Hudson wheel and tire dilemma

RL Chilton
RL Chilton Administrator, Member
edited December 2012 in HUDSON
It's time for new tires on the '52 Sedan. I've pretty much made up my mind about getting a new set from Hudson Dave, 215-75R/15, wide whites. Question I am pondering is that amongst my spare wheels, which are going to get powder-coated red, by the way, I have two convertible wheels (5-1/2"), which I thought might be beneficial to put on the front of the car. Any thoughts on this?

Comments

  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    What's the point? I'd leave it as is. Your tire source choice is a good one. I've been running Diamondbacks from Dave on both my Hudsons ('47 and '51), and love 'em.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Hi Russell, I'm curious, so school me..what's the difference in wheels between a standard sedan and a convertible?
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Hey, Dan! Convertible steel wheels for the step-downs were 5-1/2" wide. My thought was that the radials might like being on the slightly wider rim, especially on the front. Just a passing thought, really.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Russel, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all from Margaret & Walt Mordenti. Good choose on the tires and SIZE. On the sedan stick with the 5 inch wheels. Still am busy as ever in my car garage, and Saturday and Sundays at Jeff's garage. W&M
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Rick-
    I think that the smaller rims will make that truck sit a little better and the radials will certainly make it ride better. I love the Hudson trucks, but man, are they stiff-riding vehicles! If you've got a guy locally (or yourself), powder-coating is the way to go, as you don't normally have to blast them yourself. My guy I use blasts everything, so it's just a matter of droppin'-'em-of-and-pickin'-'em-up kind of deal, which is real convenient. I have some customers that I've done that for, as well.

    I've got extras, but I don't think I want to get rid of any of them, it's always good to have an extra set or two around. I kind of wish I had a tire rack with a Hudson sign on top of it to store them in. Future project, I suppose.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    so 1/2" width difference - what was the point of that?

    I wonder if Alex has a technical bulleteins that explain why?

    Thinking of no-power steering and bias-ply tires of old..1/2" probably wouldn't make a hole lot of difference.

    With a radial tire and no power steering you might feel a bit more resistance in a turn perhaps...maybe it was bump-steer issues with the body modifications for a convertible...so they ran a wider rim?
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    7:60 X 15 versus 7:10 X 15 and 1/2" width on rims was Hudson's way of compensating for the extra weight of the convertible.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Thanx Ken. I don't have any bulletins or other info about the subject - what you say does make sense.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    edited December 2012
    ... And it still wasn't enough reinforcement. My 49 has never had any rust or collision repairs and watching the gap at the door jamb while raising it on a four point lift is enlightening! The car bends enough to change the gap by 1/8" at the top of the doors. Yes torsional rigidity suffers too. Just driving through a driveway "dip"at an angle can actually be felt in the seat of the pants!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I am new to this sight.I am in the process of finishing a 47 p.u I have wire wheels on the trock that look like 30s ford.I dont believe they were stock issue.Any help would be appreciated.Thans John
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    SuperDave-I owned three Hudson convertibles.A sure way to get you to appreciate the
    sedans.A world of difference in the ride , handling, and noise level
  • raidmagic
    raidmagic Senior Contributor
    Syddthekidd, that's pretty cool. that is a pretty good price too if you wanted to run your stock caps. You can get a wider wheel.

    Anyone know the widest wheel that can go on the back of a stepdown and still come off the car? I hate how far inboard the wheels set when looking at it from the rear of the car.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    In reality its how far OUT the front ones sit . This was one of the reasons its such a stable car
    Roger
  • TwinH
    TwinH Senior Contributor
    I have used Rally America before and got great service. My 49 came to me with Hudson centers
    redone with 15x6 hoops. No problem with the 6" rim and 235/75R15 in the front and no problem rubbing in the back though getting the wheel/tire in and out of the wheelwell is about
    as tight as it gets and I normally deflate the tire to ease this.
    image
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The limiting factor for clearance back there is the shock absorbers useusaly. You can unbolt the botom of rear shock and the rear end will drop down farther. This allows more clearance to get a tire over the brake drum and past the body side rail. This will present a problem if you need to change a tire out on the road however ,not as easy as in the shop,
    Roger
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    rambos_ride
    so 1/2" width difference - what was the point of that?

    I wonder if Alex has a technical bulleteins that explain why?

    Thinking of no-power steering and bias-ply tires of old..1/2" probably wouldn't make a hole lot of difference.
    dan, having driven the next heaviest bodied car, a Hollywood, for many years with the narrow tires and upgrading to the 7.60s, I can attest that the 1/2" makes a whole world of difference in ride amd handling. for the few month's of 48 convertible production, like the other body styles, 7.60 and 5 1/2" was an option on the convertibles. By the time the 49's were built the factory realized the need to make them standard. Its not that the 48's were automatically given the option as my 48 was shipped with the 5" wheels.
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor

    john venezia
    I am new to this sight.I am in the process of finishing a 47 p.u I have wire wheels on the trock that look like 30s ford.I dont believe they were stock issue.Any help would be appreciated.Thans John
    John, Hudson offered wire wheels for some years in the 30's and again in 54 but not 47. correct for your 47 would be a 16" typical steel wheel with small canter caps.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Nick-

    That's what I thought. I know it's only a 1/2", and I tend to be too OCD with a lot of things, I just figured that slightly more tire on the road would only be a good thing.

    Unfortunately, I only have the two 5-1/2" wheels. Do you happen to have a couple you would part with?
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    I am wondering why no one has brought up the issue of split rims and going with the 48/50 Mopar rims?
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Brownie-

    Those will fit, but I believe the clips for the hubcaps would have to be riveted onto the Chrysler rims.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Ken-
    Are those Kelsey Hayes lip laced like the originals?
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    I put 49 new yorker rims on my 52 Hudson. I just powder coated them, installed SBR tires and drove off. That was about ten years ago....
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