35-36 Spare tire cover question

d.conrad

Senior Member
Firestone size 6.00 X 16 tires seem to be to big diameter for the cover to fit. BUT, A very old Firestone the same size fits just right. This old tire is probably 40 or more years old. Of course the guys at Coker say they've never heard of this problem. Question, What size tire do you guys use so the cover will fit correctly?
 
Firestone size 6.00 X 16 tires seem to be to big diameter for the cover to fit. BUT, A very old Firestone the same size fits just right. This old tire is probably 40 or more years old. Of course the guys at Coker say they've never heard of this problem. Question, What size tire do you guys use so the cover will fit correctly?

I have a modern (two years old from Coker) 600 x 16 under my cover. Fits quite well. I did attempt to place a 650 under there as that's what is fitted to my '36. That (the 650) was a no-go.
 
I have found that these tire covers have different width and circumference. I had to find one with greater width and circumference.
 
I have the same problem with my phaeton. I have Dunlop 600x16 tires and can get the outer ring onto the wheel but not the disc cover.
Thanks for the heads up that the ring part could be too narrow, that makes sense and I would not have thought of that, especially as my car was built from bits lying around.
 
I’d bet the covers as Henry made them are all the same size. After 80 years who knows what they’ve been thru to deform them. Consider also ur old tire is dried out & probably has shrunk & become less flexible. I’d try deflate the new tire a bit to see if it fits. If it does get a cordless air compressor gun. About the same size as a drill motor & easy to keep in car in case u ever need to use. Not a perfect solution but worth a try. Plus you won’t have to replace the cover. T
Air dragon hand compressor gun is handy anyway to keep other tires @ correct air pressure. Their pretty inexpensive & I have one in all my cars as part of my roadside kits.

Another thing I’d Probably try is deflate a 650-16 more see if u can get that to fit then fill while in cover if you can get to nozzle, to max recommended pressure. Might straighten out the cover enough to let 600 fit correctly. Just a couple of thoughts.
 
During early '36 production, deluxe cars had 600-16 tires and standard cars had 550-16 tires, which may be the source of different size tire covers.
 
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