Need Help Choosing Wheels and Tires

[Otterby]

I'm in the process of getting a 1948 Super Deluxe Coupe barn find going. I've looked at a lot of different wheel/tire combinations and have decided to go with a red steel wheel, dish hubcaps and whitewall tires. I'm just not sure about sizes. I'm thinking either a 15" or 16" wheel and radial tire. I also plan on lowering the car around 2" in the future. What wheel and tire size do you guys recommend? Let me know what's worked for you and any pictures would be greatly appreciated!

 

[flatjack9]

I've got 195 -15 wide white radials on the front and 225-15's on the rear.
Coker tires with Merc hubcaps.

 

[tubman]

I've got the same tires on my '51. If I had to do it again, I'd probably get 215's instead of 225's.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

 

[TJ]

If you plan on lowering the car, do not buy wheels and tires until you get that done first. Wheels and tires are always the last things you buy after the suspension is changed. Wide whitewalls are not cheap and you want to get it right the first time.

 

[Vintage Copper 47]

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

Agree... radials, stay with 16 inch wheels... the mercs used 15 inch in 48 I believe

 

[slowforty]

225-15 s are interesting to get off the rear of my 40. Should have used 205-15 s.

 

[fordor41]

I use 235/75/15 in rear of my '41 to keep the speedo close (like slowforty said "interesting getting off"). 205/75/15 in front. where ever you get rims from try to keep the backset same as stock

 

[blucar]

Stock Ford F100, '57-66, 15" 5.5/6.0 are an excellent choice for '40-48 Fords. Stock Ford hubcaps will fit right on the wheels. The 15" wheels/tires generally have a better selection of sizes compared to 16".
I agree with the comments about doing any modifications to the car before you buy tires and wheels. Making a car functional and safe should come before making it pretty.

 

[corvette8n]

205/75-15 lowered my car by about an inch all around.
See my issue with aftermarket wheels below.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223285

I also want to give my car a little attitude in the front, but I need to wait until I get the king pins done, and shocks rebuilt.

 

[Otterby]

For me 6.00x16's in radial either Diamond Backs or Coker. On my '47 I run Diamondback 6.00x16's in radial.

What is the radial size equivalent to a 6.00x16?

 

[blucar]

According to the info on tire sizes in the Coker Tire Catalog, the average size of a 600x16 is:
size rim thread-section-diameter
Firestone.. 600-16 4-4.5 4.63 6.26 28.56
Coker Classic.. 600R16 4-4.5 5.00 6.25 28.36
Coker Classic.. P225/75R15 6-8 6.25 8.95 28.29
Coker Classic.. P205/75R15 5.5-7.5 5.68 8.14 27.11

Comparing the above spec's you will note that the required rim size changes dramatically for bias ply vs radial. The overall diameter remains at 28.29... 28.56 until the tire size is dropped to P205/75R15..
I have P215/65R15 on one of my vintage old cars, which are 26.0 diameter tires with a section width of 8.7. I can get away with the smaller diameter tires because the car has a gear ratio of 3.24 with an OD trans.