Mod T tires
- Thread starter BigE
- Start date
Factory tire size back in the day was measured as 'overall height' so the wire wheel or wood spoke balloon tires were 29" x 4.40"
Today we measure tires by the wheel rim diameter. The wood spoke demountable split rim wheels are 21" and the wire wheels are 21". Tires today can be had in 21"x 4.40-4.50" and 21" x 4.40-4.75" and 21" x 4.00-4.50"
Today we measure tires by the wheel rim diameter. The wood spoke demountable split rim wheels are 21" and the wire wheels are 21". Tires today can be had in 21"x 4.40-4.50" and 21" x 4.40-4.75" and 21" x 4.00-4.50"
redmodelt
Well-known member
In 1926 wood wheels would have been standard on the the open cars. I have a friend that has an early coupe that came with wood 30 X 3-1/2, but 21's might have been the norm. I think that 26 was the last year you could get non-demountable type wheels which were the 30" type so yes what you have would be OK
Since you have 30" x 3 1/2" then those are clincher tires, and fit to a clincher rim.
Ford in 1926 with the new Improved Car model, did supply 30" x 3 1/2" demountable all around on the low price offering, Aug-Dec 1925, but Jan. '26 the balloon tire 21" split rim wheel was standard. And you could get non-demountable clincher rim wheels too, when purchasing the lowest price offering that did not have electric starter, generator or battery!
To me, a pick up bed equipped runabout would really need balloon tires for more load capacity, rare to see a '26 pick up with clincher tires!
Having clincher wheels and those skinny tires on an early '26 is rare today, as most times these were replaced with the new wheels to have the advantage of the low pressure balloon tires.
Here is an early runabout with non-demountable clincher rims and narrow high pressure 30 x 3 1/2 tires, note the kerosene tail lamp, no electric equipment on this very Plain Jane T
The runabout with pickup bed shown has std. 21" balloon spoke wheels, split rim.
Ford in 1926 with the new Improved Car model, did supply 30" x 3 1/2" demountable all around on the low price offering, Aug-Dec 1925, but Jan. '26 the balloon tire 21" split rim wheel was standard. And you could get non-demountable clincher rim wheels too, when purchasing the lowest price offering that did not have electric starter, generator or battery!
To me, a pick up bed equipped runabout would really need balloon tires for more load capacity, rare to see a '26 pick up with clincher tires!
Having clincher wheels and those skinny tires on an early '26 is rare today, as most times these were replaced with the new wheels to have the advantage of the low pressure balloon tires.
Here is an early runabout with non-demountable clincher rims and narrow high pressure 30 x 3 1/2 tires, note the kerosene tail lamp, no electric equipment on this very Plain Jane T
The runabout with pickup bed shown has std. 21" balloon spoke wheels, split rim.
