are all 16in ford wire wheels the same?

mike657894

mike657894

Well-known member
I am thinking about switching to 16s. I dont want to pay a ton. I see singles pop up on my craigslist occasionally for 20-50$. are they all the same 16x4 or are some different or wider?
 
Most are 16 x 4 but I have seen other sizes. Make sure they are the correct Ford bolt pattern. There are also Kelsey Hayes bent spoke wire wheels, again most are 16 x 4, but I have seen wider ones advertised. if you make sure they are original 1935 Ford write wheels, 16 x 4, with the Ford bolt pattern, you should be OK.
 
All 'Standard' Ford 16" wire wheels (1935) are the same. The trick is - if you are shopping on the internet (eBay, Amazon, etc.) to make sure that the wheel you are looking at / that is being sold, IS a true 1935 FORD wheel. A LOT of mis-labeled, mis-informed sellers/items are out there!

Just check your spacing between your Model A's 5 Brake Drum studs, write down (or memorize) the distance, both across and in between studs. When you contact a "16" Ford Wire Wheel" - double check with the seller that what he is selling is what you need.

A very common sales pitch is to use the 'buzz word' "For Model A", "Fits Model A" - very often that is a marketing sales pitch and NOT the actual fact.
 
I have 16's on my 29 coupe. Love them, could not say enough how much better in my opinion they look plus the fatter tire helped with how it handles big time.
 
bent spokes go for a good bit more $

I personally like the look of the 18" 1932 wheels-beefier wo going overboard.
 
ronn: "I personally like the look of the 18" 1932 wheels-beefier wo going overboard."
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While not as 'chic' with the 'in' crowd (and for a number of other reasons, i.e. commonly available, wide variety, etc.) I too prefer the 18" wheel of the 1932 Ford, along with the hubcap from the 1932 Ford Model B (which is different from the later years, and says FORD, rather than V-8) . My set are the bent-spoke Kelsey-Hayes, for a little bit of panache.
 
waxhead said:
Most are 16 x 4 but I have seen other sizes. Make sure they are the correct Ford bolt pattern. There are also Kelsey Hayes bent spoke wire wheels, again most are 16 x 4, but I have seen wider ones advertised. if you make sure they are original 1935 Ford write wheels, 16 x 4, with the Ford bolt pattern, you should be OK.
Click to expand...

The 16 x 4 is incorrect. :eek:
 
ronn: "I personally like the look of the 18" 1932 wheels-beefier wo going overboard."
----------------------------------------------------------
While not as 'chic' with the 'in' crowd (and for a number of other reasons, i.e. commonly available, wide variety, etc.) I too prefer the 18" wheel of the 1932 Ford, along with the hubcap from the 1932 Ford Model B (which is different from the later years, and says FORD, rather than V-8) . My set are the bent-spoke Kelsey-Hayes, for a little bit of panache.

Doug,
I dont care what they say about you- you have good taste!
 
I "heard" that the Bent Spoke ones were REJECTS that had LOOSE spokes & "they" bent them to make a MARKETABLE wheel!
In East Texas, I was observing a mail box post made from a Bent Spoke Kelsey. The owner drove up, "Don't WORRY, the wheel wuz crookieder than a SNAKE!
Bill Nosey
 
ronn said:
ronn: "I personally like the look of the 18" 1932 wheels-beefier wo going overboard."
----------------------------------------------------------
While not as 'chic' with the 'in' crowd (and for a number of other reasons, i.e. commonly available, wide variety, etc.) I too prefer the 18" wheel of the 1932 Ford, along with the hubcap from the 1932 Ford Model B (which is different from the later years, and says FORD, rather than V-8) . My set are the bent-spoke Kelsey-Hayes, for a little bit of panache.

Doug,
I dont care what they say about you- you have good taste!
Click to expand...

18" rims? Check.
B hubcaps? Check.

I agree - good taste....

 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
16's are so common that many folks think they came new, that way.
Bill Sixteen
Click to expand...

No denying it.....they certainly SHOULD have! DD

238290
 
Hmmmm, '32 Grill Shell, Dropped headlight bar. Oh, but the fuzzy dice makes the whole deal look "the way it should have" :D
 
I have a set of 1935 Ford 16" Rims & Tires that I took off my 1931 Model A Roadster. They have the five stud pattern. I went the opposite way and put on 19" rims to keep it original but the 16's dI'd look sleek. I've still got them if you're still in need. Not sure what they are worth but probably better off on your car than in my garage. Live in Massachusetts. Noftwinkle@comcast.net
 
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