Bigger tire experiment on stock suspension '35

[AnthonyG]

After much measuring, research & disscussion on here & The Ham I bought a set of 215/85/16 for rear (close to 750/16 bit wider 1" on cross section)) and 205/55/16 for front (close to 550/16 but wider about same as rears). Paid an extra $10 on line for free shipping back, JIC but am 99% sure the rears will and 100% sure on fronts. Excersise was to get a reasonable cost and have modern radials with the stance /look of the 550's on front & 750's on rear, plus get the benefit of the 750,s for better hi way gears.
Will report back 😎 And show pics when installed

[Talkwrench]

Yep lets see what it looks like ...

[PeterC]

I have 5:50's up front and 7:00's on the rear mounted on 16 " rims - the rears are as big as could fit with a lowered 2" rear suspension- I look forward to how you make out with your combo-

[AnthonyG]

Hi Peter, bunch of guys here and on the Ham running 750's with stock suspension. My main research / measuring was about finding a modern size close to the 750's & 550's as I believe you get a much better designed due to #s sold at a much more reasonable cost. 550's & 750's were gonna cost almost $1000. I got these for $426 delivered including the extra cost in case I send back. 50000 mile warranty as well.

[hotrodA]

My concern when I looked at the 215/85R16 was that it was a light truck (LT), and not available in anything other than load range E (10 ply rating). Were you able to find something more car weight friendly, like LR C, or do just run minimum inflation in the LR E's?

[40cpe]

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I'm talking from the perspective of a '38 fender, but I have 8.20x15 tires on the rear of it. Coker lists them at 29.5". To get them off the car I have to jack it up by the frame and let the suspension hang down. Then I have to maneuver the wheel out of the fender. The 7.50x16 shows to be 31"+. I don't think a 31" tire would go on my car. If you have a rear end without the axles protruding past the brake shoe area it would be easier. It's a b*tch with a banjo.

[AnthonyG]

It is a SUV / light truck radial, tread design is more like passenger type. I have 4 on an older grand Cherokee and the ride is passenger car like. didn't see a load rating in the add. Definetly a lot nicer ride than the 600-16's on it now. Not concerned.
https://www.amazon.com/Nokian-Rotiiv...=215%2F85%2F16

[AnthonyG]

Here's one of my earlier posts on 750/16's, quite a few using with no issues. 215/85/16 1" wider but 30" dia, a bit shorter than the 750.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...light=tires%5C

[40cpe]

I went to this site. It isn't listed as an "LT" tire, but under "ply" it lists it as "E".
https://www.tiresbyweb.com/tbw_tires...Nokian%20Tires

[cas3]

you gonna go tubeless too?

[AnthonyG]

Nice look, don't think he'd mind, from JM35Sedan's Public file. Looks great! The look IO'm going for, his Fordor Slant looks almost like my Tudor Slant.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album....ictureid=36519

[AnthonyG]

Gonna try to go tubeless, Might do one front first and roll it a bit to see before the other three. Got a mechanic friend with a shop so we'll play with it a bit and see. worse comes to worse I'll go with tubes but many have done the tubeless thing successfully.

[Kahuna]

On my 39 Ford coupe I had 205 55R16's in front on 39 centers with new 6" rims.
On the rear I had 235 60R16 on 39 centers with new 7" rims.
The rears would rub on hard cornering before I installed rear shocks.
Yours is going to look good.
Jim

[AnthonyG]

Thx Kahuna, can't wait. They'll be here Monday. Hope the weather holds here. 65 degrees today and looking pretty dam good for the next week for NE Pa.

[hotrodA]

Researched the Nokia/Nokian brand name, and it's a well-known, old Finnish brand, now majority owned by Bridgestone. Possibly made at Bridgestone plant, LaVergne, TN, which would be a good thing. That is a relatively new plant, and is high tech, with good quality control.

[my4dv8]

We had a similar tyre set up on our 37 coupe many moons ago. Low speed steering was terrible, the wide low profile and original steering box fought each other. Eventually I found the horrible low profile wide front tires caused the steering box mount to crack. Went to narrower but no taller fronts and we thought we had power steering.
The tall rears did help highway speed though. We adjusted our rear gears and transformed the car.
We now have 235 X 75 X 15 rears and 185 80 15 fronts.

[oldbugger]

Tubeless on 35 rims works good for me. Paul

[john in illinois]

Anthony, this is a good thread. I bought Diamondback tires for my roadster and always felt I payed too much for blackwalls. They are just off the shelf tires with a blank sidewall. They are good tires but I like your idea better.

John

[Brian]

Anthony, How wide are your rims?

[V8COOPMAN]

Don't overlook the Excelsior Radials as seen here on Heard's ol' '36 3-window. 5.50 R16s in the front on 4"-wide '40 wheels, and 7.50 R16s on 4-1/2"-wide '47 Ford wheels......all TUBELESS! Stock suspension in rear, dropped axle w/reversed-eye spring in front. Everything clears, and the ride/drive is excellent. DD