1955 Roadmaster Wheels & Tires

[Paul Falabella]

Hello,

Just got a 55 Roadmaster in Black. Would like to change wheel color to Cherokee Red. Was the wheel red both front and rear or just front ? Also what is the closest available whitewall width to original? Tires on car now have a 3 1/4" WW only see 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 from Firestone or Goodrich.

Thanks,

Paul

[1957buickjim]

Hi Paul,

The red was on all 5 wheels as an option (that is including the spare!) For the original WWW width, the 2 1/2 is the correct number on bias ply tires. 7.60 x 15 would be the basic tires for your Roadmaster, with an option to have 8.00 x 15, if you wanted those. Hope this helps!

Regards,

[Paul Falabella]

Thanks Jim,

Were wheels painted red both sides? And closest size to 8.00x15 is a 8.20x15 BF Goodrich, choice of 2 1/2 or 3 1/2" ww. 3 1/2 too big?

Thanks again

[Caballero2]

Here is how 8.20s look like on a 1957 Roadmaster. I think that reproduced 8.00 or even 7.60s would look better.

Thanks Jim,

Were wheels painted red both sides? And closest size to 8.00x15 is a 8.20x15 BF Goodrich, choice of 2 1/2 or 3 1/2" ww. 3 1/2 too big?

Thanks again

[MrEarl]

Speaking on '54's, the wheels were painted only on the side facing out. The side facing the wheel was not painted and was typically left either gray or brownish red primer. 8.00 wide looks more to scale on the car.

[old-tank]

2 1/2" whitewall is correct.

[Paul Falabella]

Lucas Tire sells General Dual 90's 8.20-15 with a 2 3/4 WW. Anyone have any experience with these tires and any reason I should not put them on my 55 Roadmaster?

[Caballero2]

8.20 will be a bit snug in your spare tire well.

Dan

'57-76C

[Paul Falabella]

Will prob use best of one of the 8.00-15 on car now for spare.

[NTX5467]

The General Dual 90 was a somewhat premium tire when it was new. The "dual" part is that rather than about 5 different tread ribs, it had what could be said to be two treads (like two thin tires placed together). I don't recall General tires being OEM production tires, though, just "replacement". General was a respected brand, as U.S. Royal, but not quite the same as (from what I remember) B. F. Goodrich Silvertown, Firestone Deluxe Champion, or Goodyears. Usually not too many dealers outside of the larger metro areas, back then, either.

You really need to have all FIVE tires to be the same size, even the spare. The 8.20x15 is somewhat taller in dimension, too, which makes it fill the wheel wells a little too much (height AND width). Not just the spare tire well. It can also make the speedometer read "slow" in speed and miles, too!

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[Paul Falabella]

Appreciate the comments and understand the slightly larger size of the 8.20. The problem is that I don't see an original size(8.00x15) offered in a name brand with close to original width white wall. I see only Lester in that size. The General seems to be closest in size and WW width(2.75"). Everything else(Firestone, Goodyear) are all 8.20's or have a 3.5" WW, which I think is too big.

Just noticed US Royal 8.20x15 at Universal with a 2.75" WW. Closer to a OE tire maybe.

[Roadmaster75]

I've got the BFG 8.20s on my 58 Roadie, No issues and rides nice.

and, they are 2 1/2 inch WWs, too

I bought them some time ago, but I think Coker (& others) still sell them.

[Paul Falabella]

Thanks for that info. I'm thinking 2 1/2 a little narrow for 55 though. Looked in the BCA judging manual and all it says is to take a deduction for a 1/2" or more in width of WW from factory original. Can't find anywhere that says what original was.

Universal tire guy says 3 1/2 is right, several fellows here say 2 1/2 is . Got old Allstate 3" now and think they look pretty good(tires are tired). May just go with US Royal 2 3/4" 8.20-15's.

[buick5563]

It is 2 1/2" for all series in 55...

Trust me, I was a team captain judging 55's last year.

2 3/4" will be ok on a Roadmaster, but anything bigger is too "gangster".

The Universal guy is wrong, BTW.

[smithbrother]

I went to GOOGLE, typed in PICTURES OF 1955 BUICK ROADMASTER, and lots of pictures are shown. It's hard to tell, lots of them appear to be very WIDE WW's., I noticed Jay Leno's car has what appears to be 2-1/2"

Take a look, you may learn from such.

Dale in Indy

[buick5563]

Jay's car actually has blackwall rubberband tires. He had his wheels custom made to look like hubcaps and whitewalls. I believe he has a real 55 insert in the center. Really cool custom touch, but of course he can afford it

[Paul Falabella]

Well thank you one and all. Didn't solve world hunger but do know what tires I shall be purchasing. Yokahoma 285/25ZR20's.

