39 1 ton tire question

NCSUDucker

NCSUDucker

Senior Member
You may remember I just picked up the 38 1/2 ton pickup a couple of weeks ago and registered here. Well I stumbled across this 39 1 ton and couldn't pass it up for the price that I got it. Originally a tow truck with 12,500 original miles. 4 speed with the granny. Starts and runs with no issues and all the electrical is working aside from the fuel gauge and oil pressure gauge. Has the dealer installed turn signals, 2 brake lights, both driver and passenger mirrors as well as a heater. Needs the wood for the bed (I have the metal strips and a small section of the wood with the profile), but being a shop teacher, that's one thing I can definitely handle. It does need new tires. In looking at the ford literature, the 39 1 ton came with 7.00x17 in the rear and 6.00x17 in the front. It currently has 7.00x17 all the way around. In looking for a period specific truck tire in that size, I seem to be finding more car tires. Is it ok to run the 7.50x17?
 

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NCSUDucker said:
You may remember I just picked up the 38 1/2 ton pickup a couple of weeks ago and registered here. Well I stumbled across this 39 1 ton and couldn't pass it up for the price that I got it. Originally a tow truck with 12,500 original miles. 4 speed with the granny. Starts and runs with no issues and all the electrical is working aside from the fuel gauge and oil pressure gauge. Has the dealer installed turn signals, 2 brake lights, both driver and passenger mirrors as well as a heater. Needs the wood for the bed (I have the metal strips and a small section of the wood with the profile), but being a shop teacher, that's one thing I can definitely handle. It does need new tires. In looking at the ford literature, the 39 1 ton came with 7.00x17 in the rear and 6.00x17 in the front. It currently has 7.00x17 all the way around. In looking for a period specific truck tire in that size, I seem to be finding more car tires. Is it ok to run the 7.50x17?
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Wow! Nice find! Arrow turn signals as well. Have a set of those on a shelf. I believe you could put the 7.50-17s on it. Truckdog should be along. He would give you a definitive answer.
 
1952henry said:
Wow! Nice find! Arrow turn signals as well. Have a set of those on a shelf. I believe you could put the 7.50-17s on it. Truckdog should be along. He would give you a definitive answer.
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Thank you! Where in ND are you located. We made the annual trip out for over a decade from NC to duck hunt. Stayed outside of Devils Lake some of the years then down in the SE corner others. Granted we rode through all sorts of towns and areas looking for birds
 
She's a beaut! I'm jealous of that one. I have had many ford one ton trucks, 38-47 and always run a 7.50 x 17. Everything else looks too small to me. Besides, in a truck type tire I think that's the only size still being made. There are hiway tread bias for the front and tornel makes a traction for the rear if you like them. Maybe check out Miller Tire in Wauseon Ohio for these. I'm 71 and mount and demount them myself in my home shop. There is a lot to learn about how to handle them safely, but they are a good 2 piece rim and they are not the ones referred to as a 'widow maker'. Many shops won't touch them and the younger generation of tire men don't understand them. Stu 'Truckdog' here is the real expert on truck tires and wheels and he just may show up soon with more info. The tonner is a great line of trucks. Did I mention I was jealous?
 
What a magnificent Tonner survivor!

The only thing I can add to what Gary and the others have said would be to check your wheels’ rim widths before buying tires. (Edit - might be you’ll want to break down the spare first to do the measuring before having the truck disabled). The early tonners had two optional Budd Company wheels having either 5” (3.75”) or 6” (4.33”) Firestone RH style outer rims. You’ll see in the Ford “Green Bible” chassis catalog these listed showing the 5” and 6” sizes. Ford was slow to adopt the wheel industry’s change from measurement across rim lips to a measurement between rims lips. Thus the 3.75” and 4.33” sizes. If you have the 4.33” wheels I’d use the 7.50-17” STA or Tornel tires Gary mentioned. If you have the 3.75” it might be better to just accept the use of car tires. The Coker/Firestone 7.00-17” is a nice looking tire too.

The other precaution would be to be careful pulling the rings from the wheels. They bend if man handled, and obviously are NLA. Find an old shop that knows how to do them, or learn to do yourself. Stu
 
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I live just outside of Mandan. I grew up in the SW corner of the state. My in-laws live in Rugby, not far from Devils Lake.
 
It might be that you can find which wheels you have by their part numbers. Budd commonly stamped their numbers on the back side rim lips. The 5” was #44620, and 6” the #44630. Stu
 
truckdog62563 said:
It might be that you can find which wheels you have by their part numbers. Budd commonly stamped their numbers on the back side rim lips. The 5” was #44620, and 6” the #44630. Stu
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Thanks for all the info Stu! I'll take a look and see what I can find. I've got an older gentleman that does the 2 part tractor tires that is familiar with them. Any good resources that you would recommend for learning? I've got a photocopy of the original owners manual that came with the truck that has information on changing them.

Thanks again!

Brad
 
1952henry said:
I live just outside of Mandan. I grew up in the SW corner of the state. My in-laws live in Rugby, not far from Devils Lake.
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Been through Rugby many times as well as numerous other small towns. Always enjoyed our trips out there. Beautiful country for sure. I hope to take my 16 year old son out at some point.

Brad
 
GB SISSON said:
She's a beaut! I'm jealous of that one. I have had many ford one ton trucks, 38-47 and always run a 7.50 x 17. Everything else looks too small to me. Besides, in a truck type tire I think that's the only size still being made. There are hiway tread bias for the front and tornel makes a traction for the rear if you like them. Maybe check out Miller Tire in Wauseon Ohio for these. I'm 71 and mount and demount them myself in my home shop. There is a lot to learn about how to handle them safely, but they are a good 2 piece rim and they are not the ones referred to as a 'widow maker'. Many shops won't touch them and the younger generation of tire men don't understand them. Stu 'Truckdog' here is the real expert on truck tires and wheels and he just may show up soon with more info. The tonner is a great line of trucks. Did I mention I was jealous?
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Thank you GB....feeling real fortunate to come across this one and I honestly feel like I got if for a song. I've seen the Tornels and would be fine with them if they end up fitting the wheels.
 
NCSUDucker said:
Thanks for all the info Stu! I'll take a look and see what I can find. I've got an older gentleman that does the 2 part tractor tires that is familiar with them. Any good resources that you would recommend for learning? I've got a photocopy of the original owners manual that came with the truck that has information on changing them.

Thanks again!

Brad
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I’d recommend relying on your old pro, but that’s just me because I don’t enjoy the job. Gary might have a different point of view. Squeezing the ring over the rim lip requires steady pressure with the tire tool, and a BFH tapping on the ring to get it to move. Just don’t lean on the tool so hard that you damage the ring. Stu
 
Yup, indents on each side that let it be squeezed past the rim lip. Lots of manufactures used the Firestone RH rims during that era. Stu
 
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