The Ford Barn

Otterby · 02-02-2018, 11:13 AM

I'm in the process of getting a 1948 Super Deluxe Coupe barn find going. I've looked at a lot of different wheel/tire combinations and have decided to go with a red steel wheel, dish hubcaps and whitewall tires. I'm just not sure about sizes. I'm thinking either a 15" or 16" wheel and radial tire. I also plan on lowering the car around 2" in the future. What wheel and tire size do you guys recommend? Let me know what's worked for you and any pictures would be greatly appreciated!

flatjack9 · 02-02-2018, 12:10 PM

I've got 195 -15 wide white radials on the front and 225-15's on the rear.
Coker tires with Merc hubcaps.

tubman · 02-02-2018, 12:21 PM

I've got the same tires on my '51. If I had to do it again, I'd probably get 215's instead of 225's.

Seth Swoboda · 02-02-2018, 12:40 PM

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

TJ · 02-02-2018, 01:10 PM

If you plan on lowering the car, do not buy wheels and tires until you get that done first. Wheels and tires are always the last things you buy after the suspension is changed. Wide whitewalls are not cheap and you want to get it right the first time.

Vintage Copper 47 · 02-02-2018, 01:41 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

Agree... radials, stay with 16 inch wheels... the mercs used 15 inch in 48 I believe

slowforty · 02-02-2018, 03:02 PM

225-15 s are interesting to get off the rear of my 40. Should have used 205-15 s.

fordor41 · 02-02-2018, 11:33 PM

I use 235/75/15 in rear of my '41 to keep the speedo close (like slowforty said "interesting getting off"). 205/75/15 in front. where ever you get rims from try to keep the backset same as stock

blucar · 02-03-2018, 11:24 AM

Stock Ford F100, '57-66, 15" 5.5/6.0 are an excellent choice for '40-48 Fords. Stock Ford hubcaps will fit right on the wheels. The 15" wheels/tires generally have a better selection of sizes compared to 16".
I agree with the comments about doing any modifications to the car before you buy tires and wheels. Making a car functional and safe should come before making it pretty.

corvette8n · 02-03-2018, 11:46 AM

205/75-15 lowered my car by about an inch all around.
See my issue with aftermarket wheels below.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223285

I also want to give my car a little attitude in the front, but I need to wait until I get the king pins done, and shocks rebuilt.

Otterby · 02-21-2018, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

What is the radial size equivalent to a 6.00x16?

blucar · 02-23-2018, 10:35 AM

According to the info on tire sizes in the Coker Tire Catalog, the average size of a 600x16 is:
size rim thread-section-diameter
Firestone.. 600-16 4-4.5 4.63 6.26 28.56
Coker Classic.. 600R16 4-4.5 5.00 6.25 28.36
Coker Classic.. P225/75R15 6-8 6.25 8.95 28.29
Coker Classic.. P205/75R15 5.5-7.5 5.68 8.14 27.11

Comparing the above spec's you will note that the required rim size changes dramatically for bias ply vs radial. The overall diameter remains at 28.29... 28.56 until the tire size is dropped to P205/75R15..
I have P215/65R15 on one of my vintage old cars, which are 26.0 diameter tires with a section width of 8.7. I can get away with the smaller diameter tires because the car has a gear ratio of 3.24 with an OD trans.

02-02-2018, 11:13 AM	#1
Otterby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 27	Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires I'm in the process of getting a 1948 Super Deluxe Coupe barn find going. I've looked at a lot of different wheel/tire combinations and have decided to go with a red steel wheel, dish hubcaps and whitewall tires. I'm just not sure about sizes. I'm thinking either a 15" or 16" wheel and radial tire. I also plan on lowering the car around 2" in the future. What wheel and tire size do you guys recommend? Let me know what's worked for you and any pictures would be greatly appreciated!

02-02-2018, 12:10 PM	#2
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires I've got 195 -15 wide white radials on the front and 225-15's on the rear. Coker tires with Merc hubcaps.

02-02-2018, 12:21 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires I've got the same tires on my '51. If I had to do it again, I'd probably get 215's instead of 225's.

02-02-2018, 12:40 PM	#4
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,785	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

02-02-2018, 01:10 PM	#5
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,029	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires If you plan on lowering the car, do not buy wheels and tires until you get that done first. Wheels and tires are always the last things you buy after the suspension is changed. Wide whitewalls are not cheap and you want to get it right the first time.

02-02-2018, 03:02 PM	#7
slowforty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tinley Park Ill Posts: 1,060	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires 225-15 s are interesting to get off the rear of my 40. Should have used 205-15 s.

02-02-2018, 11:33 PM	#8
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,516	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires I use 235/75/15 in rear of my '41 to keep the speedo close (like slowforty said "interesting getting off"). 205/75/15 in front. where ever you get rims from try to keep the backset same as stock

02-03-2018, 11:24 AM	#9
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires Stock Ford F100, '57-66, 15" 5.5/6.0 are an excellent choice for '40-48 Fords. Stock Ford hubcaps will fit right on the wheels. The 15" wheels/tires generally have a better selection of sizes compared to 16". I agree with the comments about doing any modifications to the car before you buy tires and wheels. Making a car functional and safe should come before making it pretty. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

02-03-2018, 11:46 AM	#10
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,943	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires 205/75-15 lowered my car by about an inch all around. See my issue with aftermarket wheels below. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223285 I also want to give my car a little attitude in the front, but I need to wait until I get the king pins done, and shocks rebuilt.

02-23-2018, 10:35 AM	#12
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires According to the info on tire sizes in the Coker Tire Catalog, the average size of a 600x16 is: size rim thread-section-diameter Firestone.. 600-16 4-4.5 4.63 6.26 28.56 Coker Classic.. 600R16 4-4.5 5.00 6.25 28.36 Coker Classic.. P225/75R15 6-8 6.25 8.95 28.29 Coker Classic.. P205/75R15 5.5-7.5 5.68 8.14 27.11 Comparing the above spec's you will note that the required rim size changes dramatically for bias ply vs radial. The overall diameter remains at 28.29... 28.56 until the tire size is dropped to P205/75R15.. I have P215/65R15 on one of my vintage old cars, which are 26.0 diameter tires with a section width of 8.7. I can get away with the smaller diameter tires because the car has a gear ratio of 3.24 with an OD trans. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe Last edited by blucar; 02-23-2018 at 10:40 AM.