Are 14" wheels out of place on a 50's custom?

Just curious if they are out of place or not, anything to get a little lower I guess.

 

I don't think Detroit introduced them until 1957, so they would be out of place for an early 50's custom

 

14's on a fifties car ruin it for me. But i also like bias ply tires.

 

I love my bias tires for the look, as for the ride and driving it.....well, not so much. I hate to say it but I am switching to radials this winter. I love getting on the road for long distances and the bias just plain ****.

 

What year car? I just sold a 51 Ponitac. Id never do 14 on it. My new car is a 58 Edsel. Stock 14s. Id like 15s but I am putting 14" Cragar on it.

 

They were on the Ala Kart when it was AMBR 1957...

 

whatever we have plenty of forum members that have driven thousands of miles on bias tires. why not put brembo breaks and polished wheels with a fuel injected motor?i mean i love the look of the old motor but i want the the drivability....point is with the car set up right.you can drive bias ply tires and have a very nice riding/driving car.that is a cop out.

 

it's the law. you must run 15" wide white bias plys on your car and be just like everyone else. then you need to remove your entire trunk floor and wheelwells so you can get your Gambino notch and lay frame.

15" bias ply wide whites and laying frame. it's all that matters.

seems kind of silly to me, but those are the rules.

 

Well if your car is 57+ then your fine..

 

Like has been said, they'd be period correct for a car done in the later 50's or early 60's style, but not an early style custom.

 

Have fun driving on them if thats your thing, I personally do not like the ride and handling they give me. Alot of guys run radials, it's not the end of the world. I noticed a few 50's cars running 14 inch wheels at the Iron Invasion, only reason I asked. I am not trying to start a Bias vs. Radial debate, plenty of those on here.

 

I think 14" wheels came out in 57'.

 

I just scored a set of Cragar wire's for my 53 Chevy, they're 14" but they were a steal,$60.00 for the set of 4, I'd prefer 15" but hey, they were cheap, and yes I'll be running radials on em. If you want to run 14's run em, if you want to run radials run em, it's your car man!

 

14s came in about 1957 - 58 on new cars, they stayed around until disc brakes became common in the seventies, all cars had to go up 1" in wheel size to clear the disc brake calipers.

Lots of late fifties customs used 14" wheels and narrow whitewalls. Chrome reverse wheels were big before mags became common in the late sixties.

 

Now, that is very well said !!!!!!!

 

Crouthers customized his Merc back in the 50s and utilized 14 inch wheels for some added lowness since his OEM Merc suspension was somewhat limited. **** used to drive this car all over the Midwest grinding one set of lake pipes flat each season and he still owns the car in this condition today.

 

Love that Merc, my 54 Chevy has 14" wheels they look ****.

 

I think a 53 is just too big for 14" specially being wires I just dont think wires belong on 49-54.... 14s would work if you run a very tall WWW.

 

In 1958, a friend of mine bought a real clean '53 Ford with a blown motor. He put in a good junkyard engine, got it running good, and started driving it. The next thing he did was lower it and put on 14" wheels. To our 16 year old eyes, that car looked the best of any other in the high school parking lot. Just an observation from someone who was there.

 

Well said Tubman . I don't know if you can get tall enough rubber in 14" anymore, otherwise ,no problem.

 

If the car is lowered it should be OK. If it is stock height it may look a little ****y.

 

The "AZTEC" a 55 Chevy was started when it was brand new, when it was finished, it had 14" Wheels. I know, because I just pulled 1 off last week.
My friend Barry Mazza owns the car.

 

225/70r14 cokers.

 

O.K. The real reason is you can't use the cool full wheel discs. like the ever popular 57 Caddies. Now you have your answer.

 

I have a '59 Chrysler that came with 14 inch tires. Late 50's cars were about as big as they got and they had 14" tires on.

They will be fine. Just watch what tires you put on them. Need somehting with alittle bit of sidewall height. Low profile would not be my choice.

Neal

 

Yes, 57 is when the "14 wheel became commonplace. The idea was to make the car appear longer and lower and in some instances floating. For instance, 55 and 56 Chevy both wore "15's but when they wanted an all new car for 57 they slightly re-bodied the existing platform but added the "14 wheel to make the car appear bigger and lower and they were on pretty much all the "jet age" cars. So I agree, a build aimed for 1957 to mid sixties is reasonable.

 

'57 lancers arent "cool"???

 

My 58 Edsel I had the stock wheels polished chromed and reversed. 14 inch and Coker G78s because they look right and ride fine. I think most radials just dont look right.

And 50's custom is a pretty broad term. Early 50s Merc or Shoebox or late 50s Pontiac or Bel Air??? The look of those years changed month to month and was different in every area.

I think they look fine on my Edsel. It all comes down to what look you want, what style or era turns you on, and what you are willing to shell out.

 

im running 14's with bias ply's on mine...

 

^^ there you have your answer. Lookin great.
Some people is plain boring. If it looks right just do it.