Hot Rods Roadster Tire Size suggestions needed

Hi, I'm looking for a rear tire for a '32 hi boy roadster. Something in the 285/75/R16 size range. ( 29" to 30" tall ) So far I'm not having much luck. Any suggestions that you guys care to give would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

Are you planning on using black wall or white wall tires?

Radials or bias ply? HRP

 

Your two calm down and play nice! I'm doin' lots of louvers for him right now, so this can't come out too bad!!!

How wide are your rear wheels Hollis? And, what type are they? I have some ideas...

 

Go to car shows & cruz-ins and see what you like. Take a pen & pad to write down what you like. That's what I did....................................

 

Blackwall radials. 8 1/2 " Real Wheels. I was hoping for some "instant gratification" from some of you knowledgeable old timers. I've somehow waited till the last minute to do my research of the proper tire brand. So far I'm just finding light truck tires. Looking for about a 30" tall tire with a tread pattern that doesn't look like a snow tire !

 

In that size range light truck or SUV tires are pretty much what you will find. Take a look at T/A trail tour SUV tires - suggest the Tire Rack as they have all the specs for the tires they sell.

 

Thanks Charlie. That's looking more like what I am wanting. Still looking tho.

 

I may have to go with these. What do you think?

 

Look at Hurst cheater slick on line. They have some cool stuff. Might be something you like. I've bought a couple of sets from them. They are great to deal with. They have some tires in the height you are looking for.

 

Unfortunately, Hurst is down for the count right now. Towel City makes a very nice similar Cheater slick in a 29.5X 8, 9, 0r 10 that would look awesome if you are looking for an early sixties type vibe. They're right up the way from you Hollis in one of the Carolinas, too. Give me a yell and I'll hook you up with the right people and sizes and stuff.

As far as the Firestone dirts, they look bitchin', and I just spent six months driving on them daily on my bucket. They are bias ply, however, although that never really seemed to be an issue like it is with the smaller sizes out there. I used the 5.00 dirt ribs up front and liked them a bunch too. They didn't follow all the hiway grooves like I thought they would. The last though, Coker makes a brand called Excelsior radial in numeric sizes. A 5.00 and a 7.50 would probably be a pretty damn good thing.

 

Try a 285/ 70 R/ 15 30in. tall BF Goodrich, Coker bought the molds, I know Speedway sells them free shipping, Blackwall or Whitewall $225 ea. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you all. Still lookin'.

 

Another thing you might consider, if you find a tire with an attractive tread pattern, you can sand the lettering off of the sidewalls with a DA, comes out really smooth with a bit of practice. I've done this on a lot of tires and it looks so much better than having all the modern looking font lettering and metric tire sizes calling out to you. Much cleaner with the sidewalls smoothed off.

 

Check through the Diamond Back catalog. http://www.dbtires.com/ For example on page 14 they show a 265/70R16 (30.2" dia) and 265/7516 (31.3" dia)

I just got two of the 265/70R16's with "blackwall smoothies" but haven't mounted them yet.

 

Tire Rack have this facility: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/sizes/results.jsp?diameter=16 , which allows relatively easy comparison. They also give fairly comprehensive specs, and they've got some useful search filters.

 

235 85.16 Firestone on a 7" steelie on this 1
It' 32" tall

 

BFG T/A 275/65 R16 on 16 x 8.5 Americans. 29" tall, 9" of tread on the ground. Standard T/A tread pattern.