Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-24-2020, 06:33 AM   #21
DBSHELTON
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Kountze,TX
Posts: 313
Default Re: 16" Wheels

It seems like most of the modern radials in the narrow, taller sizes are for Light Trucks and vans. Seems like that would contribute to a rough ride, but maybe would be better for running tubeless? I. E. stiffer sidewall would keep the bead sealed better? LT215/85-16 would be a good size at 30.3" tall.
DBSHELTON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2020, 07:51 AM   #22
AL in NY
Senior Member
 
AL in NY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Upstate New York
Posts: 1,149
Default Re: 16" Wheels

The LT designation means Light Truck......ie stiffer sidewalls. Try to stick with passenger car tires. The Westlake tires I bought are really nice tires and cheap too at $67 each. The 225/75R16 size are perfect replacements for the 19" tires.
__________________
AL in NY
AL in NY is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-24-2020, 02:26 PM   #23
DBSHELTON
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Kountze,TX
Posts: 313
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by AL in NY View Post
The LT designation means Light Truck......ie stiffer sidewalls. Try to stick with passenger car tires. The Westlake tires I bought are really nice tires and cheap too at $67 each. The 225/75R16 size are perfect replacements for the 19" tires.

Thanks Al. What is the Westlake Tire model number?
DBSHELTON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2020, 06:07 PM   #24
AL in NY
Senior Member
 
AL in NY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Upstate New York
Posts: 1,149
Default Re: 16" Wheels

DBSHELTON: here is a screen grab of the tire at Walmart
Attached Images
File Type: jpg westlake tire.jpg (46.9 KB, 118 views)
__________________
AL in NY
AL in NY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2020, 08:51 PM   #25
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by AL in NY View Post
The LT designation means Light Truck......ie stiffer sidewalls. Try to stick with passenger car tires. The Westlake tires I bought are really nice tires and cheap too at $67 each. The 225/75R16 size are perfect replacements for the 19" tires.
Westlake tires are made in China by ZC rubber company. They have been the subject of forced government recalls due to safety issues! They are in the Top 4 tires to avoid at all costs.

Last edited by McMimmcs; 10-24-2020 at 08:57 PM.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2020, 09:01 PM   #26
DBSHELTON
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Kountze,TX
Posts: 313
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by McMimmcs View Post
Westlake tires are made in China by ZC rubber company. They have been the subject of forced government recalls due to safety issues! They are in the Top 4 tires to avoid at all costs.

What are the other 3?
DBSHELTON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2020, 10:06 PM   #27
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by DBSHELTON View Post
What are the other 3?
AKS Tires, Telluride Tires and Compass Tires.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 01:47 AM   #28
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,109
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft View Post
I prefer the original look of nineteen inch wheels on my 30-31 model A's ...
My sentiments exactly. My Excelsior Radials (550R19) look great and ride even better.
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 12:22 PM   #29
fredski53
Senior Member
 
fredski53's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: La Porte, IN
Posts: 143
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Does anyone have an issue with a small diameter tire/wheel combo rubbing the brake rods?
fredski53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 02:55 PM   #30
Chuck Sea/Tac
Senior Member
 
Chuck Sea/Tac's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma
Posts: 2,351
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by AL in NY View Post
I just put the 16" wheels on in August and I love the better handling and smoother ride. I went with tubeless 225/75R16 radials and I added Tire Pressure Sensors. The tires have the same diameter as the 19" Model A tires, so there's no speedometer error. And they don't look oversized for the 5" wide rim. Everyone in my club likes the way my truck looks with the new tires. One of the reasons I went to 16" tires was to get rid of the tubes and also get a radial tire. I bought the Westlake tire at Walmart's for $67.00 each and run the tire pressure at 27 lbs. Another advantage to the wider tires, with more rubber on the road, your brakes are more effective.
What’s the size of those 16” tires?
Chuck Sea/Tac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 07:09 PM   #31
AL in NY
Senior Member
 
AL in NY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Upstate New York
Posts: 1,149
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Diameter of 225/75R16 tires is 29.3 inches.
__________________
AL in NY
AL in NY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 07:54 PM   #32
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by DBSHELTON View Post
I am thinking about putting 16" wheels and tires on one of my Model A's. Does anyone regret going with the 16" wheels instead of 19" or 21"? Any drawbacks?
No drawbacks with these three! DD









........
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2020, 08:04 PM   #33
DBSHELTON
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Kountze,TX
Posts: 313
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
No drawbacks with these three! DD









........

What tire sizes?
DBSHELTON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2020, 05:48 AM   #34
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by DBSHELTON View Post
What tire sizes?
I forgot to show this GREEN car that I absolutely love!

As far as tire sizes, most folks that do the "big 'n little" combinations use either a 7.00 R16 or 7.50 R16 on the rears, and 5.50 R16s on the front, although those are possibly 6.00 R16s on the FRONT of the black coupe with red spokes. The rears are probably 7.00 R16s on that shiny black coupe. The 1935 16" spoke wheels are ALL 4"-wide between the beads, and ALL of these tire sizes fit these 4" rims just fine. The SOLID 16" wheels like on the RED/BLACK coupe are also 4"-wide for '40 and '41, while the 16" solid wheels for '42-'48 are 4-1/2" wide, and work well for rear tires. I'd keep 4" wheels on front, while the 4" works just as well as 4-1/2" on the rears. ALL have the same 5-1/2" five-lug bolt circle as the Model A. DD

__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2020, 07:13 AM   #35
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: 16" Wheels

with the big tires, the cars above in my opinion no longer look like a Model A. They look like hotrods in my opinion.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2020, 11:35 AM   #36
Purdy Swoft
Senior Member
 
Purdy Swoft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
Default Re: 16" Wheels

I agree .
Purdy Swoft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2020, 12:45 PM   #37
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Opinions are like belly buttons. Everybody has one. Your car is your car. Do with it as you like. I love original cars. I also appreciate modifieds and hot rods. My 1930 Tudor was a modified when I bought it as it had non original paint and juice brakes. I originally planed on a restoration when I got it. But finances wouldn't allow that. I felt it was unstable with the original 19's. I bought a set of 16's. I had two of them widened 1.5". 750x16 rear and 600x16 front. Reproduction Firestone bias ply tires. When replacement time comes along I will upgrade to radials. I truly appreciate the stability of the 16's.

__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2020, 06:00 PM   #38
Russ B
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millbrae, CA
Posts: 504
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Got 8.20-15s on the rear of mine, 30” diameter, with smaller tires on front. They fit the well nicely. Most non Model A folks don’t have a clue that it is not original. I think a larger contact patch for the tire makes stopping much safer. It all depends on who you want to impress, or what you like best. I just do what I like, or feel is safer.
Russ B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2020, 06:26 PM   #39
AL in NY
Senior Member
 
AL in NY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Upstate New York
Posts: 1,149
Default Re: 16" Wheels

Russ B: I'm with you. I don't give a rat's a** what other people think. I'll do what I feel is best...........
__________________
AL in NY
AL in NY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2020, 07:25 PM   #40
DBSHELTON
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Kountze,TX
Posts: 313
Default Re: 16" Wheels

I see where European classic has 6.00-16 and 6.50-16 bias ply tires for $115 and $125 shipped. I already have a set of their 21" tires on my 29 Tudor and they really ride and drive well. This may be another good option.
DBSHELTON is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:58 PM.