Guest shadetree77 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I just bought a 52 Special Deluxe and it needs new tires. Currently it has 3 different tire sizes on it and all of them are too tall/wide. I can barely get the back tires out from under the fenders. The original spare was in the trunk and it is a 7.60x15. What size does this equate to in a new tire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I believe the official conversion is to a 225/75R15 (that is the one I have heard mentioned most, I don't run radials myself)One reason your rear wheels may want to stay in the wheel wells, is you are most likely jacking up the differential instead of the frame (that's my guess, forgive me if I'm wrong) Those old cars need to be jacked up by the frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 shadetree, welcome to the forum. And a big welcome to the Buicks of the '50s. Believe Mike is about right on the current tire size. Some where on these forums is a chart converting old to new. Stay with us and share your baby! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Tire Size Conversion Chart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Mike is right about jacking it up by the frame. Even so, it can be a tight squeeze to get a 225 R 15 or 215 R 15 tire in and out, and on the front wheels that size is very likely to rub the frame when wheels are turned all the way. You know, you can get 7.60 x 15" tires from most any antique tire dealer. I use Wallace Wade Tire Co. in Dallas, Texas for tires on all of my old Buicks. He is a BCA member and advertises in the classified ads of the Buick Bugle, and they will ship tires any distance.Pete Phillips, BCA #7338Leonard, TX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shadetree77 Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Thanks for all the advice guys. I am glad to be here. The 52 is my first project older than the 70's so I don't have a lot of experience with these older classics. Guess you could say this has been quite a learning experience but I am enjoying every minute of it. As for the tires, I just bought the 52 Special Deluxe and it's "barn find fresh" for the moment and I'm looking to buy some used tires just for now so I can drive her up and down the road a little bit during the restoration process. Eventually I will look into getting some reproduction tires but for now I just need some old daily drivers in a new size for cheap. Think I'm gonna try to find some 215/75's. It's mostly got 235's on it now and even jacking it up from the frame it's still almost impossible to get them out from under the back end. I guess you could consider this my introduction to the forum so I'll give you a little background on my 52 and a few pictures. I've been looking for a 51 or 52 for awhile and I found this one on Craigslist a few weeks ago. It came from a wealthy family in North Georgia. The guy I bought it from said his grandpa bought it new, drove it for a few years then parked it in their barn when he bought a new one. There it sat untouched until about 6 years ago when the grandson got it out, fiddled with the motor, and got it started. He also managed to put 3 different size tires and one hell of a hack job 12v conversion on it then parked it back in the barn. He decided to sell it and I was the first one to look at it. It's completely untouched and original(except for the 12v hack job!)and amazingly the old straight 8 runs like a dream. No smoke, no leaks, and it fires up on the first try. Now if I could just get her to stop! I'm currently rebuilding the brake system. Anyway, that's my story and again, I'm glad to be here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 NEAT!! Amazing how one can rust IN a barn. Good luck. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shadetree77 Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 NEAT!! Amazing how one can rust IN a barn. Good luck. BenWell, from what I saw the barn probably hasn't been waterproof for quite some time. Lot's of holes and tin missing on the roof so I'm sure it got wet occasionally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Cool. I really enjoy how smooth the straight eights are. A local fellow (and new BCA member) got his more or less complete and I saw it last summer...here's a look at what your car can look like some day. It's in way better shape than my '52 Roadmaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetx Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 so what tire size, new numbers, is the best fit and look for my old family car 1951 spcial my father bought new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 225 75R 15. 215 75R 15 will work also. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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