Alvis - Alvis 12/50
The Alvis 12/50 was first available in 1923, with a 1.5 litre four cylinder overhead valve engine, from a company that had only been manufacturing motor cars for 3 years. The first Models of 12/50 were the SA and SB models, with the 12/50 SC having a stroked engine to increase the capacity from 1.5 to effectively 1.6 litres. In 1926 a lot of revisions took place where the 12/50 Alvis chassis frame got strengthened for the 12/50 TE model while at the same time a new crankcase was made that bolted straight into the chassis and discarded the earlier Edwardian style "subframe" method. This also marked the time when 4 wheel brakes were added to the 12/50. As years went on the 1645cc engines were in the 12/50 TE, 12/50 TG, 12/50 TJ, as well as the 12/60 models of TK and TL. The shorter stroke 1496cc went in model order of 12/50 SD , 12/50 TF , and 12/50 TH. The 12/50 Alvis is probably one of the best known cars of the Vintage period, for its good performance and overall longevity. Alvis 12/50 production went on until 1932.
Alvis 12/50 tyre size was quoted as 26 x 3 1/2 in 1923 (which is not a beaded edge size) and translates to a 19" size which we believe is far too small, so we would need to take advice, because we have only ever supplied our 21" tyres for the earlier12/50SA and 12/50SB cars. The previous 12/40 model we know was fitted with beaded edge tyre size 760x90 which is quite a large diameter tyre. By 1924 the Alvis 12/50 tyre size was now quoted as 29x4.95 (which means 4.95 x 20). The following year 1926, Alvis quoted the 12/50 tyre size to 5.00x20. The correct tyre size today for these Alvis 12/50's is the Blockley "475/500x20" which we produced with a authentic tread pattern after we were persuaded to make this size by many Alvis 12/50 owners, because 20" tyre sizes are not a popular size, and what was already available was of pretty low quality, and surprisingly expensive. So we made our well researched Blockley 20" tyre which is the perfect product, even having the correct looking three stud tread pattern and sidewall. If your car has had any other non standard wheels fitted over the years (for example 19" wheels with 5.00x19 which we have also supplied tyres for), we are sure to make whatever the tyre size you require from our 60 + tyre size range! See full details of the Blockley 20 inch and 21 inch Alvis 12/50 tyres at the links below:
