Change from 16 inch wheels to 15 inch wheels

[Babyboomerboy]

I noticed that several people have been asking about changing their wheels from 16 inch to 15 inch. What is the advantage to this change? Thank you

[19Fordy]

I changed the wheels on my 40 Ford from 16 to 15 in. 1971 as I wanted to install wider tires and lower the ride height a little. There are no direct advantages if you plan to keep your car "stock" from the factory. Remember, once you start changing things, other things may need changing. It can snowball. Also, the value of your car may decrease in value as it's only original with original parts once and the OEM parts you remove may become rare and costly to replace. Example: 1940 Ford wheels. After I installed the 1950 Mercury and Lincoln 15 in. wheels, I found the 1940 hubcaps would not fit the rims. had to buy early Ford pickup wheels. Bottom line: There is no advantage, in my opinion. I don't know if changing only wheel size affects ease of steering. Also, make sure new wheels with tires on will clear your suspension parts.

First photo shows 15 in Merc wheels (with Port-a-Walls)on front and 15 in. Lincoln wheels on rear. Notice no hubcaps. The rest of the car suspension is stock. Middle photo is completely stock with 40 16 in wheels and tires. Last photo is 15 in. wheels and tires but with a rake due to smaller dia. tires and dropped axle. Look before you leap!

[Newc]

Watch for the 'short' lug studs of pre-war hubs. My forty's 15" rims had only Half a lug nut used!! 'Innie' lug hole VS 'outie' lug holes in the wheels. Newc

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

I changed the wheels on my 40 Ford from 16 to 15 in. 1971 as I wanted to install wider tires and lower the ride height a little. There are no direct advantages if you plan to keep your car "stock" from the factory. Remember, once you start changing things, other things may need changing. It can snowball. Also, the value of your car may decrease in value as it's only original with original parts once and the OEM parts you remove may become rare and costly to replace. Example: 1940 Ford wheels. After I installed the 1950 Mercury and Lincoln 15 in. wheels, I found the 1940 hubcaps would not fit the rims. had to buy early Ford pickup wheels. Bottom line: There is no advantage, in my opinion. I don't know if changing only wheel size affects ease of steering. Also, make sure new wheels with tires on will clear your suspension parts.

First photo shows 15 in Merc wheels (with Port-a-Walls)on front and 15 in. Lincoln wheels on rear. Notice no hubcaps. The rest of the car suspension is stock. Middle photo is completely stock with 40 16 in wheels and tires. Last photo is 15 in. wheels and tires but with a rake due to smaller dia. tires and dropped axle. Look before you leap!

[GB SISSON]

When a person switches to 15s it is sort of natural to go to a more modern profile. That means lower and wider, and the trend continues today with some outlandish examples. Now when you look at the side effects, you can have a smaller diameter tire which increases your rpms, noticed especially on the main highways. Your mind will wander to overdrive options. And since steering was brought up, a tire with a wider than stock footprint is a bear to turn at parking lot speeds and if that new low profile tire is a radial, then there goes that snowball rolling headlong into a power steering conversion. I have tall skinny (215 85r 16" ) radials on my woodie wagon. It does steer nice on the road, but it definately got worse in the parking lot.

[jeepguy1948]

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I think a big reason was the availability of 16” “modern” tires in the past but that’s no longer a problem.

[slowforty]

I put 15 inch wheels on my 40 Tudor.
They came from a 70s' Ford pickup.
Had to go through a couple to find some straight ones.
I used blackwall Radial tires (Cheap).
215 x 15 or 225 x15, with about 40 pounds of air in them
Any thing bigger is a bitch to get off the rear of the car.
They work well for me. Ride well. Ok if you dont have to Parallel Park.
I am 76 and dont have an issue with the steering.

[47topless]

15" wheels have the advantage over 16" if the choice is a "reversed" style wheel", in clearance within the inner fender. Many more options.
IMHO 16" wheels and tires look much better on these cars than do 15". The wheel well was designed to be filled.

[corvette8n]

I went with “15 to get rid of the bias ply tubed tires and install tubeless radials, this also lowered the car about 1 inch all around. I can now polish the roof easier.

[ssffnomad]

We are supposed to polish the roof ?
🤓

[Tom Over]

I think I would like to go back to 16" on my '40. I have 205x75x15 on front & 225x75x15" on the rear & a 205x75x15" spare. The wheels are painted red & the tires were installed new when the restoration was finished in 2013. The car has only been driven around 1800 mi. since it was finished. I live in a York, PA.

[tubman]

Check the date codes on the tires. Radials (from the sizes you provided) get kind of "iffy" after 10 years. Who knows how old they were when installed 11 years ago?

It's probably time for new tires anyway, so go ahead.

[ronn]

the advantage is much cheaper tires and far more sizes available.