Radials on a 37. Yes or No??

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by vilanar

My ´50 was equipped with radials on stock steel wheels when I bought it and left front tire popped off from the wheel lip when I was driving in the middle of LA traffic.
At the tire shop later that day I changed all the wheels for tubeless type where is that bead
which keeps tire against wheel lip. So I strongly recommend using tubes with original wheels.

The safety bead was introduced in 1940, long before tubeless or radial tires, and will help keep the tire on the wheel, by design. Tubes, however, hold air, nothing more, and will not help the tire stay on the wheel. The only reasons to use tubes are tube-type tires, or wheels that are leak prone, like some wires.
Upgrading to newer wheels is a good idea, but tubeless radials can run very well and safe on older wheels that are in good shape.