Old Armstrong type tires - Still available?

[vectorit]

Hey all,
I am finishing up a restoration on a 1968 K20 4x4 Suburban, and back in the day my Dad ran nothing but the Armstrong off road tires on it. Also, from the dealer advertisments the truck was shown with these type of tires from the factory. (Skinny, tall, and aggressive tread).
I am not concerned about what is better, or bias ply compared to radial here I am just looking for originality...

I still have the original 16.5 split rims that came with the truck from the factory, so I am looking for something that fits this type of wheel as well.

If nothing like this is still being made, what brands should I be looking at that will come the closest to what I really want?

Thanks!

[earl87gta]

do you have pics? and what size do you need?

[special-K]

Good old Armstrongs.They were excellent tires topped by no one.I feel they were right up there with Goodyear with off road rubbers.I`m talking machinery and municiple trucks like fire aparatus.They had an Extra Traction lug tread for what you want.The Rhino was the first oversize 11x15 I knew of.They made a popular tire called the Norseman that is what the Cepek Fun Countys were copied from.I mean exactly,except Norsemans had an "A" for rhe side lug and Fun Countrys had a "DC".Cepek was real involved with Armstrong back in the day.I assume they`re defunct and sold the tire line/name to Mickey Thompson(or visa-versa).I ran 14.50/37x16.5s for years starting in`77 when they first came out.They were Extra Tractions at first,then got a dumb name,Tru Grip RV,later.I got mine from Dick Cepek,then found them around here.The tire guys always said they were hard to get.As in,the factory couldn`t keep up.I don`t know what ever happened,or if Armstrong is still around.Try Coker Tire,they make some vintage truck tires.

[Yukon Jack]

Vectorit pm'd me about the tires on my 70 K5 so I thought I would post some better pics of the tire and it's tread pattern. I think this was a tire available back in the early 90's from General. 7.5x31x16 and they are mounted on split rims. The tires and rims were on my 69 K20 when I bought it back in 1999.

[bowtier]

Look similar to my 34x10.50x16 Swamper LTB's. If you can't find the ones you want the LTB's might give you the desired look. They just don't come with the sipping shown on the outer lugs of the ones posted above. Most of the sizes they come in are more narrow than regular diggers.

[earl87gta]

can you use a 36in tire they look alot like the 36in hummer tires. take a look at evilbay 320129365504 se if there close.

[Southedisto]

If you are talking about the old co-op tires, I know cooper made them for a while. These look like the ones that I am talking about, egay # 160131719784 and 160131719817

[vectorit]

Hey thanks South-
If I could find 4 brand new tires that look like the ones you spotted on egay I'd buy em, but unfortunately that guy only had two pairs of two different brands and designs.
Both were of that "Classic" off road tire design I am looking for to put onto my 68 Suburban.

[vectorit]

Thanks Yukon for posting pics of what I was talking about! The pictures you provided everyone to see what the heck I was talking about said volumes.

[vectorit]

Earl-
Unfortunately a 36" tall tire won't work for me, since I really like the Goodyear tire you pointed out.
Right now my Sub is running 33" tall 12.50 BFG all-Terrains and they are I think as tall as I should go, but the 12.50 width is a bit too wide since I rub the inner well when I crank the wheel hard to turn tight.
So because of this I am looking at a 10.50 width I think, unless I come accross a deal I can't refuse if ya know what I mean.

[special-K]

I believe Goodyear still makes extra tractions.I saw a set in the bed of an M,uh I forget.You know,the jeep front,rag top,with big-5 Dana 60f/70r?Anyway,they were 9.00x16s.The guy had 40s on the truck and it was for sale.I was going to go and see if he`d sell those tires.They looked about new(mileage-wise).I`ll try to get over to see if it`s there still.Here are the big Armstrongs(same tread as stock sizes:

And bigger:

Here`s a type used that looks simular to mant treads available today:

[Southedisto]

Check out cooper courser traction lt tires, that may help you out.

[vectorit]

I checked out the Cooper Courser Traction LT.
Good looking tire and something I will put in my top five check it outs.
Only problem is that they look like they don't make it for a 16.5 wheel.
I have been thinking about finding a set of 16" steel Chevy wheel take offs, painting them black to match what they original splits looked like in 68...
But, that would meen I would have those original splits still taking up room in the garage... LOL
Plus, me being a stickler for authenticity. I would probably never be completely satisfied with the 16" wheel conversion idea.

oh the madness of keeping a 68 Sub original...

