How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

I have a 1930 deluxe roadster with the spare tires in the front fenders. They have chrome/polished covers. Does anyone have any tips about how to get these things back on to the spare? I’ve been working at it for a while, and it’s not happening. Just can’t get it to open up enough to fit around the tire. Thanks for any help. Eddie

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Just a thought, maybe the tire you have is a larger diameter than the tire cover was designed for? Or maybe if you can let the air out of the tire to make it a little smaller?
I had a hard enough time getting a naugahyde tire cover on my spare, I can't imagine a metal one.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Let the air out.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Funny you say that, Ruth, because right after I posted, I wanted to check something with the mirror that sits on the tire and discovered that the chain no longer reached around. The new replacement tire is in fact larger. Not much, but enough to keep the cover from going on. Letting out some air didn’t help, but I appreciate the suggestion. Time to figure out plan B.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Thanks, Mike. Twisting it has been my main strategy so far, but haven’t been able to get it to go. Should have lifted more weights in HS.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Just leave it off and get a larger one.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

MikeK has the correct answer.

What tires and size do you have?

Where did you buy the chrome covers?

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

My metal covers fit my old firestone tires I bought new firestone tires and they are like two sizes too big and the covers do not fit .did get one on and it will not fit in the fender well.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

I shortened the tire metal cover so lt does not extend into the wheel well. My Firestones fit much better now.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

On my 29 the tires hit the doors the old Firestone’s were very close ,so there is no room for covers,they sure looked good to.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Thanks Everyone for your input, it's been very helpful.

old31: Tires are BF Goodrich 475/500-19 from Coker. The chrome covers were on the car when I purchased it, so I'm not sure where they came from or how long they were on. I'm guessing a long time. The tires were old and rotting, so I replaced them, but the Goodrich's must be slightly larger, even though they looked almost identical to the ones coming off (Firestone?).

Woodys29: I was finally able to get one of the metal covers on, but couldn't get it to seat down fully onto the tire.

Smog Tech: I like that idea, I may give it a try, but right now it's almost like these covers are also too narrow for the tires.

I really like the look of the chrome covers. I'm trying a soft cover, but I'm not sure how well I like the look--not a fan of covering the whitewall. Any recommendations on the best soft covers? There seem to be several that a very similar, but look to be maybe different manufacturers.

I didn't want to make a project out of this, but yet here I am (again). :)

Eddie

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

And before you fit it ,paint it black....much classier !

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Original Canadian Lyon all chrome cover fit fine on Goodyear tire. Larger Firestone; not so much.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=30905

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Very nice. Do those extend into the spare tire well, or do they stop just short?

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Just as a follow-up, I've come to the conclusion that new tires are just being made a little beefier than the older ones, regardless of the advertised dimensions--same manufacturer, style, and size. Maybe more tread, I don't know. I've gone through a few sets of soft covers--they also fit pretty tightly and ripped easily. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but the tire black has stained through the tan covering over the course of a few months on those, also.

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm all ears. I really like the way those polished rings looked on the car. On the garage wall, not so much.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

The BFG are a large diameter ( the largest when I bought mine) , sooooo if you want the wall hanger on your car you’ll need to find a smaller diameter tire.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

Take a BFH to the BFG and it might fit...

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

You need to let all the air out of the tires first. Then follow number four, mikek directions.

Re: How to get chrome spare tire cover onto the tire
 

What if (and this will get gasps) you cut the cover and just made sure the split was at the bottom of the tire in the well? It would be out of sight and any water that got in the cover would drain out, It’d sure be easier putting it on and off. Watched a video where the fellow has to air down his spare to even get it in his fender, seems like a lot of work so I’ll leave mine on the back of the car, obviously I don’t have a fender well for the spare.

Have you tried the new tire to see if it will even fit in the fender without the cover? If it won’t you’ll have to air it down to get it in the fender. If that’s the case you could remove part of the cover that goes in the fender and slip a rubber hose or something similar over the raw cut so it would look good, you’ll have the look you’re after and also protect the exposed area of the tire from the sun. If it’s an original cover then I’d probably not do that. Tell us what you wind up doing. Good luck with it!


I see now that smog tech beat me to the suggestion of cutting part of the cover off. ��