Anyone with a 56 T-Bird. What is the biggest radial tire that fits stock steel wheels and works with stock fender skirts? I am in the process of buying a restored stock 56 T-Bird, so just gathering information. If the deal goes through I will need to buy new tires. Also any info on a disc brake change over for the front. I have seen 2 different approaches to this. One replaces the master cylinder with a new dual master, going to the front and back, no power. The other uses a dual master with the stock power brake unit only going to the front brakes, and the rear not using the power brake unit. They do change the rear wheel cylinders (I think to a different bore sizes) to balance the system. Anyone tried any of these setups?
I'm using 205 75 R14 on my 57 with no rubbing, but I think a 56 used 15 in tires; is that right? I've had my 57 for 27 years of motoring. I'm still running the stock brake setup on my car. Single master cylinder and remote booster. I know that it isn't as "safe" as a dual setup and I have thought about installing a dual master cylinder with the booster on the front brakes. Never got around to it. Once I had premium lining installed on my shoes, the drums turned, and the shoes arced to the drums, the brakes work very well. I can jump on them and lock the tires or modulate them easily. I don't know that disc brakes would improve that. Just my 2 cents.
Go to tiresize.com and then choose blue ****on labeled "Tire size comparison." Enter jaracer's 205/75 r14 for size 1. I started with 195/75 r15 and then hit "Compare." Result said the 15" wheel was .4" in diameter taller. You can research the options using size 2. Changing tire size and sidewall ratio can give insight on what might work. It also shows many of the tires available from specific manufacturers. Good luck, Al
^^ Further ****ysis shows 175/80 r15 is .1" LESS diameter than jaracers 205/75 r14 but the search for manufacturers of that size indicates that no one makes it. Just showing how it works. YRMV
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