31nash880 Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Need recommendations for tires/ wheels. Have a 31 Nash that is going to be a driver. Keeping mechanical brakes. Noticed that I can lock up all brakes but car skids fast due to old hard tires. Was going to put radials on it but another thread said I would have problems with split rim mounting. Only wheels available that I have found are implement wheels due to 6 lug on 6 inch. Recommendations for bias ply tires with tubes or wheels and radials. Thanks in advance for info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Can you tell us what the original tire size is, so we don't have to look it up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Rubber formulas today are far better, and any new tire will be softer and perform fine compared to your old hard tires. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 Sorry but car is at the mechanic right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidden_hunter Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 13 hours ago, 31nash880 said: Noticed that I can lock up all brakes but car skids fast due to old hard tires You can do that with most pre ABS cars, does it do that if you apply it gradully? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41 Su8 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I have Lester bias ply tires and tubes on my '29 Model A. I have no desire to travel more than 45 - 50 mph so I don't need radials. I like the Lesters very much and they give a nice smooth ride. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kings32 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I changed my 38 chrysler over to radials and 1950 chrysler {sold ] Would not go back . Drove many miles with no problems . Howard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) Looks like it might be 550-18? These old cars wont dig in like a modern car and will tend to skid. It is their nature. People drove slower. If the tires are old, new ones make a huge improvement but don't expect miracles. Radials would probably help some, but I am not enthusiastic about that with split rims. You didn't mention which kind of split rims they are, but I don't think it matters. Radials might be best left to cars with drop center rims. Assuming we are talking bias ply then, Blockley Tyre (UK) makes high performance bias ply tires and tubes in 550-18 and similar sizes. They are aimed at vintage racing mostly, and they are expensive. Most if not all carry DOT markings and a speed rating. I doubt you could find better bias ply tires. Blackwall only. Beyond that if you are in the US, you would be shopping for replicas from Coker, Lucas, or Universal. These would be copies of bias ply tires from the period the car was made in or shortly thereafter. Blackwall or whitewall. Edited January 20, 2022 by Bloo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 27 minutes ago, kings32 said: I changed my 38 chrysler over to radials and 1950 chrysler {sold ] Would not go back . Drove many miles with no problems . Howard both of those cars have pressed steel wheels. 31 Nash not so - stay with bias 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Tierney Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 It might be helpful if you would define "driver"---around town low-speed errand running???---30 mile run to work every day??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 Hard to define "driver" at this point. Would love the car to do 45-55 and able to travel 60 miles or more for nice easy road trips. New to a vehicle this old and so far got it to go around neighborhood and 5 miles down road to cruise in. Brakes worked well when someone pulled out right in front of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 Also car is not restored. Just a cool old car to drive and enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpage Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 (edited) I would stick with the original style bias tires as they should give good performance. As far as driving an old car, if the car is well maintained and safe, don't be afraid of it. I used to drive my Model A all over at 45-50 mph with no problems. That's not to say that you can drive it like a modern car. You'll still have to compensate for handling characteristics and pay attention to traffic conditions. We used to take trips of over 100 miles one way and I discovered that it took almost the same amount of time to a destination at 45 as it did at 60, because speeds vary, sorta like the tortoise and the hare! Enjoy the ride! Edited January 21, 2022 by jpage (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 On 1/20/2022 at 7:23 AM, 41 Su8 said: I have Lester bias ply tires and tubes on my '29 Model A. I have no desire to travel more than 45 - 50 mph so I don't need radials. I like the Lesters very much and they give a nice smooth ride. John I put Lesters on my 35 buick because I couldn't get Universal anymore and I like the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 Has 6.00/6.50-18 on 4 wheels. Other 2 slightly smaller . Was planning this size in black wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 The original tire size for you 1931 Nash 880 was 5.50x18 from the 1936 Red Book (same as todays Blue Book). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32buick67 Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 I have 40 year old Allstate Nylon 500/550-18 now (yes, crazy) and I am going to try Michelin double rivet 600/650-18 (correct size for my car) this spring. I hear they are good bias ply tires from Universal Tire, so hopefully things improve with handling and ride for us. We drive at 45-50mph, so nothing high speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aleenaftab97 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 While the minimum safe tire tread depth is 2/32″, consider replacing your tires at the 4/32″ mark, especially if you drive in rainy and snowy conditions. ... Take a penny and place it in multiple grooves around your Dunlop Tyres. If the top of Lincoln's head is always covered, you have more than 2/32″ of tread remaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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