16" Tire Questions

Napa Skip

Napa Skip

Senior Member
16” Tires: I have a set of 16” (1934 Ford?) rims obtained from a fellow club member and am ready to obtain tires (the set of 19” wheels will be retained for ‘show’). I am interested in other forum members’ comments about:

(1) Type of 16” tires (bias ply or radial)?
(2) Size?
(3) Source?

For example, the other members of our club that run 16” tires are generally using P215/70R16 Uniroyal radials. However, Coker Tire shows bias ply sizes from 450/475-16 to 750-16 (10 sizes) and radial sizes from 205/55R16 to 295/50R16 (9 sizes). I did a quick search of this forum for threads on 16” tires but did not see anything definitive; one thread on the Early V-8 forum (“Firestones, Coker Radials or Excelsior Radials”) seemed to confirm a preference for radial tires, but I wanted to get some direct Model A owner recommendations.

Any other comments, both pro and con about 16” wheels/tires would be appreciated. When last checked a few months ago, the steering geometry on my 1930 coupe was good at 5 deg (more or less) caster, +3-1/2 deg (each side) camber and about +1/16” toe-in. I have a stock 2-tooth steering sector with a standard-length pitman arm, 34-year old reproduction lever-arm hydraulic shocks in good condition, and mechanical brakes. I have gotten good service (even wear, no cupping, cracks or checks) out of the 4.75/5.00/5.25/5.50-19 Bedford 4-ply nylon tires I have had for many (too many, probably) years.

16” Wheel Hub Caps: I am also interested in any recommendation as to the best source for high-quality hub caps for the 16” wheels (I’m currently leaning toward the Snyder B-1130 stainless steel hub caps but at around $100 for a set of 5 (+ tax/shipping/handling) if there is a better/more durable product out there, I’d like to hear about it.

Camber: And, as regards the camber, are there any comments about a smaller camber? Steve Smith, in his ”Proper Front-End Alignment Using Modern Day Tires” in the March/April 2004 Model “A” News, recommended +/- 0.5 deg camber. But I’m reluctant, for obvious reasons, to subject an otherwise (apparently) good front axle to “tweaking” unless absolutely warranted.

Sorry for the long post.
 
If your wheel are Ford, they are from a 1935. Kelsey-Hayes made a lot of aftermarket wheels and most think they are nicer looking than the Ford wheels. Ford wheels will easily accept tubeless tires, Kelsey-Hayes need to be sealed as the spokes pass thru the rims. Radials give a much better ride and are not affected by grooves in the pavement. Other than that buy the look that you like. The 215/70R16's are for the Toyota RAV-4, tires for them are made by several mfg's. Caster & camber should remain as stock.
 
Jim, is that the only way to tell ford from KH?

By the spokes being different through the rim?

Does anyone have pics of each?
 
700X16 tires will be about the same height as the original 19 inch tires. For instance, if you use 600X16 tires the height will be less than original. Tires with less height than original will have the same effect as lowering the gear ratio. You will have a bit more low end power but the car won't run as fast and will get less MPG. It is usually preferable to run a smaller tire on the front for easier steering .. I don't have the numbers for radial tires.
 
The Kelsey Hayes wheels are sometimes called "double cross" wheels because each spoke crosses two others. Here are two pics of the K-H wheels and one of a Ford wheel.
 

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Here's a pic. of my coupe, it has 35 ford 16" wheel's and coker 6.00x16 tires, tube type, they ride a lot better then the 19" firestones, and like Swoft says are close to the same size as the 19", some say that it will be harder to steer at slow speed's, But I can't tell the diff, [and im an old dude].
I think I paid $97 for 5 hub caps from Mikes, They look and fit great.
I would not go back to the 19".
 

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I am looking forward to new 16 inch rims with 19 inch centers becoming available in my lifetime. I have spent the last few years looking for these at swaps. I found 2 sets of 16 inch rims with 21 inch centers. One of these had the spokes welded by a monkey and then powder coated. The other set was not as bad. I spent 2 days cleaning them up before I gave up. They are not yet powder coated.

My problem is that all of what is available now is too narrow for the tires available. Now I don't have the money for what I want since I bought 2 sets of shocks from Bill Stipe.

Vic:)
 
Bent spoke wheels come in at least two designs. The Kelsey Hayes version that has double cross spokes and the Motor Wheel corp wheel that has single cross spokes. Both have more spokes than the straight(non bent) spoke design by Ford. The Kelseys have more spokes than the Motor wheels, but the Motor wheels have more than the Ford ones. If anyone is interested, I will get spoke counts on all three types.
 
How about pics to determin the different looks of the Motor Wheel Corp's verses the other we have here? Thanks midgetracer
 
I think the 35 ford wheel, 16" has 32 spokes.
 

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Her is the only picture of a motor wheel that I had handy. Notice the bent spoke and the single cross of the spokes. I hope this is clear enough. I can take a better picture tomorrow.
 

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You can get the hub caps with the v/8 logo or without. I would go without if you are running a four cylinder. The bias and radial discussions will go on forever. Coker tire has a warning on the back of their catalog about using radial tires on old rims. This comment alone should bring several comments. I like bias tires and they actually ride and handle better on my Model "A" than radials. I have tried both types. Good luck with this soon to be lengthy thread.
 
Here are pictures of the three types of 16 inch wheels as well as a picture of a model a 19 inch Motor wheel. Ford wheels have 32 spokes, Motor wheels have 36 spokes and Kelsey Hayes have 40 spokes. I guess some of us like red wheels!!!!
 

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I've got a set of 16" in the attic but I'll be darned if I'm going to spend the money for a set of new ones until I see how they look and ride. Good used sets almost impossible to find.
 
Thank you to all who answered this thread and provided comments concerning tire type and size, hubcap recommendations and/or steering geometry remarks. For what it's worth, the 7 wheels I have are of two different spoke designs, as shown in the photo below: 5 of what I presume (from some of the posted replies) are 1935 Ford wheels with 32 spokes (the red-primer wheel on the left) and 2 with 40 (non-bent) spokes (the gray-primer wheel on the right). With the exception of a lip on the inner edge of the center hub (where the wheel contacts the brake drum) which appears on the 5 32-spoke wheels only (the 2 40-spoke wheels have an unlipped center hub inner edge similar to the standard 19-inch rims) all other dimensions (17-1/2" OD with a 5-1/8" width at the rim edge) and construction appear similar. Thanks again for the responses.

16-inch wheels.jpg
 
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