Tire size info

SuperDave

My 49 convert had H78X15 tires on it when I bought it. Allstate 4" wide whites. They obviously were very old. It's been years since Sears sold these. The steering effort was very hard in and out of parking places. The correct tire for the car would be 7.60X15 Goodyear 4 1/4 wide whites. I could not find that size, only 7.10X15 by Goodyear (Through Lucas). I bought a pair and put them on the front. There was a dramatic difference. Car steers easier, AND doesn't tend to wander on rutted pavement.. The H78's were way too wide. About 2" wider than a 7.60!!! I compared a 7.60 BF Goodrich to my Goodyear 7.10 and found that there was only 1/2" difference in tread width. The Goodyear tires look great on the car and not skinny as I thought they might look. I am running the correct 5 1/2" width rims.
By the way, I have a painted wire spoke wheel (lip laced) for a stepdown with a new 7.60 BF Goodrich wide white I want to sell. I think it would be appropriate for a 51-54.

RL Chilton

got any pictures, Dave?

SuperDave

Russ, Thanks for keeping me honest. I went back and photographed the tires and re-measured the tread widths.. The BF Goodrich 7.60 was 5 1/4" . The 7.10 Goodyear was 4 1/2" wide., So there is a 3/4" difference. The Antique Allstate H78 was 6 1/4 inches wide. A full inch wider than the 7.60 not 2" as in my post. The difference between the Allstate and Goodyear 7.10 was about 1 3/4". One picture is with the new 7.10 Goodyear the other is a comparison of the worn out H-78 and the new 7.60

SuperDave

Here is a couple pics of the wire wheel and tire

RL Chilton

Looks really good, Dave.

RL Chilton

I believe you have that right, Rick. The new ones are certainly bias.

SuperDave

The sears tire is a full 4 ply polyester. ???. The tread area seems way too flexible to be a radial.

charles4d

My truck has 6.00x16 and i need new tires any suggestions

SuperDave

It depends on what you are looking for... Authenticity or utility.. Unlike others I have heard about. I had good luck with Coker radials on my 49 Super Six. fair price and good tires. Friendly people to deal with. This was a highway car. I drove it all over the state of Florida, trailered it to two Nationals and drove all over the place. Probably 20K miles or more. The tires still looked new when I sold it. Radials are very sensitive to toe in adjustment. They like to be zero at road speed. For authenticity you would want to find that size in a Goodyear bias tire. Other truck owners will surely chime in.

Browniepetersen

I am with you Dave. All my tires are Coker. I get them from my Big 0 Dealer. Getting them from Big O means they are covered for everything. I will be getting a set of SBR's for my 54 before the snow flies. I have originals on the 36, but the 54 is going to see some miles...

charles4d

Thanks guys