Ford - Ford Model T
The Ford Model T was the worlds first mass produced motor car. The Model T rolled out in late 1908 from Fords Piquette plant in Detroit, which still exists, while the last Model T was built in 1927. Henry Fords Model T was a relatively inexpensive vehicle priced to be affordable enough for a person that worked at the Ford plant to be able to save enough to afford one. The design was carefully considered to minimise the number of parts, yet was constructed with the very highest quality materials for total reliability. And in order to mass produce on the scale required to make the cars affordable, parts had to be made to an accuracy level that was unheard of, in order that parts would assemble together with correct clearances and without the need for the time consuming hand "fitting" which was the conventional practice. And although Henry Ford did not invent the moving production line, as he has often been credited for, he certainly took the production line method to new levels of efficiency. This was something that evolved due to necessity, because of the truly enormous demand for the Model T. The bulk of this development came about after much serious "scientific" study (such as time and motion) over a few years at Fords second factory, the Highland Park plant.
Tyre sizes for the various Model T Ford types:
- The early Ford Model T available from 1908 had front tyre size 30x3 (on non demountable rims), with the rear tyre size 30x3 1/2 .
- From 1918 the Ford Model T was fitted with tyre size 30 x 3 1/2 size to all 4 wheels.
By 1919 all Ford Model T were fitted with demountable wheels.
- All Ford Model T export models had 30 x 3 1/2 tyres on all wheels.
- All UK assembled Ford Model T models had 30 x 3 1/2 tyres front and rear.
- All Model T ambulances had 30 x 3 1/2 tyre size all around.
- All Canadian built Ford Model T had the 30 x 3 1/2 tyre size to all 4 wheels.
- From 1924 the tyre size 440x21 became an option that a customer could ask for, which used straight sided wheel rims, these optional 21" tyres needing much less air pressure in them than is required with the higher pressures needed for the beaded edge / clincher type tyres.
- Shortly after all Ford Model T's were all fitted with the 440x21 tyre size as standard, and this 21 inch size was carried on into the replacement model, the Ford Model A that became available in 1927.
- Note that from 1917 there was also a Ford model T T, or Ton Truck, lower geared and with a heavier duty rear axle and heavier gauge longer chassis. The T Truck had 30x3 1/2 tyres and later the rear tyre size 32 x 4 1/2 which uses a 23" wheel rim. There was also a solid tyre 32x3 1/2 option. Blockley produce the perfect 32x4 1/2 tyre for this Ford Ton Truck application. You could consider a 33x5 as recommended by other tyre sellers today (a size Blockley also makes) but the 32x4 1/2 size is the correct fitment ( we list the 33x5 as a comparison for those interested). The model T trucks were built until the end of 1927.
- Blockley Tyre Co. has produced the full range of clincher / beaded edge tyres (30x3 and 30x3.5), as well as the well base 440/450x21, for the Model T Ford because we had been continually asked to manufacture better quality tyres and inner tubes by customers growing weary of all the existing tyre options available. The clincher / beaded edge tyres that Blockley has researched and produced from scratch are truly exceptional quality as well as perfect period correct looking, and most importantly have the correct period correct dimensions, which means a Model T owner now has the choice of something very different to what they have been trained up for in recent decades by the old car tyre wholesalers ! With our robust Blockley, high quality, reliable, period correct looking tyres, as well as truly awesome quality correct dimensioned thick butyl inner tubes, again unlike anything else available. These tyres are not made on old worn out moulds and tooling found somewhere! Blockley produces tyre sizes suitable for every Ford Model T age and application: clincher / beaded edge tyre sizes 30x3 , 30x3 1/2 with period authentic diamond tread pattern, 440/450x21 and for the TT (Ton Truck) and the 32x4 1/2 for the 23" wheel rim, as well as any non standard tyres that may be required from our range of over 60 tyre sizes. Like all Blockley products - if we are not making the best that can be made, there is no point in doing it. See full details of all these outstanding and realistically priced Ford Model T tyres at the links below:
