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PhastPhil
08-22-2011, 07:25 AM
I bought this toy on E-bay. I will be restoring it to give to my nephew for his 4th birthday. It is technically not a pedal car. This type of vehicle is referred to as an Irish Mail. Irish Mail is not the brand name, it is the style of vehicle. I do not know who manufactured it because I cannot find any name stamped on it anywhere. It is called a Speedster. I had one identical to this one when I was a kid. My friend Mike and I were the only ones capable of riding it. None of the other kids in the neighborhood could figure it out. You make it go by pumping the handlebar back and forth. But you have to figure out how to make it go forward, because it will also go in reverse by pumping the handlebar too. There are no brakes, but you stop it by slowing the pumping or grab the handlebar tight and the wheels will lock up. You steer it with your feet. Which most kids had trouble with because if you hit a rock or stick, it could jack knife the front wheels.

It should be an easy restoration, but I cannot find replacement tires for it. The tires have some chunks taken out of them. They are still usable, but if I am restoring it, I want new tires.

The tires are solid rubber, size : 8 x 1.25 in the front, and 12 x 1.25 in the rear.
I have tried online searches for pedal car parts, and searches for solid rubber tires with no luck. Does anyone know where I can find these tires ?


Here is a picture of it.

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/CLangevin/Crown%20Victoria/IrishMailSpeedster.jpg

Local Boy
08-22-2011, 10:32 PM
Here's a shot in the dark...Have you looked at Lawn mower tires?

Just a thought...

Good luck...That's going to be a Cool gift!

Aloha

Granddaddy Marq
08-22-2011, 11:16 PM
Local Boy is on the right track. Ertle toys makes pedal tractors. They still make parts for them. Uncle Bill restored one he had, he ordered the tires for an Alice Chomler Tractor dealer. You could try a John Deere dealer or even a Ford tractor dealer, the toys are made Ertl. I'm not shour how to spell Ertl, or any thing else for that mater. He had to get out his fish cooker and boil the tires in water to make them roll on the rims. good luck!

massacre
08-22-2011, 11:29 PM
Those aren't lawn mower tires.

Blackened300a
08-23-2011, 09:18 AM
http://images.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/9530325.jpg

Bobmiddle
08-23-2011, 10:37 AM
I have seen alot of differen solid ruber tires for patio furniture also. you might be able to find something close to that size.