35 Ford wire wheel info needed...

I'm about to embark upon my first Model A build, and I'm getting a set of 35 wire wheels from Dirtiest Devil here on the HAMB. I want to do bigs and littles like the Lieb Roadster (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) or the Bishop/Tardel roadster. What are the tire specs I should be looking for? I need a more economical option like Firestones...


The Lieb Roadster:





Bishop/Tardel:

 

7.50 on back, 6.00 on front

 

Ok, so that's the width (THANKS!)....any idea what the full specs would be for the Firestones I'd be looking for?

 

7.50x16 and 6.00x16.. pretty simple... it was much easier back in the day!

 

Thanks!! Yeah, easy answer to a stupid question. I've got too many numbers and designations floating in my head from my modern cars and my 50 Chevy XP

 

Now i dont know for sure, but it says you need a wider wheel than what a 35 wire is. But thats what i got on mine, 7.50 and 6.00.

 

7.50 and 5.50/5.75 i think the 6s look to big
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I agree... I'm running 7.50s & 5.50s I like the smaller tire up front, but not the 4.50s... too small imo!

 

Ive just mounted a set of 5.50 x16s and 7.00 x16s Firestones on 35 wires, and they are perfect. I much prefer 700x16s to 7.50s in firestones..the height difference is tiny (about 3/8") and the 700s have a wider tread with more grooves. 7.50s are really a little too bulgy looking on a stock width wire wheel. 700s are a perfect looking rear size for these wheels.

 

what he said ^

 

i believe these were 6.00 and 7.50's also..

 

Can you guys toss up some photos (if you have them) with the tire specs? I was just looking at this post in the HAMB classifieds...says he's running the following:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585459

tires and wheels
front- '35 or '36 ford 16" wires
4:50/16 firestone biasply tires
rear-'35 or 36 ford 16" wires
700/16" firestone bias ply tires

 

I'm running the same on my Roadster. Works for me...

 

Perfect '40's combo is 7.00x16's out back and 6.00x16's up front. That was the most common hot rod tire in the 40's and looks great today. If it were a 50's build I would shoot for a 7.50x16 out back and either a 5.50 or 6.00 up front.

The reason why I like 6.00's up front is that it visually shortens the wheel base and makes the car look more proportional. The 7.00 are a bit wider out back and they look great on wires.

 

6.5 firestone tread pattern is different then the 7 - 7.5. 6.0 will match the 7.5. Unless they changed that in the last 6 months or so.

35 wires are 3.5" wide. 7-7.60 suggest 4" plus. Must people run them without any problems ever.

 

Cool...I was just wondering what 7x 16's out back and 5.5x16's up front looked on a 28/29 roadster or coupe.

 

hang on ...I got one here somewhere...gimme a minute...

ok, this is what I'm driving to straykat 500...my buddies '28. 5.50x16 fronts...7.50x16 rears.

5.50's are 27.5 inches tall...6.00's are 28 inches tall...7.50's are 31 inches tall...7.00's are 30 inches tall....

 

My Sedan is sitting on 7:50:16 and 6.00:16 blackwall Firestones on 35 wires.
Mart.

 

It should be noted that the size of 7.50's depends on the make of the tire. My 7.50's on the back of my '35 are 32.20" tall which it over an inch taller then the Firestones.

 

That's AWESOME looking, man. I like the 7.5's you've got in the back. Would you get a similar look/effect by running 7's in the back, 4.5/4.75's in the front? I only ask because I have one 16x7 available to me...I'd just have to get a mate for it for the back, then get the fronts.

 

Bad link, meng.

 

Be careful with the 450/475-16 if you have a heavy engine as the load rating on them is only 660 lbs at 30psi whereas the 500/525-16 have a load rating of 1070lbs at 32psi. If you are running a Hemi, Nailhead or even a flattie you need to consider this.

600-16 have a load rating of 1400 at 32psi so they're OK for anything.

 

I'll be running a (GASP) 305/PG combo for awhile...probably swapping out for a power pack 283 once I get around to rebuilding it.

 

6.50 rears 6.00 fronts................

 

I'm not sure if you've resolved this already... You mentioned the Lieb roadster (one of my personal favorites); from the streetrodder article: "The 17-inch wheels (4.5 and 5.5 inchers) are a combination of parts (Kelsey Hayes hubs, hoops from Coker) and assembled by the Wheel Smith. They're wrapped in Excelsior 5.50 and 7.50 rubber."
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/feat..._model_a_roadster/photo_01.html#ixzz1TQAhwPF2

 

Poboy, Are you gonna drive the car in NJ?

600 on the front is way better than a 500. The difference on my T is nite and day. ride and handling. Had the 5's now have 6's.

and 650 is the last 4 ply tire in the sizes, for Firestones, anyway. The 6 plies will ride harder and get hotter.

Model.A.keith, That A is right!!

 

Here is my 29, 7.50 16 rear and 5,50 18 front..