i think im gonna put 18s on my hot rod.

are those early 30's 17 or 18" spokes stronge enought to drive on or what? and how wide are they? i really like the way they look and i have a lead on some for cheap. thanks -jeff

 

Jeff-

I don't think so. '35 16" wire wheels wont hold up to a stout motor, so I doubt earlier rims would do any better.


Ed

 

jeez. COEs from the '40s had solid 20" wheels. so what if they were 2-part rims, you need to look for some of those. KEWL!!
dan

 

I agree with you, Jeff, they do look great. Run them if you can.

Do you have the 5 by 5-1/2" lug pattern you need for them?
What kind of engine are you using? I think that they're stromg enough if you're not making too much torque.

I believe that they're all 5.5" wide, but I could be wrong.

--Matt

 

Run 'em. My buddy's 28 RPU has 21" wires off of a '32 ford export vehicle. He does burnouts and cookies all the time.... no problem at all.

Here is a link to a post that has some pics of it:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=337044&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

LP

 

I run 18 inch Astro van spare saver wheels with F-stone bias plies on the rear of my bucket. They look correct and I didn't have to pay for 'em.!

 

Ford welded wires are reasonably strong, but eyeball them very carefully--I have seen some that had a spoke or two with a dubious looking weld. If you're going to beat on them, try to select a set whose welds all look solid and without any deep pits in spokes--I have a feeling that one spoke failing in a hard corner could lead to a domino chain failure. I just got a perfect set from an olde Model A Geezer--those guys all bought themselves a set back before salt was invented, and then stashed them in storage when they went for restoration. Most of the ones at swap meets around here are horribly pitted junkers that sat out on an abandoned farm trailer for thirty years.

 

An odd historical factoid: 18's, wires, high clearance solids, and Halibrands, were somewhat popular on fast Bonneville and Lakes cars because the Indy roadsters of the day had 18's, and those were perhaps the most available tires capable of really high speeds.

 

I am looking for a pair of 18" bent spoke Kelseys with 5 on 5-1/2 pattern...for my next project

Neal

 

Pete,

What year range of S-10's and Astros do you pirate the rear tires from?


Thanks,
Ed