Removing side mount tires-how ??

[gary678*]

Other than removing the nuts, what is the secret to removing the wheels from the fender wells ?

[eagle]

If the tires are tight in the Wells you may need to deflate them somewhat.

[MAG]

19" Firestone tires (fatter tire) can be very difficult to remove from the well. As mentioned, they have to be deflated some.

[Bill G]

Pardon the dumb question, but why have a spare that you cannot keep inflated to its optimum pressure?

[Smog Tech]

I have side mounts and use Firestones. They were tight in the wheel wells. Noticed they were tight near the bottom, and fine near the top next to the fender. Put two small 2X4 blocks down in the wheel wells and pried them apart with two crow bars being careful not to break the wells loose from the fenders. Worked well on the left side, but still need to deflate some on the right to remove the wheel. I also removed the studs holding the wheels and replaced them with bolts that fit the lug nuts.

[Charlie Stephens]

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Originally Posted by Magicbox51

Pardon the dumb question, but why have a spare that you cannot keep inflated to its optimum pressure?

Because you carry a tire pump realizing you may need it. It is the price you pay for running 19 inch Firestone tires or 600-16 tires of any brand. On my everyday car I get about one flat per hundred thousand miles. At the rate I drive my Model A I don't think I will live long enough to put one hundred thousand miles on my Model A. I think I will take the chance of having to pump up my spare if I need to use it.

Charlie Stephens

[CarlG]

I saw this article sometime back and altered my spare tire mount accordingly

"How to Restore Your Model A" Volume 7, page 94. This was a reprint from MAFCA's The Restorer magazine, but it doesn't say which issue.

I drove the studs out, & welded nuts on the back side of the plate. Then took the lug nuts, inserted a bolt into the nuts - screwed down tight with Loctite. Then cut the head off the bolt, chamfered the end to make it easy to guide into the welded nut.

As a side note, when I installed the Coker 550R19 radial tires, they fit the fender well much better than the 475/500-19 Firestones that I originally had.

Here's pictures of how I altered my mounting plate and stud/nuts: 1) backside 2) front 3) Stud bolt 4) Bolt inserted in welded nut

[gary678*]

Thanks guys ! Gary D.

[mike657894]

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

Pardon the dumb question, but why have a spare that you cannot keep inflated to its optimum pressure?

the tires are over the spec that the well was designed for. or the well was put in slightly incorrectly. This reminds me i still haven't found a good jack to put in my car yet. its not on the roads yet.

[gary678*]

To Carl G. , Thanks for the info and pictures; very helpful. I am new to the Model "A" hobby and will make your adaptations this winter. Gary D.

[NCRebel]

I (like CarlG) have Firestone 475/500 19 inch tires. I keep the spare's pressure at 20 psi. This lets me remove either spare from the wheel wells. The owner did the same bolt mounting modification tip that Gary suggested. I figure that 20 psi will get me to a service station for air without destroying the rubber. Driving a Model A (like living well) is not a race to the finish line.

I found a scissors jack that fits in the front mounted tool box and keep a ten inch 4" x 4" block of treated wood also. This lets me lift the axle off any surface to get the tire free for changing.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by mike657894

the tires are over the spec that the well was designed for. or the well was put in slightly incorrectly. This reminds me i still haven't found a good jack to put in my car yet. its not on the roads yet.

A good jack is a scissors jack from a newer car, and they are often found at junk yards and swap meets for about $5.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

When putting a TIRE/WHEEL in a wheelwell, Chief LIBERALLY greased the wheel well. MESSY, but EFFECTIVE!
Chiefs' Son

[Jeff/Illinois]

Sidemounts are a pain in the arse in my opinion.

They came on our Roadster, and really dislike them. Big time. One of them rattles and shakes and makes all kinds of racket. It sucks dragging the spare out of that welled fender.

If I had my way our '30 Dlx. Roadster would become a 'one-off' with NO sidemounts and a rear mount like the Standard Roadsters had I like the looks of the '31 Dlx. Roadster, the factory pictures from Ford with the rear mounted spare tire, 10X better than the '30 Dlx. Roadster with fender mounted spare.

[Tom F OHIO]

Gary, I had the same problem as you. I wanted to take them out and clean up the tires. Took the 3 lug nuts off and could'nt get past the studs. I marked the plate so I knew where it was and I tilted the spare enough to get a wrench in an take the large nut off the plate and took the plate off and the tire slid right out. Put it back in the reverse order.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Sidemounts are a pain in the arse in my opinion...

If there was an equitable way to carry a spare on a pickup, I wouldn't have a side mount either.

I was asked once if I wanted to trade my right front fender for one with a wheel well in it. I answered with "I don't even like the one I have on the left!"

[H. L. Chauvin]

Did similar to Mr. Carl G's #7 reply after following what he explained quite a bit earlier on this Forum. Thanks to Mr. Carl G.

My fully inflated Coker 550-19 radials tires can very easily slip in & out of an "original" factory installed fender well; hence, never have to perform a 1930's Laurel & Hardy Model A spare tire pumping skit on the side of today's modern highways.

After elongating the slot in the steel backing plate, I can easily remove and install the spare tire with this modified steel backing plate still securely attached to the Model A wheel.

If interested in "original" looking steel spare tire backing plates, Bratton's offers "original" designs of same ..... not all Model A Parts suppliers offer same with this "original" design.

[Tom F OHIO]

Mr. Chauvin, If your wheel is still attached to the plate I guess I don't understand how do you get the large nut off on the arm?
Thank You.....

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Sidemounts are a pain in the arse in my opinion.

They came on our Roadster, and really dislike them. Big time. One of them rattles and shakes and makes all kinds of racket. It sucks dragging the spare out of that welled fender.

If I had my way our '30 Dlx. Roadster would become a 'one-off' with NO sidemounts and a rear mount like the Standard Roadsters had I like the looks of the '31 Dlx. Roadster, the factory pictures from Ford with the rear mounted spare tire, 10X better than the '30 Dlx. Roadster with fender mounted spare.

plus 1

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by CarlG

If there was an equitable way to carry a spare on a pickup, I wouldn't have a side mount either.

I was asked once if I wanted to trade my right front fender for one with a wheel well in it. I answered with "I don't even like the one I have on the left!"

plus 1 me to