16" tires

J

Jim Brierley

Well-known member
A few weeks back I posted about 16" tires for the Model A, and have had a lot of greatly appreciated input. My question now is about the Universal Tire Co. in Hershey, PA. I am looking at their 175R16 tire, originally built for London taxi's. It is a radial tire with a 26.9" diameter and 5.5" tread width. Does anyone have experience using their tires? Good or bad? Thanks, jimb4e4@gmail.com
 
Jim, to run tires of this size you will have to install a 3.25 gear to get speed over about 45 MPH. We put a set of Rav4 tires on a Tudor and it dropped about 8 miles per hour with the smaller diameter tire and it was not as small as the ones you are talking about.
 
If your willing to go a little wider, there are lots of 215/85/16 tires, from mud tread to highway ribs... They are probably heavier since they are a LT designation (about 40lb each that I saw) but list out at 30.X" tall and about 6-6.5 wide.

I haven't run them, but it may be an option if 40 lb each isn't too heavy.
 
I don't understand why you'd want to use 16 inch tires on you Model A, unless you've already purchased those wheels.
There's nothing wrong with using the 19 inchers.
Rog
 
I am very happy with the Bridgestone 195/80/16 tires...they seem to do really well on my roadster...have not tried them in the rain yet, but they should be good...plus they are supposed to provide better fuel mileage.
 
For winter use, I was considering (for the rear tires only) something like what I saw on Coker's site; 650-16 STA Super Traxion tires, then have them studded. They are 29.4" tall, shouldn't change the gear ratios or speedometer any.
 
Jim,

Hi Jim,
I have two set's of new tires, one is the org. size, firestone 4.75/5.00-19"
the other is coker clasic 6.00-16" mounted on 16" 35 ford wire wheels,
if you put them side by side their is only one and a half in. diff. in hight.
on the wheel only, it probley is 3" diff. but with the tires mounted it is diff. Im guessing the wider tire might also be thicker??.

I just got back from the garage and the 6.00-16" is 28" high
the 4.75/5.00-19" is 29.5, .......I can't tell the diff. when driving it.

Get your 16" wheel's, you will be a happy guy ;).
 

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Again, thanks guys! Why 16" tires? In case you haven't noticed, I am basically a hot-rodder. Both my tudor and widebed have 4-port Riley's under their hoods. Both have overdrives and hydraulic brakes. They are very roadworthy cars and cruise nicely at 62-64 mph while getting 20+ mpg. And ... I like the look of them.
 
Back in 1963 I switched from 17" 34 Ford wheels,to 16" 35 Ford wire wheels. The main reason for that switch was the cost of tires. 17" tires were almost $20.00 each,and had to be ordered. 16" tires were under $9.00 each,and were stocked. I bought the wheels for $2.50 each at the junk yard. Yesterday I was able to check my speedometer,at one of those radar speed indicaters,set up by the local police. I was surprised to find my speedo was right on at 45MPH,with 16" tires.
 
I ck'd my 31 coupe with the 16" wheels with my GPS, it was right on the money at 30,35,40,45, mph "exact."
I did not ck it with the 19" wheels on it, so it must have been off a few mph's ???.

Mine is all stock except for the 16" wheels and a 6 volt alt. ... I woulden't have it any other way :rolleyes:.

although the A model coupe does look good with a flat-head V8 :eek:......;).
 
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No one mentioned stopping improvement! I have the Firestone's 16" and they handle much better than 19".
 
Hi, Jim...
I got a set of Coker 6.50R16's on my '32 and like them, except for the fact they are a LT tire and very heavy. I put 600R16's on the front for a little rubber rake. They are available with whitewalls if you want them.
Fearless
 
I run 6.50 X 16 BF Goodrich WWW on my 31 roadster. They're the same height as the old sears 19's on my coupe. I like the look and the way they work.
 
I have ran original 19 and 21 tires on my model "A". I have ran 16 " radials. I now have Coker bias Firestone's. I like the bias 16 the best. Radial tires were marketed by advertising experts. When you produce a cheaper product and want to sell It for more money, marketing is important. I think radials were over marketed in the sixties and not all of the claims made are true.

I did not like the handling of the radials. The 21,19 and 16 bias tires all handled fine.

Advertising sells and you can not believe all advertising. It is kind of like aluminum radiators and copper radiators. The Hokey *** Message Board people believe aluminum cools better than copper because every hot rod magazine advertises all kinds of aluminum radiators. When they try to sell their hot rod they always mention the aluminum, radiator because they believe they are really the best cooling radiator. The "R" value of copper is almost half of the "R" value of aluminum.
 
I am looking for 16" tires for my 30 roadster Pickup. Need cross section width 6" or less to fit fender well. For those of you running 16" tires anyone with fender well spare? If so what is the fit? Thanks for any responses.
 
Most of the guys here that run 16" tires either put their side mounted spares on deflated or they mount the 19" or 21" for the spares. A couple of us in the club carry portable air compressors for that reason.
 
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