Question on Tires for my '36'

[Deleted User]

I am thinking of buying tires for my 36 Terraplane. The original tire size was 600x16, but I was wondering about any benefits from going to the next size up 650x16, and if I would have any trouble with it fitting in my fender side mount with the metal tire cover. Has anyone ever run into this before?

Jon B

I performed this modification on my '37 Terraplane, about 4 years ago (opted for the repro Goodyear diamond tread wide whites because I had lusted after them for the previous 25 years). The ride is definitely better (though they ain't radials by a long shot!) with a tad less penchant for "wander". The only problem in my car is the tendency for the left front tire to rub on the drag link during tight turns. But that may be because, 30 years ago, I foolishly straightened the drag link, thinking it was accidentally bent.



However, the '36 and '37 models are significantly different, and I can't guarantee your 6.50's will work as niceley as mine have worked. Nor can I tell you whether they'll fit the '36 wheels as well as they fit my '37's.

[Deleted User]

Jon,

I am also going to go with the Goodyear bias tires, I will give up some in the handling department for the great look. Do they tend to 'wander' much in the road grooves?

Jon B

Sadly, only radials will save you from truckers' ruts! But I don't seem to find that many of them, so I just tend to stay to one side of the road to ride the crowns. Like you, I opted for the "look" over the "ride" because those diamond treads just look so "period", and I get a lot of positive comments on them.

Richard E.

Scott, My '36T had 6.50 16's on it when I got it and I replaced them with new tires of the same size during the restoration. They work fine on the car as far as driving and handling. However, I did discover a problem, they are too big for the pocket in the sidemount and they are also too big to fit correctly in the space in the trunk for the spare. I think that you have a PU, so that shouldn't be a problem, but your sidemount will. In fact I have purchased a 600.16 to use as my sidemount spare tire. The problem in the trunk is that I cannot use the spare tire hold down bracket because the tire will not slide far enough forward into the trunk.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys,



I kind of figured that it may be a problem. I dug out my tire cover and it fits real snug on my stock 600x16 tire. I'm going to pick up the tires on the way to the Central meet. Richard, thanks again for the info on the side mount.

Richard E.

Scott, actually the tire will fit, but the tire tread cover doesn't. I didn't think that trucks used a tire tread cover. Anyway, you are probably better off sticking with the 600.16's.