First flat tire on the '38 Chrysler

[RobertKB]

We have had a beautiful "Indian Summer" here in southern Alberta for the last month and a bit. Temps are warm, sky is sunny, and the driving is easy. I have been taking one of my old flatties out every day and lately for the last three days it has been my '38 Chrysler Royal. I go driving down any small country roads that have paving on them and usually pull over and park occasionally and enjoy the sun as I know what is coming all too soon (winter). I especially like taking the '38 Chrysler because I can sit on the running boards and soak up the sun which still has some heat in it. This afternoon, I literally got that sinking feeling the last time I stopped. Went to check and the left front tire was completely flat. Must have happened as soon as I parked because the car was driving great before then. I have a feeling one of the new tubes just gave up the ghost as I could see no foreign object in the tire. My spare is the best of the four tires that the car sat on for years during restoration. I often check its pressure and it was good to go. Had bought a scissor jack because I like all my old cars to have a jack so no problem there. Had my tool kit with me and so had all necessary tools to change a tire. Got home just fine and will take the offending tire in tomorrow for repairs. I knew I kept my Jack-o-Lantern after Halloween for a reason. Actually, I am happy everything went as smoothly as it did! I just love driving the old girls as much as I can. I will have to take the fixed tire for a test run tomorrow to make sure everything is OK! It's a tough life enjoying the old cars so much!! First picture shows the car a couple of years ago at a pumpkin festival with the offending whitewall tire. Second picture shows the car today with the spare tire on.

[Norm's Coupe]

If you checked the air pressure regularly or had recently added air, you could have gotten a small piece of dirt in the valve and it got stuck open slightly. Water droplets from air lines will do the same thing if it's cold enough to turn to ice. If you can't see anything obvious, try removing the valve and then putting it back in. Then fill with air to see if it holds air then.

[BobT-47P15]

If there's any roughness on the inside of the rim from rust or anything

it can wear on the tube. I think that's what happened to one of my tubes

a few years ago.

[1940plymouth]

Did you get it fixed so you could take it for another drive today?

[RobertKB]

I just picked the tire up now. I am on my way out to the garage to put it on the car and will take it for a test run. Problem was pretty simple. When I had the tires and tubes installed about five years ago someone at the shop left a label on the tube and this eventually worked its way through the tube. Tire was fine with nothing through it. First I have heard of this but you can learn something every day. I figured my rims were good because I had everything sandblasted and then nicely painted before installing the tubes and tires. Anyway, I'm off for another run to put some miles on the car and smiles on me. Could be the last time for a while because even though the weather in nice today they are forecasting colder weather and snow for the next two days!

Edit - just got back from the run and everything is great. I hate to think I might not have this old girl out again until spring! I do have other cars I will drive in less that ideal conditions but the '38 Chrysler is not one of them.

[norrism1]

I read on another forum couple years ago about using nitrogen in tires. Nitrogen does not expand or contract while in storage an is not affected by temp changes. Any one hear about this?

[Don Coatney]

Nitrogen, being inert, in addition to the properties you mentioned does not promote oxidation same as oxygen does.

[Jerry Roberts]

RobertKB; ... " Problem was pretty simple. When I had the tires and tubes installed about five years ago someone at the shop left a label on the tube and this eventually worked its way through the tube. "

I have not heard of this problem before . If one label was left on , might the other labels also have been left on ?

[RobertKB]

Jerry, yes I wondered about that. Only time will tell as I am not going to pull all the other tires off to check. I will watch them closely however. Tire man said it takes very little to irritate the tubes and cut them. I have heard of wheels being sandblasted with a heavy sand and being left a bit rough and causing problems but this label thing was new to me. Funny thing is the spare probably has a tube in it that is 40 years old and I have never had the tire off the rim. When I was working on the car I had a tire on it that had the tube showing through and I even drove it down our gravel alley a few times without a problem. Go figure!?

[sorensen_dk]

Strange coincidence: I recently had new Coker tires (and new tubes) put on my 38 Dodge. The other day when I was driving it felt like the brake on the right front wheel had started to drag – wrong, I had a flat tire! Luckily I had just inflated the spare tire – that saved my day. It turned out that my mechanics had overlooked a small sticker inside the tire, so this does happen if you’re not careful. BTW: The Coker tires are great.

Tom

[RobertKB]

I got my tires from Coker as well and they are the Firestone copies which seem very popular. I am thinking that maybe I didn't hear right when I said the label was on the tube. It makes a lot more sense for it to have been inside the tire as you said. So it appears that we had the same or very similar problem. I just hope that not all the tires had the label left in them! It was the same shop that fixed my tire that originally mounted them and they are very conscientious. Time will tel!

[John Reddie]

It is a really nice looking car. Some of the old movie serials that I have use '37 and '38 Chryslers in them.

John R

[RobertKB]

Thanks John, I really appreciate the comment as it was an 18 year labour of love for me. Finally got it finished for my daughter's wedding four years ago.