone ads for the Town & Country Wide Oval tires dating from the late 60's:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    I wonder if the resemblance is just coincidental, or if Yokohama might have been inspired by these particular Firestones when they were designing the tread pattern for this radial mud & snow tire. Either way, I personally find the Yokohamas' vintage look very appealing.

    Below is a comparison of the Y742S with the 1965 Goodyear Suburbanite mud & snow tire. The Yokohama is somewhat similar in appearance to the Suburbanite, though not as much as it is to the Town & Country Wide Oval:

    [​IMG]


    Brian indicated that he likes ride and handling of the Yokohama radials on his restored '66 Tux quite a bit. Here are some shots of them on his jeep:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    The only complaint I've read in reviews of the Y742S tires is that they generate a fair amount of road noise at higher speeds. But as I never drive my Jeep with the top on, tire noise isn't an important factor in my case. I plan to install a set of Y742S radials on my '67 as soon as I get it reassembled after the frame-off that's currently underway is finally completed in a month or two. Or three. Or...

    For a post-installation update, jump to Post #46 in this thread: Old School Mud & Snow Tires And Vintage-look Radials
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2019
  2. Dec 15, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    I'm really glad you and others are doing these threads with the comparison photos and all, because I really like the look of these older tires.

    I've never driven a bias-ply tire off road, but on road they're really 'squirrelly'. o_O
    Really surprised too that Yokohama does this tire style and not some other, obscure name brand.
     
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  3. Dec 15, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Yes, but who makes them with whitewalls for the Tux?
    -Donny
     
  4. Dec 15, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    Good question, Donny. I wonder if the solution this company: Calli Tire & Wheel LLC (or one of its competitors) offers could work on the Yokohamas?
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2022
  5. Dec 15, 2018
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
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    another similar tread to the originals. I went with the Toyo M-55 snow tire.
    I tried for years to track down a set of the Wintermark white wall snow tires but I am 10 years to late. There may be a set somewhere out there in hiding, but I phoned a heck of a lot of tire stores and dealers throughout the continental US with no luck.
     
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  6. Dec 15, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thank you for bringing up the Toyo M-55 radial, Roy.

    It hadn't occurred to me until now, but the M-55's tread pattern is a bit reminiscent of the version of the Goodyear Suburbanite introduced in late 1966 and sold through the early '70's.

    Here's an entertaining TV ad for the Suburbanite from 1970:




    Below are comparative images of the Toyo M-55 at left, and the '66-early 70's version of the Goodyear Suburbanite at right:

    [​IMG]


    From an angled perspective, it's apparent that the sidewall lugs on the M-55 are a good deal shorter than those on the Suburbanite, but the Toyo still has a vintage look to it:

    [​IMG]


    Unlike the Y742S radial, which is only built in 7.00 x 15 and one larger size, the Toyo M-55 radial is available in many sizes. The M-55 shown below is a 235-75 R15:

    [​IMG]


    Incidentally, my son put a set of Toyos (the Open Country model) on his SUV at the recommendation of our local tire shop owner, who runs them on his own truck. They have proven to be excellent tires.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
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  7. Dec 18, 2018
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    Those M-55's are a super tough tire. They were the only tire loggers could make last for any extended amount of time on their crummies here in the PNW. And the M55 has been around in the exact same tire for 25-30 years now I'll bet.
     
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  8. Dec 18, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I prefer a chunky "mud" tread like those. But hard to get these days.
     
  9. Dec 18, 2018
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    I still think the best tire I have ever run off road has been the Formula Desert dog. They work extremely well in any terrain. Best fit to a 15x8 wheel though.
     
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  10. Dec 18, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Does anyone know of any more light truck radials out there that have a vintage look, similar to the old mud & snow tires?
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2018
  11. Dec 18, 2018
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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  12. Dec 18, 2018
    rusty

    rusty Well-Known Member

    norfolk,va
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    Check Coker tire . sta super traxion .
     
  13. Dec 18, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The STA Super Traxion is a great looking tire for sure - though it's a bias-ply, rather than a radial:

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Dec 19, 2018
    fyrmn

    fyrmn Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    High Desert AZ
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    I bought these (STA Super Traxion 700-15) on the advice of another ECJ5 member. Very pleased with their grip and sidewalls off road and I have open front and rear. Sure they are lumpy until warmed up, but sidewall penetration has always been my issue in the desert with radials. They unload well in mud too.
     
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  15. Dec 19, 2018
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    I like the look of the STA Super Traxion 7.00-15. I also like the Power Kings.
    Power King · 7.00-15LT D TL POWER KING EXTRA TRACTION
    $86.58/ per tire
    Speedytire.com

    Seen some at shows.


    Dave
     
  16. Dec 19, 2018
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Here's the Power King Extra Traction tire Dave is referring to, which I've also seen called the Power King Premium Traction II. It's a bias-ply tire with an 8 ply rating (so would likely produce a pretty stiff ride on a CJ):

    [​IMG]


    The Power King’s tread pattern appears to be identical to The Goodyear Hi-Miler Xtra Grip bias-ply tires that were available as an option on the late 1960's CJ-5. The partial image of the Xtra Grip below is from the 1967-68 Jeep Data Book. These books were used by Jeep dealership salesmen to show prospective buyers the available options:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  17. Dec 19, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
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    One word... Norseman...

    Best Jeep tire ever made for a Jeep...

    [​IMG]

    No longer made... :cry:
     
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  18. Dec 19, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Man, those bring back memories. That's all my dad ever ran on his '66 IH pickup. He'd get off work at 10:30pm and would be driving through the small town of Bally, PA by 10:40 where the speed limit was a strict 35MPH. A good friend of mine lived 2 blocks from Main Street. I was on the phone with him one night when he said, "Your dad is on his way home." I was puzzled, because I knew he couldn't see Main Street from his house. He said he could hear those tires every night at 10:40. They HOWLED at 35mph.
     
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  19. Feb 10, 2019
    Old School 64

    Old School 64 Member

    Christiansburg, VA
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    These are Power Kings I was running on my 64. Little road noise...of course when you are only doing 37 mph....
     

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  20. Feb 10, 2019
    sgogpn

    sgogpn From the top of Lions Back... 2022 Sponsor

    Glendale, AZ.
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    I just got these Deestone D503's in 7.50x16 on my 46 CJ2A project. I've seen them as Deestone, Power King, Cordovan, Jetzon, Eldorado, Bluestar and a couple other that I can't remember at the moment. Time will tell how well they work...
    FWIW,
    Mike
    upload_2019-2-10_17-16-56.jpeg
     
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