I am in the process of getting my 1940 Plymouth Business coupe back on the road. It currently has 15 inch wheels. I am wanting to order a set of wide whites for it. Don't want to order the wrong ones since they arent cheap. Looking for suggestions on tire size and size of the white wall. I want bias-ply. My dad suggested going staggered, but I dont think thats the look I want. Just looking for some opinions. Thanks
how wide are the rims you are going to use? have you driven the car with bias-ply tires, different than radials? stock suspension & rearend? do some measuring from face of brake drums to inner lip of fenders to help figure out what will fit. post pic of your ride, and if possible one of style ride you like. can go to sites like Coker and see the sizes they offer. do a search here about where to order whitewalls from. also, do a search here for 1940 Plymouth to see what other members are running for tires, etc
Yeah the car is pretty much stock. I have not yet driven the car with any kind of tires. It currently has 40 year old bias-ply tires on it that dont look too safe. I just need to go through the brakes and put tires on it to have it back on the road.
The stock rims would have been 16 inch so measure carefully before you buy tires. They would have been 6.00 16, If they are 15 (which Plymouth changed to in mid 47) they would likely carried 6.60/6.70 15 depending on model, likely the thinner on the coupe. If you want to run a big and little type deal you could got 6.50 on the front and go with 7.00/7.60 on the rear. Don't tell anyone but I run radials 205 75 15 front and 225 75 15 on the rear of my 46 busi coupe. You want the rears to be about at least 27/28 in diameter to keep the speedo in the right neighborhood. If you are going to run tubes, make sure you inspect the inside of the tires for any mylar or plastic stickers. A couple of friends had a series of flat tires caused by these lebles (probably bar code inventory sticker) chaffing hole in the tubes.
Yeah somewhere during its life the 16's were taken off, and it currently has 15's and hubcaps off of a 50' Plymouth I believe. I guess i am mainly stumped on wether to stagger them any and if I should go with any larger than a 3" whitewall.
G 78 15 would be very comprable to a 215 75 15 radial. Just about the limit of width for your 4.5 in wide rim. I have 225 75 mounted on 5 in wide aftermarket wheels.
I ended up putting the Coker Classics G78 3 1/4 inch whitewalls on it. They look really good. Very happy that I went with the bias-ply, and I think the size is just right too.
Post up some pics when you get a chance! I will soon be ordering some as well - it'd be good to have a pic since our cars are so similar...
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