Hot Rods Looking for Small 16” Front Tires

Up to this point I have been using Universal Tires (owned by Coker) Austone 16” British taxi cab tires for the front on my roadster’s Ford wide 5s and the Plymouth mid 30s artillery rims on my recently completed 32 5-window for that bigs and littles look. Just heard from Universal that they are now gone as in no more along with the more expensive Dunlop equivalents. Bummer to say the least. They are working on a replacement they said would be 6 months out at the least and you know how that story will go.

Now I am looking for replacements and all I can find are Ecopias (they are close to the Austone’s in size) and the 600-16” aftermarket radials which are kind of tall in my view. Switching to 15” tires up front would not work with my present rims on either vehicle.

So what are you guys using? Any other options out there?

 

I'm running 500/16 Excelsior's on the front of my deuce pu and roadster. 25 inches tall. Only problem with them is cost.

 

I did see those and I am trying not to be picky but I am not a huge fan of the tread pattern or the price and I have heard they wear pretty quickly?

 

Tom,
Maybe you need to spell it tyre....
I've got some 5.50 X 16 that you are welcome to however they are WW
Coker has Firestone ZigZag bias ply Firestone 4.504.75 X 16 listed on line...free shipping at the moment

 

I emailed you the free shipping flyer

 

Hey thanks, Larry - although I am looking for radials, bias may he my only option for the right “look@ ......

 

Diamond back tire have anything?.

 

I’m running the 5.00 x 16 Excelsior tires as well. 3500 miles and no real visible wear. I love them.

 

Dan31 - only choice right now is a 600x16” be radial - might be mybonlyblogical choice.

55styleliner - thank you for your input. If I was going for all 4, I would do it. Right, it looks like it would just be the front two tires - backs are brand new.

 

You could always replace all 4 and sell the rears you have now

 

If I were to replace all 4 I think the exelsior tires are better suited for my roadster. The front tires on my roadster now are the Austones and I can use them on the coupe. I have had 600-16s on the roadster before so a pair of them will hold me for now on the roadster..... choices, choices.....

This question of smaller front 16” tires comes from the fact that one of my new Austones on the coupe is out of round (it has a high spot). If it can’t be “shaved” out and remains unable to be balanced like it is now, I have to do something before taking my new build on the trips I have planned this year. This will also me to “wait” and see if a smaller radial tire pops up in the next year.

 

They list a 550R16 in the Auburn Deluxe line . They are shown to be 26.5" tall, but I haven't called them in awhile to see if they're available yet.
-Dave

 

Tom, I looked on Universals web site and it says they have 2 of the Dunlop 175 R16 tires left in stock.

https://www.universaltire.com/radial-tires/blackwall-radial-tires/175r16-dunlop-taxi-black.html

Hopefully we can shave the one you have and save it, but we shall see. See you at Doug's on the 11th!

 

I'm also running the 5.00x16 Excelsior radials up front. I understand not liking the tread pattern.
Looks like the smallest they make the Coker Classic radial is 5.50x16. Much better tread pattern, in my opinion.
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styles/radial-tires/550r16-coker-classic-blackwall-tire.html

 

Funny - I spoke to them on the phone and they said they had neither ....

 

Thanks, Malcolm - has anyone run these tubeless or do they require a tube? They ain’t cheap are they? Gotta pay to play I guess .....

 

Ran across a Coker Catalog and they have a 155r16 Michelin tire with more of a sports car type tread pattern. Anyone running these?

Some further info ..... Although I have not run the car at speed as of yet, the tire needing shaving is running very smooth. I adjusted the tire pressure to what I like - 28-30 lbs - andxI hope to hop on the interstate tomorrow to try it out ......

 

On a newer wheel with a safety bead, no tubes necessary. Older wheel without the safety bead, they usually recommend tubes.

 

Gotcha

 

Just a final note - after wrestling with with this for so long it all seems anti-climatic in the end. The bump or bubble dissipated when the tire was at reduced to 30 lbs. Drove it at speed finally and she hopped around a lot. With the bump on the spin balancer I had added almost 7 ounces of beads. Figuring that was the problem I removed most all the beads save say 1/2 ounce and then added 2 more ounces. Tried it out yesterday and she really drives smooth save for some very minor wheel hop on older or rippled roads.

Regardless, it’s done and no need for new front tires at the moment. Thanks for all the suggestions and I at least have a couple , if not expensive, options.

 

Good deal Tom! let me know if you still want to shave the tire down in the future.

 

I got my last set of Excelsior's from Summit. Same price as Coker but no shipping cost. 3 days from order to delivery.

 

I’ve got the 5.00x16 Excelciors and personally I love the tread pattern and the look.

I also bought them from Summit.