MTFCA Forum

Recent discussion on the forum prompts a question:

There are a couple things about Model T Fords that do not make sense to me. Considering the fact that generally speaking, Henry Ford took great strides toward "inexpensiveness" if that's a word,....there might be a good reason that I've just never heard, but why would Henry put 30 x 3" tires on the front and 30 x 3.5" on the back?

Hi Harold, Henry was cheap or frugal, depending on how you look at it. He used the smaller tires on the front as they were cheaper and were sufficient for the job.

Keith

The narrow tires on front gave easier steering and carried less weight than the rears. This seems strange because of the engine in front, but notice also the larger rear springs. If you have 3, 200 lb people in the back seat, the front seat is about the center and the engine weighs less than 900 lbs.

Later when he came out with de-mountable wheels he went to the same size all around.
Norm

Harold, You answered your own question. The 1st Ford chassis was mainly designed for use as a Touring Car. The smaller 30" x 3" tires were cheaper than the 30" x 3.5" tires, and the weight on the front axle was less than it was on the back when loaded. With the back seat loaded with maybe three people the load on the rear axle was more. As Ford's production increased in the later teen years Ford's bulk buying of parts made this cost savings less, due all the tires he needed, brought the price to him down, this is probably why Canadian Fords used 30" x 3.5" all around.