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14" vs 15" vs 16" wheels on a Model A?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by -impalamike-, Nov 8, 2012.

?
  1. 14 inch

    2 vote(s)
    1.3%
  2. 15 inch

    46 vote(s)
    30.5%
  3. 16 inch

    99 vote(s)
    65.6%
  4. Another size not listed

    4 vote(s)
    2.6%
  1. Hey guys, I see a lot of people on here running either 14" 15" or 16" wheels on their fendered an non fendered Model A. Just curious as to why you chose one size over the other? Do you just prefer the look, the availabilty of one size over another, or some other reason?
     
  2. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    A lot of that decision comes from the era "look" you are shooting for. 14 inch would be more 60 ish, 15 would be 50's, 60's, and 16 inch would be earlier than 1950. Those are just generalities, but sort of what would guide me to decide what size to run.

    Don
     
  3. 500 single
    Joined: Jul 8, 2006
    Posts: 119

    500 single
    Member

    I'm planning on 16's and blackwall bias ply's on my '31. I like that look better, even though it probably isn't really correct with a 327. Oh,well.:)
     
  4. Crankhole
    Joined: Apr 7, 2005
    Posts: 2,634

    Crankhole
    Member

    16"s...in my opinion.
     

  5. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    It all depends on the look you are after.
    40s to early 50s look=16 inch
    mid 50s to 60s look=15 inch
    70s and 80s = 14 inch
     
  6. dad-bud
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 3,884

    dad-bud
    Member

    16's all the way
     
  7. R Pope
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 3,309

    R Pope
    Member

    '35 wires with 16's!
     
  8. edcodesign
    Joined: Mar 30, 2007
    Posts: 4,716

    edcodesign
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    15" 60's look.
     
  9. 14"s won,t even fit on a standard old pre-war Ford front end with drum brakes.
     
  10. BISHOP
    Joined: Jul 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,571

    BISHOP
    Member

  11. Fenders
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 3,921

    Fenders
    Member

    1935 16" wires.
     
  12. Hard choice for me, I voted 15" but I also like 16" on about anything. Tire availablity is why I like both. Well that and 14s just look sooooo little
     
  13. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was thinking about that this morning when I was rethinking my choice of 35 Wires and maybe going with 15's and small caps.

    As the guys said above, pick a time frame and build the car to fit that time frame. If it has an overhead in it I'd say steelies and most likely 15 inchers. You can just about bet that as soon as 15 inch Merc or Ford pickup wheels started becoming available in the wrecking yards they started showing up on Model A hot rods.
     
  14. 32koop
    Joined: Jul 17, 2008
    Posts: 41

    32koop
    Member

    16's all the way ... but im biased ...:rolleyes:
     
  15. LeftCoastErik
    Joined: Apr 23, 2010
    Posts: 907

    LeftCoastErik
    Member

    16's, blackwalls (with pie crust cheaters) but I am running a 327/Muncie setup, so kind of a mixed bag
     
  16. bgaro
    Joined: Sep 3, 2010
    Posts: 1,189

    bgaro
    Member

    i'm running 15's front, 16's rear, just cuz
     
  17. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Yes, they will fit with stock Ford 40-48 drums but they will not fit with Buick finned drums. I had 14's on the front of my 32 rpu years ago with stock Ford brakes. A lot depends on the offset of the wheels.

    Don
     
  18. A Rodder
    Joined: Jul 13, 2008
    Posts: 2,474

    A Rodder
    Member

    Running 16's with 750's out back and 600's up front

    But my old Tudor had 15's with 225 70 out back and 165's up front and it looked good with wide whites.

    In the end, 16's are my choice in either steel wheels or wires with wide whites or blackwalls, don't matter to me
     
  19. im leaning toward 16's with 750's in the rear and 550's up front. 15's do look nice too. It looks like 16's are leading in the voting. Maybe some of you guys that are running 14's 15's and 16's can post up some pics in the thread also.
     
  20. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    7.60's and 5.60's x 15" on my old coupe....
     

    Attached Files:

    Lil'Alb likes this.
  21. 63dan63
    Joined: Jan 10, 2008
    Posts: 395

    63dan63
    Member

    get a set of 15s and a set od 16s so you can change your look whenever you want.
     

    Attached Files:

    Lil'Alb likes this.
  22. Of course Carl just made a good argument for 15's lol


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  23. klawockvet
    Joined: May 1, 2012
    Posts: 580

    klawockvet
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    In 1959 and 60 I ran 8.20's on the back with reversed 15" rims and 5.90's on the front with standard rims. Ford hubcaps and beauty rims. I would have done chrome but that was waaay past my budget. I did run aluminum paint till I could afford the hub caps. I did that because the older guys told me that was the thing to do. I'm running those same wheels on my 28 but will go with radials of the approximate size. I agree that it all depends on the era you are looking to build to. I'm trying to finish a 28 roadster to be what I wanted in 61.
     
  24. TexasSpeed
    Joined: Nov 2, 2009
    Posts: 4,631

    TexasSpeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Texas

    I love the '40-'48 Ford wheels. I'm running a set on my A although it isn't drivable yet. They just look right to me. I don't feel the same for the 15" version though.. 16"s just look right.

    As long as they have bias-ply tires. :)
     
  25. I like 16 inch bent spoke Kelsey's but it really depends on the overall look of the car you end up using them on.

    Charlie Stephens
     
  26. banginona40
    Joined: Mar 5, 2007
    Posts: 773

    banginona40
    Member

    Depends on the tires you want to run.
    Bias ply 16's
    radials 15's
    14's no
     
  27. guitarmook
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 256

    guitarmook
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    I have steel 16s, because that's what was on the coupe when I bought it. But I wouldn't change them, because they look right.
     
  28. zeke1270
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 187

    zeke1270
    Member
    from Alberta

    Fifteens, 165 fronts, 235-75 rears.
    [​IMG]
     
  29. ptmilan
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 4

    ptmilan
    Member
    from michigan

    One problem with using wheels made prior to 1960 is the lack of a safety bead. The safety bead goes a long way towards controlling the car if you have a blowout.
     
  30. AnimalAin
    Joined: Jul 20, 2002
    Posts: 3,416

    AnimalAin
    Member

    I like either fifteens or sixteens. In fact, my roadster has a couple of each.
     

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