VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Chevrolet wheels and tires

I have some questions:

1. I have two different type of 16 inch wheels/rims (not the spoke kind). Looking at the groove, rut, or lower gap where the outer part of the rim is riveted to the inner part (with its six-lug holes), some have shoulders that are both at right angles while some have one side right angled with the other side at about 30 degree angle. Is the difference owing to different jobbers or different specs or different years or is there a slight difference in width (best I can remember there was no difference in width but I may be wrong on that)?

2. Did the 41 have an inner protector/liner for the tube to inflate against the rivets?

3. Did the 41 come with Firestone, B. F. Goodrich or Goodyears tires? Or was there a mix of these or others?

4. I've noticed the popularity of what is know as "Artillery Wheels." What years did they come on? Why are they so much in demand?

5. What was the width of the whitewall on the 600x16 tires in 41?

Any help on the above will be appreciated. Best, Charlie

The passenger car wheels from 1940 through 1948 were 16" X 4 . This wheel was also used on 1/2 ton trucks thru mid 1951. In mid 1951 the wheel was made 1/2" wider (4 1/2") for the trucks. (changed in production) After that time if you purchased a new wheel for a 1940-48 car you would get the 4 1/2" wheel. Its part # was 3693214. (I have a new one if you need one). This wheel was used on the 1/2 ton trucks up through the 1955 1st design trucks.
Seeing Chevrolet used millions of wheels from 1940 (and 5 per car) and up its obvious that they had more than one supplier so there will be minor differences.

No inner protector was used. That was a wire wheel item.

In 1941 the majority of new GM cars were equipped with US Royal tires. I would guess about 75 percent of 1941 Chevrolets had US Royal tires and the remainder had GoodRich. After WWII they had some Firestones. No Good Years were used at that time. The last Good Years were used in about 1932.

The inner tube would have been the same brand as the tire and the Goodrich inner tubes were a tan color. US black. The pre war inner tubes were a much thinner natural rubber and will not hold air as good as todays tubes. Many owners checked the tire pressure every week in 1941.

Artillary wheels (steel spoke wheels - not wire) became popular in the early '30's and the 1935 and 1936 Chevrolets had them. (and some later small trucks). Just like disc and wood spoke wheels, all were a fashion or style.

1941 and all year white wall tires were not of the same exact width. They could vary a little but the US Royal and Goodrich from that time were about 3 1/s" wide (the moder 6.00x16 Goodrich is about as correct as you can get)although the tread design is post WWII. The Firestone is of a 1941 tread design but was not used on a 1941 Chev and the US Royal is not made in a 16". ?Too bad the US Royal is not available as that tread design was made from 1940 through mid 1947. If you look in the 1941-1942 shop manuals you will see both the Goodrich and US Royal tread designs in pictures of things like used in the front end and brake section. The Us was a fairy decent tire and the Goodrich had a very poor side wall. In the 1950's it was just the ooposite.



US Royal changed to Uniroyal years back and is now owned by Michelin - and still uesd on some GM cars and rucks.
The US Royal tires were Dominion Royal in Canada.

Chevgene, what a detailed answer. Thanks so much. I think this may be of interest to many members. Best, Charlie

The artillery wheels are particularly popular with the " have every available option and accessory on thier car" owners and are specially keen on 15" and then 16" artillery wheels. Some were available with wider rims, but also enable the original hubcaps to fit.