I would like to put radial tires on my 57 Fairlane 500 but I have been told that the stock rims are not strong enough.
what newer stock rim could I use?
mort 1928
Mort, don't know what kind of look you are going for-stock rim, mags, cast aluminum. But a cheap option for a 15" wheel are explorer wheels. They will bolt right on, and alot of these suvs are being parted out on craigslist. I got a free set from my brother, and bought a set for 100$ with the caps and lugs. You will want to tame down the tire to a 215-65 -15 or so. If you are really on a budget, that size is a popular minivan tire. They also will clear any disc brake option you go to. Maybe after my son finishes college , I can afford a real set. Make sure they are the 4 1/2 bolt pattern, not the 5", also on ranger pickups. Mark
Mark...got a pic of these? They must be mag type wheels being on an explorer? any particular year range ? thanks..Rich
Hi guy's,
The car is all stock and want to keep that look.
Wheels are 14"
Thanks for any and all suggestions.
mort1928
There's nothing wrong with the OEM original wheels. Used them
forever, even on trailers. Look at 70 or 75 series tires for a stock
appearance. :deadhorse:
Rich, I'm real close to having my 58 on the road, I'll post some pictures then. I would guess southern wheels would be alot better than midwest stuff exposed to salt. I had my 58 wheels powder coated due to salt rash. Mark
I'm running 225x70x15 BFG Radial TAs all around on stock 6" wide 15" steel wheels and look and work great. My 15" wheels have about a 4" backspacing and I think they came off of an older Galaxie or station wagon. My car is bone stock with 6 cylinder springs in the front. They don't come close to rubbing.
i used granada 14 inch steel wheels,fits my lincoln brakes and i am using the stock full disc hubcaps
Quote from: canadian_ranchero on 2010-10-10 09:31
i used granada 14 inch steel wheels,fits my lincoln brakes and i am using the stock full disc hubcaps
Hi Gary. Quick question for you. Will the Granada 14" wheel fit over my stock drum brakes?
My Coker whitewalls came in and I'm thinking instead of my stock hubcaps I would dress them with as small a dog dish and beauty rings. I would use my "original" wheels but come to find out they are two different types. Two of them have bumps for a dog dish and the other three have no bumps. Worse comes to worse I'll stick with the original hubcaps.
granada rims will fit.center hole is bigger
I have never heard nor seen nor read anything about radial tires requiring stronger wheels.
Quote from: mort1928 on 2010-07-08 15:25
I would like to put radial tires on my 57 Fairlane 500 but I have been told that the stock rims are not strong enough.
what newer stock rim could I use?
mort 1928
The stock later model steel wheels are a heaver guage steel.
I didn't believe this at first either but, a stock 14x5.5" Escort ZX-2 wheel is quite a bit heavier
than a 57-59 14x5.5" solid (no slots) wgn,retrac,ranchero wheel.
Who knew....?
Ron.
Very strange to me. There are tons of early Fords running around with stock wheels and radials and I have never heard of any problem..
If all newer rims are thicker, which I have trouble believing is the case, it would have to do with design parameters perhaps mandated, front wheel drive designs, material spec changes, or some other consideration. Radial tires in and of themselves do not require stronger wheels.
This sticker came on my new Coker Wide White Radials. Since I'm not running a race car I think I'm going to be OK with the stock rims.
I remember there was a problem Coker had a few years ago with
flexing and cracking wheels.
Started with wheelcovers coming off in turns.....
Took another look at the 2 wheels side by side, the newer ones are
quite a bit thicker steel and heavier dispite having cooling holes all the
way around.
Ron.
Interesting, I've never seen a sticker like that. Tire manufactures must just assume radials aren't going on old cars. But wheel covers flying off happened back when they were bias tires.
I don't remember how many times the wheel covers flew of the old Buick on "Highway Patrol", and then the next scene they would be back on :003:
Here is an informative article by SEMA. I stand corrected sorta, this is not a simple issue. Clear as mud!
http://www.sema.org/files/attachments/WTC-2011-05-Bias-vs-Radial-Tire-Wheel-Fitment.pdf
Well that does make some sense, with the age and thinness of the original 57 wheels, I think my best bet would be to go ahead and use them with my radials and monitor closely any pressure loss not associated with valve or punctures.
Very interesting to read, thanks Lynn.
Lucky,
I'd look for some Granada whls.
Should be cheap and if you ever wanted to change to
Granada disc brakes you wouldn't need to change again.
Goodluck,
Ron.
Man, those Granada wheels '78 to '80 are almost impossible to find around here. I haven't hit the auto wreckers yet but that's the plan. For the moment (until something better comes along) I'm going to have to go with my stock wheels.
Update - Found 5 in Manitoba, they're on the Greyhound today. :004: