15 inch tires on 16 inch rims. What tires can I get for my 47 Plymouth?

[central52]

Vaious threads on what tires to use for Pl5s have suggested you can use modern radials, like the 205-75R-15, on stock rims.

But my tire size and rim are 600-16. How can a 15 inch tire fit on a 16 inch rim? I want to keep my original rims after I clean them up and paint them the same color as my car.

I went to my local Town Fair Tire shop, and the man there said you can't put 15 inch tires on a 16 inch rim. So, what do I do? Ed P.

[Andydodge]

Use either 15" wheels and tyres or get 16" radials like Cokers etc, that will fit on the 16" rims, only hiccup is that the original Mopar rims are about 4-5" width so you'll be limited to around 195/205 radials, if you chase up 65/70 series they will have very close to the original crossply section height also.....andyd

[Jim Yergin]

Ed,

The later P15s came with 15 inch wheels rather than 16 inch wheels. They are interchangeable. It appears that there is a greater selection of 15 inch radial tires but there are 16 inch radials. I am using later 15 inch wheels on my P12 because of the availability of the 15 inch radials.

Jim Yergin

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed,

46 - 47 P15's came with 16" wheels. The change over to 15" wheels actually took place sometime around the late 47 models. My coupe was built in December 47 but wasn't sold until February 48, so it became a 48 model. It had 16" wheels originally. I bought new 15" wheels though because it gave be a better selection of custom hubcaps.

[greg g]

A fellow who used to be on this forum had a 41 plymouth with 16 inch rims. He scouted up some Dunlop 16 inch radials that were intended for light pickups and early import SUV's. I believe they were 195 75 16. This was a few years ago so they may not be still available. But you can got to tire rack and search the Dunlop brand and see if they are still around. I saw them at a car show about 4 years ago and they looked good on his car. they arent the chunky looking semi off road style that seems to be the vogue in light truck tires these days.

Tire rack has these continentals in 205 80 16 for 40 bucks.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=4x4+Contact&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=08TR64X4XL&fromCompare1=yes&place=0

[David Maxwell]

Mine are the wide whites, but they have them in standard blackwalls too. They have a website. Run a search for Diamondback Tires.

[Paul Beard]

With all the new cars usimg 16" & 17" wheels and tires you should be able to find plenty of 16" tires to fit your 16" wheels. You just have to find a tire shop that will accomadate you. plenty of 2000 GM cars had 16" tires and wheel so keep loking and good luck.

[james curl]

Look at the LT radials for light trucks, pick ups. Should be able to find them in a black wall and almost the same diameter and width as original.

[greg g]

Most new cars running 16 in tires are running aspect ratios in the 60 to 45 range. these tires require a 6 to 8 inch wide wheel. None of these tires woul work on a stock 4.5 inch wide rim. Todays 16's are not compatable with our older cars. Our tires had what is essentially a 95 % aspect ratio. Meaing their sidewalls were nearly the same as their width, and their width was measured at the wides part of the tire, not the tread. for example a 245 5516 tire like on my wife's Subaru is 25 .6 inches in diameter, the 600 16 on your plymouth was nearly 2 inches taller at 27 .5. However the tred width on the 245 is 9.4 while the 6.00 tire would be in the 5 inch neighborhood. this side walls would bulge out to 6 inches.

[David Maxwell]

...inch rims from the 1940s:

Here's a quote from their website. The link is below:

3) Two other innovations that only Diamondback offers:

a) Blackwall Smoothy—all writing is removed from the face of the tire leaving a beautiful, polished black sidewall. Extremely popular with custom rod builders and enthusiasts alike, the Blackwall Smoothy eliminates names of manufactures that didn't exist in the 30's and 40's

http://www.dbtires.com/why_choose_diamondback.htm

[Don Jordan]

One of the problems I have with the wider radials is that it cuts back on my turning radius. I didn't get that figured out until I got new tires. If I was making a sharp turn the tire rubbed and made a horrid noise.

I looked at Coker but they want $170 for a stock tire.

[central52]

Thanks, guys, for all that input. I think I'm going to keep my original 16 inch rims, and get 16 inch radials from Coker. My local Town Fair Tire place can get them for me. Ed P.

[Andydodge]

I've got 6.00 x 16 crossply whitewalls on the 1941 Plymouth and 195 x 14 Radials on the 1940 Dodge.......now both use essentially the same suspension, the Plymouth the original steering box, the Dodge uses a rack & pinion.......the two cars are like chalk and cheese to drive, the Plymouth tyres track and wobble, visit places that I didn't even know were on the road........lol.......but thats what narrow, original style crossplys are like(the car has had a good wheel alignment, tyre balance, etc)......they are 1940's tech........and its good to compare.........the Dodge on the other hand steers and handles like a much more modern car even with the same type of suspension.......and its what I want from both......but be prepared for the reduction in steering effort that the radial tyres make over crossplys and the no more constant steering wheel adjustments........I had both out today, a short 10 min trip in the Dodge and a good 45 min trip in the Plymouth.......and both bring a smile to the dial....and thats what you want, either way.....regards, andyd

[builtfercomfort]

Be sure to measure the overall tire height before going for a radial replacement tire. If they are too tall, they won't clear the fenders - you could have problems either turning or in bumps.

(This is all from memory and the numbers may be off - do your own measuring!)

The 6.00x16 was about 27.5" tall

I looked at the 205/80/16 (expensive, OEM tire for Land Rover) and I think the tire height was about 28.5 inches.

I think the stock tire for an old Jeep Eagle was a narrow 16" (205/75/16) and about the right height.

[central52]

The Coker radial I'm thinking of buying has these specs:

Height ----28.3

Cross Sec- 6.25

Tread

Width------5.00

Recommended

rim width----4-5.5

Will these go on my original 16 inch rims on my 47 Plymouth? Thanks, Ed P.