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I was finally able to add two more Yesteryear's with the experimental white tires (tyres) to my collection. These are a few models I have been after for a while. I still think this should have been a regular issue as I truly think these are some of the best looking models.

I have the Model T and Simplex (although the white tyres are on the 1st issue Simplex in light green). These tyres also fit the Y2 PHV, Y4 Opel Y5 Peugeot, Y7 Rolls, & Y13 Daimler. and all have been seen with them. These models always command a high price, these are some of the most expensive tyres in YY land. Grey tyres with the same fine tread pattern are even more elusive and have been seen in all sizes.

I have all 4 plus the Opel. Others I have rarely or never seen and never seen the grey fine tread on sale that often and would consider these rarer than the white. It is easy to swap tyres but why bother as all would fetch around the same price but the 4 shown always seem to pop up more than any others. The white tyres are very prone to cracking across them but can be glued back and wonder how many were made before they got dropped - didn't shrink, just broke due to strain probably.

I obtained a Y-2 Vauxhall for my collection with fine tread grey plastic tires from Terry Gunner for $25.00 U.S.D. He was in from England visiting Dave Curley (they and their families were all good friends and traveled a lot together). Dave invited us all over to have an Illinois Matchbox Collectors Club get-together with Terry. Terry mentioned to me that he had some prepros for sale and he went around to everyone, put out one model, asked if that person wanted it and if not it was passed to the next person. I think the Vauxhall was the most expensive one so he was not making much money on these and I was thrilled. The Vauxhall was the first one to be put out and I was given "first refusal". This was back the late 1970's.

Like this one. Not mine sadly, I wish!

Thats nice ! Wonder why they never changed wheel colours as they look better on some models.

"Wheel colour" could be confusing here. We are talking about the tyres (tires). There was a Y13 Daimler so shod in the Charlie Mack collection as I recall (and possibly a Y6 Cadillac as well. Y5-2 Bentley, Y3 Benz, Y11 Packard and Y16 Mecedes have all been seen with fine tread grey tyres, so they experimented with different sizes. All the white tyres are one size I think. NB the tyres shown here on the Y3 & Y11 are NOT knobbly tyres as on the Y15 Rolls. These will fit the Benz and the Packard so will be switched by the dodgy dealers we all know so well to try to con the less experienced collector

Any chance of a reference photograph clearly showing difference between the knobbly and the fine-tread tyres?

Knobbly on left & fine on right.