Working on a flathead powered 31 roadster pickup and need some wheel and tire opinions. I am wanting to run 10.00 -15 cheaters on the rear. For appearance purposes will 10" wheels be too wide? Would 10.00s look better on an 8 or 9" wheel. Wanting to run 5.60s on 4 1/2" wheels up front. Thanks
Here's a 5.60-15 on a 15x5 Wheel Vintiques wheel. If you can find a 4.5" wheel that would perhaps look even better. ~Peter
Without fenders, was doing some double check measuring last night imagining how10.00-15s might look. Do you think 10.00s might be too wide for a small 31 pickup.. Do you think maybe 8.20s on a 7" wheel might be a better fit to get the right look. Please give me your thoughts and comments, I want to get this right the first time!
Yea, I think the 10’s are too wide for this build. Your 8.20 on 7 would work better for the early look.
Most of my old reversed rims were 7", had a great look with the old 8.20 X 15 tires. The taper of the rim, the bulbous sidewalls... Of course, these went on 'light in the ass' roadsters, coupes, and early sedans, so the tires weren't 'overloaded' on marginally 'narrow' rims. As 8" wheels would have been "proper", there weren't any tapered outer rims to fit to the Ford centers, lending dignity to the 'Baldy' caps. '50 Merc centers were also used, for the Merc 'ash can' caps. (Tom Ivo's T roadster) LOVE those tapered, painted reversed steelies!
My rears are 810-15 on 15x6 Steelies. That's what looks best on a 800-810. If you go 820-850 I'd say a 7"-7.5" rim. I can't say for certain what would look best on a 10.00-15. Is that a cheater slick? Or one of the Firestone Grooved Dirt Track tires? Check the specs on the tires you want, typically they'll recommend a rim width. You also need to consider what offset you'll need. Have a rear axle picked out yet? ~Peter
If the cheater slicks, here is what the website recommends: https://www.cokertire.com/tires/1000-15-firestone-dragster.html Personally, I'd recommend this as an alternative: https://www.cokertire.com/tires/820-15-firestone-dragster.html ~Peter
I like the look better on an 8" wheel but you can get a better patch on a 10" wheel. That said a 7" cheater is about all you will ever need with your flatty,
Thanks for posting that pic, I love that look, but after seeing that and what everyone else says, I am sure that they wouldn't look right on my RPU.
Okay, let's talk 8" cheaters. How about 8.20s on an 8" halibrand sprints with shiny axle block off plates for the rear. We can discuss front after we get rear figured out. Thanks for all your replies!
Here’s 10” Radirs on 8 1/2” Halibrands. Marty’s right, a tire that big looks odd on a flathead or banger powered car. Run a hood?
I was telling my buddy with the car I pictured, he just happened to drive it to work today, that I thought it was to much tire for an exposed flathead, but a great opportunity to snap a photo of what that combo looked like.
This is an 8.20 - 15 cheater on a 6 wide I think rim, the rim came off a late 80's - mid 90's dodge van
Not running a hood,. have a set of 8" Halibrand sprints and shiny axle block off plates on hand. Think that would be a decent looking combow ith 8.20s?
22 posts in and we can't accurately provide advice or opinions until you share some pics of either your build or your inspiration or goal. What era of drag racing you going for? Is this a street car? Is it going to be a 50's barebones dragster? Is it going to be a 60's surf roadster pickup with slicks for posing? ~Peter
For me the issue of having a 4.5 wheel on the front rather than 5.5 is the amount of brake equipment that shows up, and if you space the center farther out (+) you'll be tripping over the hubcap.
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