Thread: 1932 5 window highboy tire size

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I am going to run 15x6 and 15x10 on my 5 window highboy and was wondering what are the best size tires to run..

Not exactly the same front wheel size, but here's what I've been running for the last 7,000 miles on my High Boy.

Fronts are 15x7 Torque Thrust 2's with P195/60R15 (23" tall) BF Goodrich T/A tires. 15x10 rears with P285/70R15 (30" tall) T/A tires. They work fine, but I run the tire pressures very low and the tires squeal a little "only during braking" when you go over painted STOP lines. They show no wear pattern at all so far.

195 60 15.front
285 65 17 rear 30.5 tall

Originally Posted by John Palmer

Not exactly the same front wheel size, but here's what I've been running for the last 7,000 miles on my High Boy.

Fronts are 15x7 Torque Thrust 2's with P195/60R15 (23" tall) BF Goodrich T/A tires. 15x10 rears with P285/70R15 (30" tall) T/A tires. They work fine, but I run the tire pressures very low and the tires squeal a little "only during braking" when you go over painted STOP lines. They show no wear pattern at all so far.

I run exactly the same as John, same wheels, same tires. I run 25 lbs in the front tires and 20 lbs in the rear tires. Works for me.

Dumb question, but what's the idea of running such low air pressures? Better ride? On a 15x10" wheel, is there alot of sidewall "buldge" with the 285-70 15 tires? Mine has that size on the rear, but I'm not sure if my wheels are 8" or 10"... I'm thinking mine are only 8"s.

These cars are so light that lower air pressure is necessary to make the tires sit right on the road surface. Otherwise, your tires will be too rounded and only the centers will make contact with the road. It also affects ride as higher pressures will give you a harsh ride.

195/50/15 up front
and just switched to a 305/60/17 out back
I had 285/65/17

Originally Posted by rumrumm

These cars are so light that lower air pressure is necessary to make the tires sit right on the road surface. Otherwise, your tires will be too rounded and only the centers will make contact with the road. It also affects ride as higher pressures will give you a harsh ride.

Thats what i figured the theory was... is it safe to run for prolonged intervals at 75 mph on tires with only 20 lbs of air in them?

From what i've been able to measure with the wheels on the car, and the tires mounted, I think I have 8" wide wheels rather than 10's... as you can see there is considerable "buldge" in the sidewall, and the tread of the tire seems to actually be wider than the rim itself... Personally, I think the 285's look a little too big on the back of a highboy, and am thinking of going with some much skinnier bias-ply whites on the front and back both... I haven't really got a chance to drive the car at all yet, so i want to get some "experience" with the radials for awhile, as I heard the bias plys can be a bit squirrely compared to radials, although I do have bias plys on both my 69 Camaro and 70 Nova with no real drivability problems on either.

what brand of tire were you using on that im thinking of that size for mine ...

Originally Posted by iceburgh

195/50/15 up front
and just switched to a 305/60/17 out back
I had 285/65/17

Originally Posted by godspeed32

what brand of tire were you using on that im thinking of that size for mine ...

Nitto 404....they no longer make them but they are still out there. Iwanted something wider and with a 17" you are limited.
If you still are looking contact Bob at http://www.morethantires.com/HomePage.html
they have 12 left ....he said I am only the 2nd to buy them so they are not going to sell out any time soon.
Tell him Jim from Meguiars sent you and he will take care of you and ship them to your door

You won't like the way the car handles and rides on bias plys. I have used both and radials are far superior. But if you are willing to give that up to get the period look, that is your decision. But I have a feeling those fifties-style deuce roadsters with bias ply white walls are not driven seven hours at 75 mph to the Street Rod Nationals like mine is. As far as tires getting hot with less air pressure, you have to realize that the weight of the car makes a huge difference. That is the reason why those 4500 lb. SUV's were having trouble with Firestone tires failing at low pressures. Not all the blame could be put on the tires.

I think I'd rather have a blowout at 70 mph in an SUV than a topless fiberglass roadster though.... How much lighter is a 32 ford than a modern passenger car anyhow? 2500lbs vs 3400 or so? I'm not saying I argue with the idea of running a bit less air pressure, but 20lbs seems pretty low to me...and if you have any leakage at all, you'll be running 15lbs or less before you know it. As for the bias plys, i hear ya... and thats why I haven't ordered a set of old school firestones yet, but I also always hear guys talk about how "scary" bias plys are on musclecars too, and I have put literally 1000s of miles on them with various cars and have never had a problem... I also think the weight issue could come into play here too, with a rod weighing far less than a 69 camaro, therefore inhancing the "wandering" effect of bias ply tires. I guess I'll never really know for sure til I try it. Maybe i'll just get a 2nd set of wheels and keep 2 sets mounted. Mo money...

On my 32 Highboy I run Michelin xzx 145 SR15s on 15x4 1/2 American Racing magnesium 12 spoke spindle mounts on the front. On the rear I have Hoosier ProStreet Radial 31-16.50-R16 on 16X13 Magnesium Halibrand Sprints. It drives and handles great. I run 35 lbs psi in the front and 12-15 psi in the rear.

I have the Wide White Bias plys on my Frazer. I am not sure what the car weighs in at, but I know that its got to be close to 4500lbs. That car is squirrley no matter what kind of road you are driving on. I have them aired up to 35lbs and they still look like they are 10-15 lbs low.

I also had an 80 Chevy pick up with 295/50/15's on it. I ran them at 18psi.

The theory behind running the radials at a lower pressure it to enhance the ride quality, and to get all of the "contact patch" of the tire on the road. If you get a set of tires, you don't always have to follow recommended specifications.

On a Hot Rod, or any other car for that matter. Take some chalk and mark a complete line across the tread of the tire and drive the car for about a block. Stop and check the pattern of chalk on the tire. If the "contact patch" is only in the center of the tire the air pressure is too high. If the wear pattern is on the outside edges of the tire, the air pressure is too low.

Adjust air pressure until the entire contact patch ears pff at the same time and you will have a smooth ride, great traction and great tire wear.

Hoosiers are an alternative if the BFGs have disappeared. They are very pricey, though.