I've started looking for front tires for my 30 A sedan project. I'd like something around 28" tall and narrowish to fit a 5.5" x 15" wheel. There are quite a few bias plys but almost no radials. The new Coker is whitewall only...I was looking for a blackwall. I looked into drag type front runners but they are pretty short...sub 26". Anyone have a tip for me? Thanks, Dave
Firestone do a blackwall bias ply that is 670/15 @ 28.58 tall. If you want really want radials, the best option would be to run 16" wheels and go with Excelsior Stahl Sport they have a 600-16 @ 28".
In conventional radials, the closest is probably 205/75R15 or 215/75R15. The former is perhaps a bit short. I can't say much as to the looks, and I suspect that both will show a bit too much tread from the front for your liking. My thinking was a bit different on my dormant '31 A project. For the fronts I wanted something that would present the same sort of relationship of sidewall height to rim diameter as the 4.75x18 or suchlike that you would find on a mid-size European vintage sports car, i.e. about 28" tall with about 5" of sidewall, but in a radial suited to slightly maniacal driving. It would of course be somewhat wider, and the idea isn't to fool anyone into thinking that the tyres are anything but what they are. The best I could find was 215/55R18, which is a stock fitment on the Jeep Comp*** and available in up to a V rating.
Ya slim pickins. I'm surprised at the lack of radials considering the tremendous amount of options for bias plys at Coker etc. Jeez, seems like an easy sell. Maybe less margin on radials? I'd love to run 16" wheels but Halibrand look Rockets I want don't come in 16". Dumb....
Keep in mind, though, that you can visually skinny a tyre down slightly by mounting it on the narrowest recommended rim width.
Are you talking about the Rocket Igniter wheels? They are supposed to be making 16" versions (they are listed on their website), but when trying to order them through Coker Tire, they still show as being on backorder. I've asked for an approximate date of availability and they don't have one. Must not be 100% into production yet, but I hope to see them sooner than later. http://www.rocketracingwheels.com/vintage-igniter-as-cast-16in-wheel/p555 Malcolm
I'm a rocket racing dealer....ya no date...pretty far out still. Just for fun....I tried calling Hurst Racing Tires since they recap a radial front into a Super Cushion. I was thinking this might be a better ride than bias ply and it looks great...but their phone is disconnected and they have not responded to the info request I sent through their website. I wonder if they closed up shop.....
I just purchased two 165 80R15 . replacements for the old VW Beatle 6.00 15 tires. I believe they are 27 X 5.5 . Most sales people have no idea, when you ask for that size, but I ordered them in the morning and had them in the afternoon. Good service for this part of the world.
Try Hurst, I was looking at some on their website a couple of days ago. Very cool looking tire but a little pricey, cheaper than Excelesiors though.
Here's how to calculate what a tyre's overall diameter in inches ought to be from a metric size designation: WR/1270 + D where: W = section width R = aspect ratio D = rim diameter So, in the case of the aforementioned 165/80R15: (165 x 80 / 1270) + 15 = 25.3937" For an answer in millimetres, the formula is: WR/50 + 25.4D You can work it backwards. You want an overall diameter of 28" and a rim diameter of 15". Therefore you want (28 - 15) / 2 = 6.5" of sidewall. You want a tallish, skinnyish tyre, so that's a 75 or 80 aspect ratio. At the required sidewall height that means a section width of 6.5 x 100 / 75 = 8.667" or 6.5 x 100 / 80 = 8.125". Multiply by 25.4 to get that into millimetres: 220.133mm or 206.375mm. So, you're looking in the 205 range in an 80-series or around 215 or 225 in a 75-series. Then you go to the manufacturer's figures, to see if they're a bit under or over, as they invariably are.
235-85-16 BF Goodrich commercial TAs Tall skinny Radials with a decent looking sidewall and tread. have a set on my 36 panel,run low air #, ride smooth ! Chris
I had a pair of these on the back of my Vicky I sold, good looking/riding tire. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Good stuff! I'll take a look at all of the above. A note on Hurst, appears they be out of biz. Phone is turned off, no response to web inquiry 5 days ago.
Looks like the Hurst guys are in the middle of a move: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=869588&highlight=hurst
Occam's razor principle: It states that a**** competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with the fewest ***umptions should be selected. In other words, the most simple explanation is the most likely explanation. They are moving to a new location. Never ***ume the worst.
It would seem that a 195/85R15 would suit the purpose perfectly. A search turns up mainly Antipodean websites, however.
I am curious as to why you are looking for such a tall front tire? 28" is closer to what folks end up with in the back.
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