Truespoke/Motorspot EXCELLENT to deal with. AVOID KELSEY TIRES !!!!

[Racer57]

Not long ago I purchased Goodyear RWL tires from Motorspot.  Initially I thought that the right front was out of round. Contacted them and they promptly sent me a new one including free shipping. It was at this time, I found out the tires came from Kelsey Tire. Couple weeks later I was on interstate and noticed that at 65+ mph there was a bad vibration. Local shop with high $$$ balancer, said tires were badly out of round. Contacted Motorspot and they said they would have to verify and for me to ship all 4 tires mounted on wheels to them. When they got them, they checked wheels and said tires should be thrown away. They then contacted Kelsey. Kelsey said they wouldn't pay for shipping and didn't trust Motorspot. Motorspot then took the time to locate a tire shop near Kelsey and told them they would ship tires to them, but for Kelsey to check at nearby shop. Kelsey did so and agreed that tires were bad and would recall what they had sold. I told Motorspot deeply appreciated their help and to mount BFGs. They said it would be best for me to just buy them locally to save shipping expense. Said that Kelsey original owner had passed and new owners don't care about customers. Said that Coker is a good place to deal with.

This is the letter that Motorspot sent me and a pic of Daves car .............

[JH27N0B]

That's concerning to hear.  Good Year are OEM for E bodies and Kelsey is the company that sells the repros.  No alternative source if you're trying to do an accurate restoration! Coker sells Firestone repros which were never originally installed on muscle era Mopars.

[Katfish]

Yikes!
How much did it cost to ship all 4 tires on rims?
Sounds like a nightmare

[blown motor]

Yikes!
How much did it cost to ship all 4 tires on rims?
Sounds like a nightmare

I had the same thought.

[1970 cuda Joe]

I've purchase 3 sets of tires from Kelsey tire over the years & haven't had any problems with them. The last set I purchased was in late 2023 for my 1970 cuda. Sorry to hear about your issues...Joe

[Racer57]

The molds for Kelseys RWL Goodyear tires apparently are worn out is why all four of mine were out of round. I think they were probably purchased from Goodyear, when they discontinued them.    Local tire dealer said they've only had 1 out of round tire within the past 10+ years.  The shipping for all 4 tires was $288.36, $72.09 each from Illinois to California. I had no reason at the time to think they messed up, but Motorspot couldn't believe how cheap it was. Maybe they only charged what it costs them instead of a markup or was a mistake ?     

[JH27N0B]

Companies like Kelsey and Coker don't have their own factories to mold tires, they work with major tire manufacturers to make runs of tires for them under contract. I think the Kelsey tires are made at a Goodyear plant.  I'm surprised they'd let flawed product out of their plants.
The guy I've bought my repro tires from displays at MCACN every year. I'll try to remember to ask him at the show if he's heard many complaints about quality of Kelsey tires recently.
I bought the polyglas tires for my T/A 7 or 8 years ago, but the FR70s on my convertible I got in 2020.  I've been really happy with them.

[Racer57]

Companies like Kelsey and Coker don't have their own factories to mold tires, they work with major tire manufacturers to make runs of tires for them under contract. I think the Kelsey tires are made at a Goodyear plant.  I'm surprised they'd let flawed product out of their plants.
The guy I've bought my repro tires from displays at MCACN every year. I'll try to remember to ask him at the show if he's heard many complaints about quality of Kelsey tires recently.
I bought the polyglas tires for my T/A 7 or 8 years ago, but the FR70s on my convertible I got in 2020.  I've been really happy with them.

Kelsey owns their molds.

[6bblgt]

@Racer57 what specific tire had the issue?

all the reproduction belted tires (Goodyear, Firestone, Pro-Trac) are manufactured at McCreary Tire in Pennsylvania 

[Racer57]

@Racer57 what specific tire had the issue?

all the reproduction belted tires (Goodyear, Firestone, Pro-Trac) are manufactured at McCreary Tire in Pennsylvania

Front and rear both. Goodyear Eagle GT RWL outline 15"  I've been lead to believe that Kelsey owns the molds, even though they may not be the actual manufacturer.   Kelsey is the one that recalled them and is reimbursing Motorspot, who in turn is reimbursing me.

What I do know is that Kelsey did everything they could to prevent from acknowledging there was an issue until they were shipped to them for free from Motorspot and did their own balancing. They were even told that I would accept solid letters to replace the bad tires, IF they would guarantee them.      Motorspot is now shipping my Cragars back to me.

[JH27N0B]

I assume these are the tires that are screwed up now?
https://kelseytire.com/product/goodyear-p255-60-r15-eagle-gt/
And that the owner of Kelsey tires had these cars and were sold recently as an estate sale through Mecum.
https://www.mecum.com/auctions/dallas-2024/collections/paul-l-kelsey-kelsey-antique-auto-museum/
My '78 Magnum has 255-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires on it, and they look great but must be pretty elderly.  I have in mind that I better replace them in the near future with fresh rubber and really would like RWL Goodyear over Coopers or raised brown letter BF goodrich.  With winter hibernation coming I guess I don't have to figure that out until next year at the earliest but wasn't too eager to spend $500+ a tire for Goodyear.  I am sure not going to spend that kind of money on defective rubber!  I will certainly make it a point to talk to Rusty at Rusted Tires next month at MCACN to see if I can get some insight on this issue.
Just to clarify, the repro tire companies do own molds, they either paid to have them made, or bought the old molds from the tire OEMs like Goodyear and Firestone and had them refurbished.  But they don't have factories to make the tires, so they contract with a manufacturer to make the tires for them with their molds.  And no doubt pay the OEMs licensing fees to sell tires that say Goodyear and Firestone on them.

[6bblgt]

https://www.moderntiredealer.com/industry-news/wholesale-distribution/article/33011832/kelsey-tire-founder-john-kelsey-dies

John Kelsey was the founder of Kelsey Tire, looks like Paul Kelsey was his father & the museum collection had been closed since his death ??

[headejm]

@JH27N0B Please update us after speaking to Rusty at MACACN.

My brown letter TAs are driving me crazy.

[JH27N0B]

@JH27N0B Please update us after speaking to Rusty at MACACN.

My brown letter TAs are driving me crazy.

Racer57 posted another thread with some info he got about cleaning up or preventing the browning of Radial T/As lettering.
If the mold was worn I hope they can repair it and make good product of those model tires again.  I shouldn't use the Eagle GTIIs on my Magnum much longer, and those repros sure look similar (but not exact) to the Goodyears originally installed on those cars as this picture from a 1978 Magnum sales brochure shows.