Mead Ranger tire help

[Major Taylor Archive]

My buddy just picked up a 1921 Mead Ranger with the original red tread Fisk tires on it but they are petrified. He would like to be able to ride it and asked me for some help getting it back on the road. It looks like it takes a single tube tire, is that correct ? Looking for tire options from the Mead experts. Pics of the bike attached. Thanks !

 

[piercer_99]

@New Mexico Brant @Jesse McCauley have methods to safely remove the tires and not let them be destroyed.

 

[Jesse McCauley]

Contrary to what you may expect, the older the tire the more options you have for removal.
This is owing to the natural rubber materials etc I believe that were used often in early tires and replaced by oil based products by the teens.
Once the oils are leached from the more "modern" tires they become quite petrified.

That said if I were in your friend's position and wanted to save the original tires for display I would try removing the wheels and putting each wheel in a kiddie pool of warm - hot water to see if the tires loosen up at all.

 

[Major Taylor Archive]

Thanks, I’ll mention the removal method to him.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

His best option to ride with those wheels will be to buy a pair of Robert Dean tires. Dean makes them in red rubber that would look decent on the bike. The ribbed tread he offers would be the most appropriate. You could get the ribbed tread in white and paint or stain the thread area red to simulate the Fisks. Fisk offered a very similar tread pattern in red and white as Robert's tires.

Your friend should act fast as Robert will be retiring very soon from making these.

 

[Major Taylor Archive]

Thanks Brant !

 

[Balloontyre]

1932 /3/4/5/6

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Here are the Robert Dean tires in the red and white. The red is smooth tread but can be ordered in the ribbed tread. These are out be aged in the sun before I patina them.

 

[lgrinnings]

Here are the Robert Dean tires in the red and white. The red is smooth tread but can be ordered in the ribbed tread. These are out be aged in the sun before I patina them.

Oh Brant... if you have some seeds to spare, I'd love to plant my own tire patch out back.

 

[Cooper S.]

I mean you COULD replace the tire, or you could get a different wheel set and be able to use modern tires and wheels with new spikes that won’t collapse under the weight of a modern adult