Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?

Dollar Bill

Dollar Bill

Well-known member
Between the 28/29 - 30/31.

I can't think there's any performance advantage of the 19" over the 21" as the width is similar.

Maybe production costs?
 
I believe the wheels were a product of dirt roads & ground clearance at the time

with henry , a lot depends on the era & availability
 
Evolving style & design, cars were going to lower & wider features, especially the high priced cars.
Lower priced cars tend to follow.
 
And the 32 had 18 inch, the 34 had 17 inch and the 35 to 48 used 16 inch. Lower, wider, just like the cars that sat on them.
 
I think I heard somewhere that it was the length of the spokes. The 21" were more likely to bend. That's what I remember hearing! Never owned any, can't really say!
Terry
 
Terry said:
I think I heard somewhere that it was the length of the spokes. The 21" were more likely to bend. That's what I remember hearing! Never owned any, can't really say!
Terry
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I think it was all of The above. As cars got lower, smaller wheels were called for. As cars became more powerful, stronger wheels were required ( does not apply to the change to 19" wheels). Take it from me - it's not hard to break a 21" wheel. I have pulled the spokes off the rim, cracked the centers, welded and had them fail again. Smaller wheels (16") stopped the nonsense!
 
I've always liked the look of 19" wheels on my '31s. A lot of my friends have 16" wheels on their Model As, primarily so they can use modern radials. I just opted to go with 19" radials. Very pleased with the look AND the road handling.
 

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The 18, 17 and 16 wheels are tougher to mount as you can't see the lug studs to line up, that was my biggest complaint but maybe I'm just too old to handle it. To sum up, I like the 19s (or 21s).
 
I have a nice set of 16 inch wire wheels that I had powdercoated for a project that never happened. I guess I should sell them.
 
I'd think the rolled edges on the 21" must have been much more complicated and expensive to produce.
 
In as much as Henry was best friends with Harvey Firestone, I suspect that the cost of production for 19" tires may have been an influence.
 
While I do not know the answer, Ford was likely looking at money savings. They probably determined road conditions allowed the smaller diameter wheels. This would dramatically lower cost of materials per wheel times the number of wheels they made.
 
Wheels gradually got smaller & smaller, then they got larger & larger! I always "wonder" how a Model A would look, with 22" spokey MAGS???
"Most" modern wheels have retained the "spokey" design, mostly for BRAKE cooling.
Bill Spoke
 
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