1930 tire size?

[Dwight Romberger]

Hi All,

You can tell I am on a roll!

I currently have 5.25/5.50/19 Lesters on my '30- 47. Would 6.00-19 also fit?

Thanks,

Dwight

[Marty Roth]

Yes, they would fit, and in my opinion would fill in the wheel wells nicely,

but the new 1930 Series 40, with its 118-inch wheelbase, originally stood on 19 x 5.00 (5.00-19) tires, this per page 121 of George H. Dammann's Seventy Years of Buick.

Of course your 1930 is different from my 1934 Model 57.

[Dwight Romberger]

Hmmmm. . . 5.00-19's are not available

The 5.25/5.50/19's 4" whitewalls are $197

The 6.00-19 4" whitewalls are $290

The larger tire is 1" bigger overall

Edited May 17, 2013 by Dwight Romberger (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

The bigger tire would give you an approximate 3% advantage in reducing engine revs at driving speeds - I don't know your differential ratio.

Are you going to show the car? If so, then bias is still the way to go. If you arte doing a driver then some would have you consider radials which may be available in an appropriate size - not making a prefereence, just a comment.

I like the WWW in your car !

[Dwight Romberger]

Marty,

I didn't think about the RPM's. That 3% is a plus. I am not planning to show it, but I think the cost will limit me to bias ply.

Thanks,

Dwight

[Marty Roth]

You might find that a good WWW radial costs about the same as a WWW bias ply ....

Just be sure to remove the paper tags inside any tire before putting the tube (and flap) in, or the squirming tire's paper tags will abraide the tube and cause multiple flats - ask me how I know - three flats in three tires in less than 100 miles...

[Dwight Romberger]

Thanks for the info Marty. It thought the radials would be at least twice the cost.

Dwight

[Bob Engle]

That 3% lower RPM has a price at start. You will be applying more torque to get the car moving, means slipping the clutch and more stress on rear axles. Rear axles are a weak point in these early 30's Buicks. Many of the models have full floating axles. a broken axle means you lose the rear wheel and axle stub.

Bob Engle

[Dwight Romberger]

Good point Bob.

I would rather have a lower top speed and save the clutch and axles. It's a good reason to save some $ too.

Thanks,

Dwight