History Wheel / Tire sizes 40's Ford OEM

I am doing some research for a lakes roaster I am building and I want to get the look of the OEM ford steel wheel.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to wheel sizes back in the day? Most modern builds recommend a 16 inch wheel, was there such a wheel size in the 40's 50's from Ford?

Should I be exclusively looking at 15 inch rims to be period correct?

 

1940 to 1948 fords had 16" wheels from the factory....is that what you are asking?

 

39-48 ford wheels were for the most part 16x4.5 with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern.

There are a few applications that were 16x4 and I think I saw some 16x5 but 99% of the time 16x4.5 is what you got.

 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier of OE style ford wheels in that size 16 x 4.5?

 

Speedway carries them. Made by wheel smith. Very nice wheel

 

The speedway rim won’t fit a stock 31 hub any other ideas? Did those original Ford wheels bolt straight on?


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Kelsey Hayes makes 'em. LOL

There are after market wheels to be had that look like 40 Ford wheels but it is not hard to come by originals of you just look around a little bit.

 

The 31 has the same bolt pattern why wouldn’t the bolt on?. Are you keeping the mechanical brakes? You can run the 40 wheels on the 31 hub you just need to get rid of the ridge on the face of the drum.

 

Some suppliers also sell 15" wheels that are easier to use because you don't have to run tubes in them.. 1946-48 Mercury came stock with 15" wheels.. I do like the look of 16" however....

 

The only wheels that will bolt straight on a 31 hub without modification is a 28 thru 35 Ford wire wheel. All the hubs from those years have a raised rib or nubs inboard of the studs to support the wire wheel.

The only way you could "bolt" on another later wheel is to remove this rib or nub to allow the wheel to lay flat. There were some spacer rings sold, but this will not really give you a lot of engagement on the stock studs then (spaces the wheel outward). But it has been done, so....

 

The wheel smith 16’s don’t need tubes

 

Tim--- 1936 through 1939 Ford passenger car and light truck wheels were the same and had what is referred to as a "wide five" bolt pattern which is much different than the 1940 through 1948 Ford wheels.


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Yup your right, I think I threw 39 in there because Lincoln had a 16x4 with the 5x5.5 pattern in 39. Good catch