Only kidding!

[smithbrother]

So you are saying, HIS WW'S ARE PORTA WALLS? I would be very surprised if he had FAKE WHITE WALLS. With his clout, tire makers would make real white walls for him. He has driven that car at speeds that PORTA WALLS would fly apart, IMO.

Like you said, HE CAN AFFORD IT.

Dale in Indy

P.S. If U google, JAY LENO'S 55 BUICK ROADMASTER there is a video and he discusses in length the wheels, 17" and special made hub caps. He also mentions that the white walls make it look original, I'm sure they are the real thing. HE CAN AFFORD IT, good for him, huh?

Edited April 24, 2012 by smithbrother (see edit history)

[buick5563]

I stand corrected, however I didn't say he had portawalls. I thought I remembered that the wheels (NOT tires) had whitewalls on them to mimic the original proportion.

[old-tank]

Sheesh! It is amazing how many people think that Jay Leno's CUSTOM CAR is the standard for all 55 Buicks. Like the guy that had his very nice Century convertible painted like the Leno car and complained because there was a mandatory deduction for non-authentic color of paint when judged.

Willie

[smithbrother]

When you watch his video he states UP FRONT, it is a highly modified 55. He built it like he wanted it, NOTHING WRONG with building to your own needs/desires.

You won't see Jay complaining to a judge because he didn't win the ORIGINAL class.

Dale in Indy

[buick5563]

He built it like he wanted it, NOTHING WRONG with building to your own needs/desires.

Dale,

You seem to be arguing for arguing sake. I agree (as I know Old-Tank does) with your statement above 100% .

However, when the OP asked what the correct size whitewall was you said this:

I went to GOOGLE, typed in PICTURES OF 1955 BUICK ROADMASTER, and lots of pictures are shown. It's hard to tell, lots of them appear to be very WIDE WW's., I noticed Jay Leno's car has what appears to be 2-1/2"

The implication is that you are answering his question on correct whitewall width.

Mr. Leno's car is a beautiful example of a 55 Roadmaster, and arguably the most famous 55 street rod on the planet. I would love to have one just like it in my garage sitting next to my two other stock 55's and my altered driver 1955 (minus the Oakland Raider colors)

The question was about correct width. The correct width is 2 1/2". That is how they came from the factory.....

And the whitewall faced into the center of the trunk Right Lamar?

[smithbrother]

That's the problem with putting something in writing, those reading such don't get hear the TONE of voice, or see body movements of the writer. My comment that Google pictures MIGHT give him some info was just giving him more info so as he could decide what width was original. . I guess I didn't do a good job of explaining such, and for that I AM SORRY. I didn't meant to appear to be arguing.

My comment on the video was JUST A PERSONAL THING, NOT DIRECTED AT A SOLE.

No hard feelings here, I still LOVE YOU ALL,

Dale in Indy

[buick5563]

Agreed again.

Cheers.

[FireballV8]

Hi Guys

I am not sure if the 2.5" is correct in 55, my green Roadmaster with 11,000 original miles had the US Royal tires on it and they are closer to 3". 1956 for sure was 2.5" and in 1957 they went to the 2.25" whitewall width. I believe that the 54 55 would be closer to 3" whitewall width and the 53 would be even wider closer to 3.5".

See the attached pictures. I put on Firestone 8.20x15 on the Roadmaster with the 3.5" whitewall and it gives about a 50% ratio of white and black and looks fairly close to the spare tire.

Steve

[FireballV8]

Oh I almost forgot, take a look at these pictures of a new 1955 Roadmaster in 1955 on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. Look at the ratio of the whitewall and blackwall, just around 50%.

Steve

[Paul Falabella]

Ordered US Royal 8.20-15 2 3/4" WW from Universal in Hershey.

Nice pictures of that perplexed LA driver.

Do like that exhaust extension!

[55 SURVIVOR]

I have the original spare for my 55, u.s.royal 7.60-15 2 1/2" white wall

[Paul Falabella]

Probably in better shape than the Allstates on the car now!

[1mortician]

Here is my 1955 Roadmaster with 2.5" 8.20x15 Firestone WWW.

[1mortician]

Oh I almost forgot, take a look at these pictures of a new 1955 Roadmaster in 1955 on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. Look at the ratio of the whitewall and blackwall, just around 50%.

Steve

Glad to see these cars had a puckered door card and a dent in the body seam on the rocker panel when new! I was worried about that on my car, Im not now!