1952-59 Ford Tire Sizes for our Cars

Evening Everyone,

just wondering what size tires your running, I ready for a new set. The 215/75s are currently on there. Thinking about dropping down to 205/85s to make it a bit easier to get em on and off, anyway let me know when size you guys are running. Thanks in advance

 

225/60R15's all the way around. Had to roll the rear fender lips for clearance, though. The rear wheels have a 22mm negative offset and 3-1/2" backspacing. When I mount them, I jack up the rear of the car, letting the shackles flip down. Pretty easy to tuck 'em up under the wheelwell and slide 'em onto the studs. Don't forget to pop the shackles back up.

 

I run 235/75-15 out back, 215/75-25 up front.

The front disc kit pushes the fronts out, this is as big as I can go. The backs go off and on with a little struggle

 

jax59..........I don't know what year you have, so I don't know if this is relavent info. It's for my '57 in my avatar. 215/70-15 up front. 235/70-15 in the back. No issues whatsoever with tire removal in the back BECAUSE I had the differential case narrowed 5/8 per side, changed to disc brakes, and use 1956 shocks that allow the differential to drop another 2" when the car is jacked up. I have almost an inch clearance in back, and no mods to the wheelwhell.
I can't remember the wheel backspace, but I believe it's 3 1/2.

 

On an 56-down, Everything has to do with clearing when you need to change a rear flat. A 215-75-15 on a 6” wide rim WILL clear but you need to body up LIKE the original bumper jack and this with a stock rear height… not lowered. That’s a different ball game altogether.
I have 205-75 in front and the 215-75 on the rear both 6” Torque Thrusts because of this.
Yes, you can roll the edges and take the pressure out and run 7” and taller tires but I’m not willing to do it.
I carry 2 jacks so I can get a rear flat off, a scissor for under the spring/anxle and a bumper jack to raise the body. I also have a stock 5” wide rim for a spare.

 

wouldn't a shorter profile work with a wider tire? Say instead of a 70/75 going to a 60.

 

I'm running 215/70"s all around. I have 2" blocks in the rear and I found shocks that allow me to drop the axle enough to get the tire on and off by jacking one side a time at the front spring mount.

 

A wider tire means you will have MORE trouble getting the rear tire off. I would recommend the 75 series tire to make it easier

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I get the wider tire would be harder but a 75 is quite a bit taller then a 60, I would think a shorter tire would give more wiggle room to get it on. May just have to make up a mock tire and she whats what.

 

Like Jimmy Six and Paul2748 said, the issue is with the width of the tire. The problem area is the distance between the brake drum and the inner fender lip. The height of the tire is just how much tire you have to pull through that clearance

 

From the "Sticky" file Page 3 Post #8 https://www.racingjunk.com/news/how-to-get-perfect-rear-wheel-and-tire-fitment/ Because of the offset and the sidewall height these will fit under the rear of a 1952-56 without alterations. These are known as The Mustang Bullit wheels, tires are 245/45/17 width is 9 1/2" https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1000915871529569/?

 

Yep, I’m tired of tire changes, I think 205/75/15 is just enough to make a difference from the 215/75’s I’m currently running on my 55’

 

The smaller diameter affects the rear gear ratio, at freeway speeds the change to a 205 vs the 215 will have you turning more RPMs, the 215 is closer in height to the original 670X15s that were stock size. This is something to consider with clearance, lower priced tires in the same sizes tend to have a smaller section width and thus better clearance even though the height is the same.