Tire tread for antique tea cart

Question

I have an antique wrought iron tea cart and chaise lounge that both have lost the rubber tread from the tires and I just can't find replacements.  Someone suggested a bike store but they only carry the entire, rim and tread, tires.  Any ideas where I can get retreads?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

check amazon

Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA · Answer

A good garden shop should have what you need. Have you Googled yet?

Ebbjdl · Answer

Junk yard call them

Kiki · Answer

try tractor STORE

Cheryl A · Answer

look in the hardware dept to see if they have rubber on a small roll you could use

Jay Paden · Answer

any hardware store has or can get any wheel you need, if it is a bicycle type they should have just the tire by it self as well, just take it with you

Ken · Answer

I see the problem. There isn't much of anything on Amazon or Google search. I assume that historical authenticity is not necessarily a goal here. Just something to pad the steel so it rides a little better and doesn't mar floors?

Not sure how hard it would be to cut a strip of tread out of an old bicycle tire. Tin snips maybe? Gotta be easier than cutting a car tire. Scrape and clean the wheel then use contact cement to attach the new tread. That would be the direction I would head.

Unless of course you want to talk with an antique dealer about restoration services to make it perfect. I make it a point to not own anything of historical value. Sleep better.

Lisa S. · Answer

If you find it impossible to find any, maybe material used for gaskets in refrigerators, wood stoves and similar? Just a thought.

27524803 · Answer

you could try buying a cheap lawnmower or similar tire (the same circumference) from somewhere like Harbor Freight. Take it off the cheap rim and glue it on your tea cart. If is just slightly smaller, and you cut the 'bead' off the tire, it might stretch to fit.

Ken · Answer

Try that bicycle shop that you initially contacted. Even if you can get an old dry-rotted tire it would be proof-of-concept to see if you can actually cut a strip out of the tread and have it look reasonably good. If it's a go then get a nice new tire with an attractive tread pattern, the cheapest you can find because a good tire may have steel or some other hard to cut cordage. Size of the wheels in your photo appears that you may need 18'-24' of tread to wrap around. That's a lot of cutting for how many wheels? Maybe you can get a bulk buy on those tires. You will have blisters on your hands. This is a project I would set everything else aside in my workshop because it interests me.

Christina · Answer

Oh Ken, if only you were closer to Arizona!! I will find the oldest bike shop around and see if somewhere they have some tread they junked that's a fit or get a coup,e old tires from them to check out your solution. Without measuring I'd say the width is about an 1'and they're about 7' diameter. Two on cart and two on chaise. I have tin snips and I'll wear gloves. You've inspired me!

Melbrooks · Answer

Have you considered sewing machine or vacuum cleaner belts?

Christina · Answer

Hi Melbrooks. No I hadn't but I do know sewing machines and those belts wouldn't be wide enough (maybe commercial?) and vacuum cleaner belts definitely would not be large enough. I'm not worried about authenticity so I think if I can't find the actual tread, the old bike tire might look right and work. I really appreciate your ideas. Thanks.