16 inch wheels

[Nick in Fayetteville]

With a high speed rear end (3:54) in my Tudor, how would it effect it to replace the 19" wheels with 16". Thanks....

[Slowplane]

It will depend on the diameter of the tires. The wheel itself is immaterial.

[PC/SR]

Probably not much change. The 16" tires are about the same diameter as the 19" tires. As I recall they are both about 29-30 inches.

[Synchro909]

From my post in a recent thread:
5.00X19 tyres give a rolling diameter of 29"
6.00X16 tyres give a rolling diameter of 28"
As was said above, it depends on the size of the tyre too but with those figures, Going to a 3.54 diff raises your ratio 6.35% and you will lower the ratio by 3.45% with the smaller wheels. Pretty much back to where you stated!

[waxhead]

I run 650x16 Firestone bias ply tyres on my 16 inch wire wheels. These give an overall diameter of 29".

However, the 650x16 tyres are for a recommended wheel width of 4.5 to 5.0 inches. The 1935 ford 16 inch wire wheels are 4 inches wide, but lots of people run the 650x16 tyres on these wheels without a problem, myself included.

[Synchro909]

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Originally Posted by waxhead

I run 650x16 Firestone bias ply tyres on my 16 inch wire wheels. These give an overall diameter of 29".

However, the 650x16 tyres are for a recommended wheel width of 4.5 to 5.0 inches. The 1935 ford 16 inch wire wheels are 4 inches wide, but lots of people run the 650x16 tyres on these wheels without a problem, myself included.

When recommendations like those are made, they are usually super conservative so they should work OK. The only problem I can foresee using the narrower rim is in case of collision and insurance companies get involved.

[waxhead]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

When recommendations like those are made, they are usually super conservative so they should work OK. The only problem I can foresee using the narrower rim is in case of collision and insurance companies get involved.

Very true, that's why I wanted to point out the recommendation on the wheel width.

[31Abone]

What about the look factory ?? 16 wheels look like crap x 1000

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by 31Abone

What about the look factory ?? 16 wheels look like crap x 1000

They look just fine on my car. :-)

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by 31Abone

What about the look factory ?? 16 wheels look like crap x 1000

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. After saying that I am running stock wheels. The good thing is that they are easy to change.

Charlie Stephens

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Yes I know what you mean Charlie about easy to change.Don't use the 16" wheels, they are a nightmare to find the mounting studs and screw on the acorn nuts because you can't see the studs when mounting, the 19 and 21" wheels are easy to mount because you can see the studs. I had the 17" wheels on my roadster(same problem) but went back to the Model A 19".

[Bob Bidonde]

1932 Ford 18" wheels are prettier!

[V4F]

I have used 16" for like 10 yrs. I lock my brake so studs are ez to find .

[Slowplane]

***

[Nick in Fayetteville]

Thanks Guys...I'm considering...Local guys tell me 16 inch is the only way to go for long distance touring. 19's for local runs and around town. I just finished a 485 mile tour with my 19's. I find that the car "floats" on roads that have had a lot of wear. I thought that the 16's might smooth out the ride. I know it is in the roads, there is nothing wrong with my car.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Nick in Fayetteville

Thanks Guys...I'm considering...Local guys tell me 16 inch is the only way to go for long distance touring. 19's for local runs and around town. I just finished a 485 mile tour with my 19's. I find that the car "floats" on roads that have had a lot of wear. I thought that the 16's might smooth out the ride. I know it is in the roads, there is nothing wrong with my car.

I've done many thousands of miles touring and I know what you are saying but I don't think it is the size of the wheel that is important. On one trip, I fitted 5.25X21 tyres to the rear of my '29. The difference was amazing compared to the 4.5s. Another fellow in our club has fitted larger tyres to his 19" rims (5.50, I think) and he says the same. Another difference between 19" and 16"is one is a conventional bias ply tyres while the other (16") is likely a radial. Even if the 16" is bias ply, it will have more rubber on the road and drive better. I am also told that the 19" radials that are available transform the car and will make it like a modern car to steer. That might be worth your time to check out.
Just a suggestion.

[Railcarmover]

Well thats it,Im tossing these in the scrap pile...all the wires are bent anyway..besides they are some aftermarket crap

[RichardW]

Railcarmover, Let me know where your scrap pile is.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by RichardW

Railcarmover, Let me know where your scrap pile is.

yeah I Dunno,they are made by Kelly Haze or some odd ball outfit like that..hell,might as well run them on the '29,they fit and it cant make it look any more like a shriner clown car than it already does..

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

yeah I Dunno,they are made by Kelly Haze or some odd ball outfit like that..hell,might as well run them on the '29,they fit and it cant make it look any more like a shriner clown car than it already does..

Kelsey Hayes (I think I spelt it correctly) were a reputable wheel making company. I'd like your scrap pile to be at my place.