Rubber Tire Ashtray Value Guide

Vintage 6” Seiberling Safe-Aire Tubeless Rubber Tire Clear Glass Ashtray USA | eBay
Rubber Tire Ashtray
Estimated Value
$25 – $35
Period
1940-1960
Origin
United States
Materials
Rubber, Glass
Category
Tire ashtray

The Rubber Tire Ashtray is a quintessential piece of mid-century Americana, serving as a popular promotional tool for major manufacturers like Goodyear, Seiberling, and Kelly Springfield. These novelty desk accessories captured the spirit of the post-war automotive boom, making them highly sought-after by collectors of petroliana and tobacco memorabilia.

What Is Rubber Tire Ashtray Worth?

The typical price range for Rubber Tire Ashtray is $25 - $35 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

  • Brand desirability, with rarer manufacturers or specific service station logos commanding higher prices within the $25-$35 range.
  • The condition of the rubber, specifically the absence of dry rot, cracking, or significant discoloration.
  • The presence and integrity of the original glass insert, as replacements can decrease the item's collector value.
  • The clarity of the embossed lettering and tread detail on the tire's exterior.

How to Identify Rubber Tire Ashtray?

  • Check the sidewall of the miniature rubber tire for embossed brand names such as Goodyear, Seiberling, or Kelly Springfield.
  • Verify the presence of a removable central glass dish, which was the standard insert for these promotional pieces.
  • Look for specific tread patterns and tire details that match authentic 1940-1960 manufacturing styles.
  • Examine the rubber for signs of age-appropriate hardening or 'blooming' consistent with mid-20th-century materials.

History of Rubber Tire Ashtray

These promotional tire ashtrays were highly popular in the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s to the 1960s. They were often commissioned by major tire manufacturers like Goodyear, Seiberling, and Kelly Springfield to be used as advertising memorabilia at service stations, dealerships, and automotive trade shows, capitalizing on the booming post-war American car culture.

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