1950 Mercury tire 'A-ha!' moment

So I've been contemplating tires for months now. Car currently rides on bias-ply L78s with 4"-ish white walls (some now defunct off-brand). I was bemoaning the fact that I'd be dropping down to 3 1/4" WW on the standard 710-15s, but figured: 'oh well. They'll still look good and I won't be worrying anymore.'

I was constantly wondering where the idea of these L78s came from, why are they on this car? I don't see anyone talking about this (size) tire on this vintage Merc'. They are a bit larger than the 710s.

Was looking through the 'Chassis Parts' book, for any info on wheels and/or tires. Lo and behold I see mention of 7.00" x 15" tire as special equipment. I flip to the various sites to find the 700x15 and it's size being nearly exactly the same as the L78s, always with the larger White Wall.

Mystery (or at least my confusion) solved. Of course it turns out to be a mystery with price tag attached. This size is more expensive for the tire, plus need tubes to boot. Unless I stick with L78s, which now make for a more significant savings.

Hope this helps someone somewhere...

 

And now I await "the rest of the story."

 

post pic of what you have now

 

L-78's are a bit big for a merc, especially if its lowered.. the merc in the first pic had Denman L-78's on it when it first showed up at my shop. it looked a little out of proportion and they just were to big and they rubbed on everything.. he ended up running Denman G-78's on it, after seeing them on my merc, for the whitewall size. they were the biggest i could find at 3.5"

 

some pics from other posts:


LeadEast©2011RToonkel_385 by RToonkel, on Flickr
from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6929828#post6929828 and others

 

I have to agree with SlddnMatt in that L-78 tires are a bit big for the Mercs even though some guys seem to like them. In the early 70's when I worked in a Firestone store those tires only got put on the big Cadillacs and big Lincolns and maybe a couple of other big 60's early 70's cars. In 1963 My 51 had 6.50 on the front and 7.10 on the rear and those rears were huge on that car with the two inch lowering blocks.

 

I have a '56 Meteor Rideau hardtop with an automatic. The 7.10 x 15 are required for it and I'll be using G78's instead. Hardly anyone I know use the 7.10's due to $$$. (the car is waiting it's turn for restoration however.)

 

just got off the phone with Coker. Went with the firestone 710s (3¼ WW)

 

Was really scared, as I'm not used to placing phone orders. thinking: "did he hear me say 5 and half for the lug pattern?" "did I mention 3 and a quarter whites?" but tires arrived well before they were promised, and everything was in order.

got the rears on tonight


'course I screwed myself on covers. I got nothing to put on the back, so no bling under the skirts. or I might just run bare and skirtless to the show on sunday. the multilug doesn't look *that* bad...

 

G78 Coker Classics on mine....

 

Looks good on your car. I like those wheels too.

 

here is the size comparison for posterity



L78-15 v 710-15 (firestone)


710-15 (3.25WW) v L78-15 (4? WW)

 

I'll say this much:
steering effort is reduced quite a bit!

ride is good. used to have a flutter at around 30, must've been the old tires/wheels.