Hello,
as far as I see these two tire would fit:
FIRESTONE 440/450-21 (front wheels) an
FIRESTONE 475/500-20 (rear wheels).
I also found a tube, the
440/475-20/21 Bias Tube
which is said to be intended for use with both
tires, front and rear. It has a 3" brass stem.
Finally, my questions:
Is my research going the right way?
What would be the correct flaps?
And: Which dust covers would be applyable on
these wood-spoked metal wheels?
Cordial thanks and
kindest regards from Germany
Sven
You have the correct fronts
The rears should be 6.00-20 or 30x5
What you have picked for rears will be way too small on a TT
Thank you, Adam,
you are right: the TT-rear wears FIRESTONE 30x5s at the moment. But: I can't find a new pair of these.
Do you know a supplier?
Sven a 30 x 5 = 600 x 20 in I have them new here, but getting them to you would cost lots of US $$$$, as Im 100 miles west of St Louis Mo
Hello John Danuser,
Hello Adam Doleshal,
your recommendations and some of
the catalogues of the well known
part suppliers say that the
6.00-20 is the SAME as the 30 x 5,
but the outer diameters are NOT:
The first one has ca. 32" and
the second one ca. 30".
That's why I feel sympathy for the
FIRESTONE 475/500-20: it's outer
diameter is 30.56", which would prettyly
match to the FIRESTONE 440/450-21 with an
outer diameter of 30.79".
Where is the fatal error my view?
The 475/500-20 is too narrow and too light duty for the TT. It is too narrow to properly fit the rim. If you order them and try to put them on, you will find that they are too small and look funny.
You have to be more concerned with the inside diameter and the width. Outside diameter has very little meaning.
I own a TT and the smallest tire I would put on it is a 6.00-20. As a matter of fact, I have 7.00-20 tires on my TT now, which is two diameter sizes bigger than what is supposed to be on it. That is just my preference though.
I have a full time Model T repair business and I am an antique tire dealer.
Adam is right. I have 6.50-20 tires on the rear of my TT and would want nothing any smaller. I have 4.40/4.50-21 tires on the front and I think the combination looks good. (All 4 are plain blackwall tires.)
Hello Adam,
Hello Henry,
thanks a lot for your helpful comments.
So, it seems to be reasonable to prefer the
6-ply FIRESTONE vintage 600-20 for the rear,
but I didn't cotton up to its overall diameter of 32.63", yet.
May be, I got too familiar with the 30x5's harmonious matching to the front tires.
Verspertine greetings
Sven
4.50-21 = 30" outside diameter
6.00-20 = 32" outside diameter
Since the axle or spindle of the wheels is half of the diameter, that means the rear of your truck will be 1" higher than the front. You will not be able to tell it is not level (if that is what you are concerned about).