The Ford Barn

russcochiolo · 09-17-2017, 02:13 PM

I came across this A at a recent show. The tires were LT 215/85R16's and I thought they looked really good. I did not get a chance to chat with the owner. Has anyone here tried them? I'm thinking of radials to replace my 14 year old 6.50 16 bias plies and would like to hear pros and cons before I take the leap. My roadster is already not stock and I'm happy with it the way it is and have no desire to return to stock. Thanks in advance. Russ

divcoone · 09-17-2017, 02:29 PM

Every metric sized radial I tried hit the brake rods.

zzlegend · 09-17-2017, 02:38 PM

LT 215/85R16's are the same tires I have on my 1978 Chevy Crew Cab Dually. I think those might be just a hair to big myself. LT usually means light truck. I would look around for a more friendly car type tread, in maybe a 205 size, but that's just me. Just my 2 1/2 cents.

russcochiolo · 09-17-2017, 03:31 PM

I did not check to see if the pictured car had mechanicals or hydraulics. Something to consider as mine has '35 mechanics.

H. L. Chauvin · 09-17-2017, 03:31 PM

FWIW: Wider Model A Tires ?

Verifying Exact, Current Model A Dimensions For The Installation of Wider Model A Tires.

A. Just in case anybody is cautious or even afraid of buying far better, safer, & wider modern Model A "Radial" tires, (like, e.g., Coker Radial 550-19 tires) ..... or thinking about installing any other wider size tire ....... one can easily verify "if" slightly wider Model A tires, can come in contact with, and usually hit only (1) front brake rod in lieu of both front brake rods.

B. Simple Wider Tire Dimension Test Verification & Possible Solution:

1. Turn steering wheel all the way to the "right" and measure distance from in-side of existing installed tire to the nearest brake rod; and,

2. Next, turn steering wheel all the way to the "left" and measure distance from in-side of existing installed tire to the nearest brake rod.

3. Afterwards, one might clearly see that in many cases, through the years, Model A front wheels may turn more in one direction than the other.

4. "After" performing front wheel/tire equalization adjustment, one can now measure distances & verify whether or not proposed wider tires will contact brake rods on one side ..... or on both right and left sides.

Hope this can help someone in the future.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-18-2017, 08:54 AM

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Jist don't turn TOO SHORT--LOL
Bro Bill

40 Deluxe · 09-18-2017, 10:49 AM

LT (light truck) tires are heavy and stiff! They are load range C or D, which equates to a 8 or 10 ply rating. No need on an A.

Jim Brierley · 09-18-2017, 11:48 AM

I've used 215-70R16 tires, as used on RAV-4 Toyota's. They are wider than I wanted but at the time, the best available as far as size goes. I found them very satisfactory. My A has hydraulics, F-100 steering gear with shortened pitman arm. The tires pictured above look very nice.

09-17-2017, 02:29 PM	#2
divcoone Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 175	Re: LT 215/85R16's Every metric sized radial I tried hit the brake rods.

09-17-2017, 02:38 PM	#3
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,188	Re: LT 215/85R16's LT 215/85R16's are the same tires I have on my 1978 Chevy Crew Cab Dually. I think those might be just a hair to big myself. LT usually means light truck. I would look around for a more friendly car type tread, in maybe a 205 size, but that's just me. Just my 2 1/2 cents.

09-17-2017, 03:31 PM	#4
russcochiolo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Clovis, CA Posts: 218	Re: LT 215/85R16's I did not check to see if the pictured car had mechanicals or hydraulics. Something to consider as mine has '35 mechanics.

09-17-2017, 03:31 PM	#5
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: LT 215/85R16's FWIW: Wider Model A Tires ? Verifying Exact, Current Model A Dimensions For The Installation of Wider Model A Tires. A. Just in case anybody is cautious or even afraid of buying far better, safer, & wider modern Model A "Radial" tires, (like, e.g., Coker Radial 550-19 tires) ..... or thinking about installing any other wider size tire ....... one can easily verify "if" slightly wider Model A tires, can come in contact with, and usually hit only (1) front brake rod in lieu of both front brake rods. B. Simple Wider Tire Dimension Test Verification & Possible Solution: 1. Turn steering wheel all the way to the "right" and measure distance from in-side of existing installed tire to the nearest brake rod; and, 2. Next, turn steering wheel all the way to the "left" and measure distance from in-side of existing installed tire to the nearest brake rod. 3. Afterwards, one might clearly see that in many cases, through the years, Model A front wheels may turn more in one direction than the other. 4. "After" performing front wheel/tire equalization adjustment, one can now measure distances & verify whether or not proposed wider tires will contact brake rods on one side ..... or on both right and left sides. Hope this can help someone in the future.

09-18-2017, 08:54 AM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: LT 215/85R16's Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Jist don't turn TOO SHORT--LOL Bro Bill __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

09-18-2017, 10:49 AM	#7
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: LT 215/85R16's LT (light truck) tires are heavy and stiff! They are load range C or D, which equates to a 8 or 10 ply rating. No need on an A.

09-18-2017, 11:48 AM	#8
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: LT 215/85R16's I've used 215-70R16 tires, as used on RAV-4 Toyota's. They are wider than I wanted but at the time, the best available as far as size goes. I found them very satisfactory. My A has hydraulics, F-100 steering gear with shortened pitman arm. The tires pictured above look very nice.