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04-08-2017, 11:36 AM | #1 |
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Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Between the 28/29 - 30/31.
I can't think there's any performance advantage of the 19" over the 21" as the width is similar. Maybe production costs?
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04-08-2017, 11:38 AM | #2 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Style of the age. Maybe also ease of manufacture and costs,
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04-08-2017, 11:43 AM | #3 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I believe the wheels were a product of dirt roads & ground clearance at the time
with henry , a lot depends on the era & availability
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04-08-2017, 11:58 AM | #4 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Lower tire but wider = more tire on the ground
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04-08-2017, 01:37 PM | #5 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Evolving style & design, cars were going to lower & wider features, especially the high priced cars.
Lower priced cars tend to follow. |
04-08-2017, 04:40 PM | #6 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
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04-08-2017, 10:46 PM | #7 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I think I heard somewhere that it was the length of the spokes. The 21" were more likely to bend. That's what I remember hearing! Never owned any, can't really say!
Terry |
04-08-2017, 11:08 PM | #8 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I think it was all of The above. As cars got lower, smaller wheels were called for. As cars became more powerful, stronger wheels were required ( does not apply to the change to 19" wheels). Take it from me - it's not hard to break a 21" wheel. I have pulled the spokes off the rim, cracked the centers, welded and had them fail again. Smaller wheels (16") stopped the nonsense!
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04-09-2017, 12:35 AM | #9 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I've always liked the look of 19" wheels on my '31s. A lot of my friends have 16" wheels on their Model As, primarily so they can use modern radials. I just opted to go with 19" radials. Very pleased with the look AND the road handling.
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04-09-2017, 01:38 AM | #10 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Carl
Very nice photo of your truck......looks really nice! |
04-09-2017, 07:00 AM | #11 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
The 18, 17 and 16 wheels are tougher to mount as you can't see the lug studs to line up, that was my biggest complaint but maybe I'm just too old to handle it. To sum up, I like the 19s (or 21s).
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04-09-2017, 08:06 AM | #12 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I have a nice set of 16 inch wire wheels that I had powdercoated for a project that never happened. I guess I should sell them.
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04-09-2017, 09:16 AM | #13 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I think the 19's ride better than the 21's. May just be my imagination.
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04-09-2017, 09:19 AM | #14 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I'd think the rolled edges on the 21" must have been much more complicated and expensive to produce.
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04-09-2017, 09:41 AM | #15 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
In as much as Henry was best friends with Harvey Firestone, I suspect that the cost of production for 19" tires may have been an influence.
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04-09-2017, 10:09 AM | #16 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
While I do not know the answer, Ford was likely looking at money savings. They probably determined road conditions allowed the smaller diameter wheels. This would dramatically lower cost of materials per wheel times the number of wheels they made.
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04-09-2017, 10:26 AM | #17 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Draftsmen like to make changes so they can say "look what I did today" and keep their job.
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04-09-2017, 10:42 AM | #18 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
Wheels gradually got smaller & smaller, then they got larger & larger! I always "wonder" how a Model A would look, with 22" spokey MAGS???
"Most" modern wheels have retained the "spokey" design, mostly for BRAKE cooling. Bill Spoke
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04-11-2017, 10:59 AM | #19 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
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04-11-2017, 01:25 PM | #20 |
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Re: Why Did Henry Change Wheel Sizes?
I always said it was the road conditions, as the roads got better the tires got smaller. my two cents.
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