Tire source?

[hedotwo]

Would anyone recognize this tire and where it might have come from?  They were originally blackwalls but I painted them for wide whites.  Thanks!

[Spooker]

http://www.shorttrackmodels.com/index.php?topic=2264.0

 

Probably resin cast by Chuck Poi, Nostalgia Race Models was his business name (if I remember correctly).

Edited September 24 by Spooker

[hedotwo]

Thanks for the link.  I'm hoping to find the kit these came in if possible.

[Chris V]

It appears to be an old AMT "Authentic Model Turnpike" Slot Car tire.

They found their way into a very few early sixties' AMT kits as well, including some of the original "Trophy Series" 1958 Chevrolet Impala kits.    

Edited September 24 by Chris V

[TECHMAN]

For some "modern cast" version of that "pie-crust" slick (in that same scale size), check with Modelhaus Tires.  They are still in business.  Their #135 tire has the whitewall on one side, blackwall other side,  the #135A has whitewall on both sides, and #135B has blackwall on both sides.  Priced reasonable, super quality, and good people to deal with.

DJ

[Mark]

I'm pretty sure the original Turnpike tires were included in only one kit, the first issue '58 Impala (and probably not all of them).  They were also sold in a parts pack with two equally soft Firestone slicks.  Later production Impala kits probably had the same vinyl tires as other AMT kits once the Turnpike units ran out.  The Impala ran in that first version box until 1967, maybe late '66, before getting a rebox.

Tires were probably surplus from the Turnpike production which, sales-wise, was a dismal failure.

[blizzy63]

Soft rubber AMT 'Authentic Model Turnpike' Firestone Darlington tires.

They were included in the original-issue AMT '58 Impala and '59 El Camino kits, as well as Turnpike Replacement Parts pack.

I'd love to collect as many of these as I can [afford]. 

I really wish Round2 would reproduce these...

[Chris V]

1 hour ago, blizzy63 said:

Soft rubber AMT 'Authentic Model Turnpike' Firestone Darlington tires.

They were included in the original-issue AMT '58 Impala and '59 El Camino kits, as well as Turnpike Replacement Parts pack.

I'd love to collect as many of these as I can [afford]. 

I really wish Round2 would reproduce these...

So do I... 

It's also worth noting that these tires were molded from a different rubber compound and don't have the same tendency to chemically "melt" plastic rims like the regular vinyl kit tires of the time. 

[hedotwo]

Thanks to all.  I was planning on using these on a 56 Eldorado build I'm working on because I really liked the overall shape of them plus the Firestone lettering and the size was spot on for the Eldo that year.  But didn't pay as much attention to the remaining words showing they're stock car tires.  I'll probably stay with them and I'll count on others being less observant like i was 😄

[Chris V]

I literally just saw a post on Facebook, that Greg Wann is casting the Firestone Darlingtons!