[special-K]

You could do that and keep looking until that special day you find what you`re looking for and have a satisfied mind.Did you look into Armstrong`s existence/product line?Basically,all mud & snows were simular up into the RV(offroad)crazy hit the bigtime in the`70s.Not sure if the bias-plys are still made.That`s where the tread patterns changed.I always liked the 9.00x16s on a truck for a stock,yet beefy look.Alot of fire depts ran them and they fit.I about crapped when I saw those Goodyears laying in that trucks bed.The problem was,it was out at a state road and you accessed the houses from another state road and it was back a lane that I wasn`t sure where it began.It looked like someone else`s lane,but I guess that was how to get there.The truck wasn`t moving too fast @ $7,500.I saw it pulled back.This makes me want to ride over that way again just to have a look see.

[1969K10]

Originally Posted by vectorit

I checked out the Cooper Courser Traction LT.
Good looking tire and something I will put in my top five check it outs.
Only problem is that they look like they don't make it for a 16.5 wheel.
I have been thinking about finding a set of 16" steel Chevy wheel take offs, painting them black to match what they original splits looked like in 68...
But, that would meen I would have those original splits still taking up room in the garage... LOL
Plus, me being a stickler for authenticity. I would probably never be completely satisfied with the 16" wheel conversion idea.

oh the madness of keeping a 68 Sub original...

I'd find someone that'll mount tires on split rims before I'd worry about finding tires for them. You'll probably be better off to do the 16" wheels & tires.

[vectorit]

Split rim mounting covered - not an issue.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

This company has the old style off road tires in a couple 16.5" sizes. I'm gonna buy some 10 ply 12-16.5's for the back of my pickup when the all-terrains wear out and four for the Suburban when money allows.

http://www.stausaonline.com/light-tr...r-traxion.html

[earl87gta]

I can get the hummer tires for around 50 each at 50% tier left or new for around 600 a set.

[vectorit]

Thanks Robert!
That website had a great selection on what I am looking for, and I have contacted them asking if they can help me out with the split rim application. Since a lot of the specs required tubles application, I am thinking it shouldnt be a big deal since I have run tubes in tires that were not designed to run tubes with no issues.
We will see what they can do for me, if they got the tires I got the cash...

Thanks again for the tip!

[special-K]

Did you ever check to see if Armstrong is still in business or if they are,do they still make these or simular tires?

[earl87gta]

Armstrong is known today as Pirelli tires. They were bought out in 1989. a little extra info Armstrong was the first tire company to offer a bellted tire.

[special-K]

Sorry to hear they`ve passed on.They were a great offroad company,especially on equiptment.There was a time when about every backhoe ran Armstrongs and many a farm tractor,too.Thanks for the info.

[earl87gta]

Here is a cool old add for them

[special-K]

COOL!! I had that blue Power Wagon with those 14.50/37s and manual steering.So I had Armstrong tires AND armstrong steering.

[roger0080]

Yukon Jack, you best savor them Generals while they hold up for you and no blow outs. Lucky dog!

The ebay numbers that Soutedisto posted:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=160131719784
Those are Multi-Mile brand, "Power King Traction Camper", part number YT-60 9.50-16.5LT. NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I just called them a month ago. Last time they sold them was Dec 2004. They checked nationwide of anybody that might have them on their shelves. No luck. Bummer. These are real close to the Goodyear Custom Xtra-Grip Hi-Miler versions.

The second one he gives:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=160131719817
Are the ones pointed to by Robert in his link, the Super Traxion, Figure A picture. Look close at the tire name and tread design on the ebay pic and the STA website.

I'm hoping the Super Traxion is still available. After that, I don't know of any "cooL" old style 16.5 lug tires out there.

Robert, don't wait to long to buy the Super Traxion if that is what you want. I waited and waited until I needed new tires. I WANTED the Multi-Mile Power Kings. Dreaming of the day I could have all Power Kings on the K20. Didn't want to buy and store them, but I waited too long and now they are no longer available. Learned my lesson. And buy about 6 because you need one for a spare, and the the 6th one for the final spare after you use the real spare!

Just my 2 cents.

P.S. Nobody mentioned the old Herculese brand tires. Long time name IIRC:
http://www.herculestire.com/
I think Cooper is one that makes the private label for them. The Super Traction bias looks real close to the Cooper version.

PPS:
Does anyone know of/about Dynatrac tires ? Here is one one Evil Bay that looks like the old lug style, and fairly new/crisp looking:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/16-In...spagenameZWDVW

Or see attached picture.

I googled my keyboard off but can't find any, real, info about that name or company. Anyone?