MTFCA Forum

I need one wheel (prefer rear but easily converted) like this picture

So a thirty by three and a half? I know what the records say. But I and a dozen other people have seen many fronts in 30X3 size! Regardless,I do like to see someone putting a set of these onto a car and using them!

Do you plan on reusing those spokes???

Wayne, I may well be all wet here, but I THINK all of the steel felloe non demountable wheels were 30x3 1/2. I had some years ago that were in great shape. I was going to use the spokes to rebuild some 30x3 1/2 demountables but was told they wouldn't fit. Never did check them out though as I sold them. Dave

According to the Ford Price List of Parts & The Encyclopedia, there were both 30 x 3 & 30 x 3.5 non-demountable steel felloe wheels - I have several 30 x 3 fronts.

I used to think the steel felloe wheels were only made in 30 x 3-1/2 size. I thought the 30 x 3 inch size was just a legend. But I also now have a pair of 3 inch steel fellow wheels.
When I bought a very early 26 touring that appears to have been a non starter car, it came with two 30 x 3-1/2 inch steel fellow wheels. The research I have done on the 26-27 improved models seem to show that the steel fellow wheels were 30 x 3-1/2 inch for front and rear in 26-27. The 3 inch size is probably 25 and before. The steel fellow wheels also seem to be closely tied to non starter cars. I have not seen a "date of change" for steel fellow wheels. Old parts manuals I have show them in 25, 26, and 27. I have heard they may go back as far as 1921 . ???. But I have not looked in pre 25 parts manuals for them.
There is not much hard evidence as to the time frame the steel fellow wheels were used.

Information available in the Encyclopedia states the wood felloe was replaced with steel in 1920. It also makes reference to 30 x 3 non-demountable wheels used on the fronts.

Donnie

The parts listings from Bruce's C-D confirm what you posted, those steel felloe wheels, made by Hayes, were likely first around 1920, of course Ford used other mfg wheels too, so wood felloe 30 x 3 might have been around then too.

Have seen only a few of these 3" clinchers, most times find 30 x 3 1/2" steel felloe, this one with the 11" brake drum, likely on a Plain Jane '26-27

Very interesting. As a Canadian I “assumed “(dangerously) that they were 30x3-1/2.
I need to do some measurements.
I am thinking about putting them on a speedster built with a 13 engine. The 3 wheels I have are nice and tight.
Always something to learn

Foreign market (Canada, UK, etc.) cars ran 30x3.5" (23" rims) all around. US cars in the pre-demountable era ran 30x3 in front (24" rims), 30x3.5 in the rear. Demountables (available from 1919) ran 30x3.5 all around.

A US pre (or non) starter car that was sent to Canada would have 30x3 fronts.

I won't get into baloon tires here... because it would confuse the issue.

So since there was 30x3 steel felloe wheels has anybody ever put a 30x3 1/2 tire on one? I’ll bet this has been done before and folks didn’t realize it.

A 30 x 3 inch tire will not fit a 30 x 3-1/2 inch rim, or visa versa.

A 30 x 3 inch tire has a 24 inch hole. (24inch rim)
A 30 x 3-1/2 inch tire has a 23 inch hole. (23 inch rim)

The 30 is the outside diameter of the tire
The 3 or 3-1\2 is the sidewall height (not the width)

If you double the sidewall measurement and then subtract it from 30 that gives you the rim size.

Example. 3+3=6. 30-6=24 inch rim

This is how tire and rim size was figured in the T era.

The formula even works for the 4.50 x 21 inch balloon tires
4.50 + 4.50 = 9. Since original 4.50 x 21 inch tires are 30 inch outside diameter. 30 - 9 = 21 inch rim