VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 600X16 vs 650X16

Because of the narrow profile of the 600x16 I've been toying with the idea of getting 650x16s for the 41 conv. Not much difference but still they would be a little fatter and not much more in circumference.

Anyone have any experience with this swap? Any suggestions? Pros and cons? Any geometry concerns for the front end?
Charlie

Are you going to a radial?

The factory option would have been 6.25 X 16, a size that was discontinued during WWII. My suggestion would be getting Firestone 6.00 X 16 as the Firestones tend to run oversized compared to other brands Also they have a white wall that is and stays white and the tread design was used back in 1941.

http://www.dbtires.com/2011_catalog/2011catalog_Hi.pdf

page 19 & 20


IF you go to a radial.

600/16= 195/80r/16= 28 inches height
650/16= 225/75r/16= 29.3 inches height

bottom line is 1.3 inches difference


If you don't go to a radial

My 1940 has the 600x16 coker whitewalls, a friend of mine has 650 x 16 whitewalls on his 1940, I guess both is possible and there is not really much difference between.

Stefangermany

Thanks everyone. One further question:

With everything else being about equal, do radials roll easier than bias belted tires? Seems to me that when radials first came out that was one of the selling points. Don't recall for sure.
Charlie

One thing you need to be aware of is the 195 cross section radial is 1 3/4" wider than a 600x16 so it's not the "perfect" substitute as the seller claims. I bought a set of 195 radials (not from Diamond Back) and had to send them back because they wouldn't clear my skirts. A closer approximation would be 185/85R16s but I've not found anyone in this country selling them.

I had old dry rotted nylon tires before going to radials but after the switch it seemed like it was much smoother and much more quiet. The DB tires have no markings on the whitewall side of the tires, all the needed info is on the other side.They come wrapped like a mona lisa and have detailed instructions for care. I really like mine and I'm picky about almost everything.

It seems like every 3 or 4 months we debate the radial/biased tire issue. Are we all getting that old that we don't remember what we talked about before? This would be a good topic to check the chat index for pros and cons. I too need new tires for my 41. I challenge Charlie to come up with the ultimate list of reasons for and against radials. Maybe it would be a good article for our magazine "Generator and Distributor," but knowing my memory they probably just did an article!!!
Good night, Mike

I put a set of radials on my '48 with 15" rims, it made a heck of a difference in ride, noise, and drivability. Now, I just put a set of 600-16 bias ply from Coker on my '37, it made a heck of a difference in ride, noise, and drivability. My conclusion is, you can't beat a new set of tires! The bias ply do look more original.

Maybe we need a TIRES section .

I had the same experiance as Unclw ED. Put a new set of bias on my '39 and now it drives like it is on rails.
I testes a set of radials onmy 1950 and 1957 and ended up staying with the bias.
Radials end to have the tread peel off after a time.....I will stay with bias.

Not a bad idea!

Mike,
Sorry about the thread becoming more than I intended. My first question was about the 600 vs 650 application on a 41. The second question was about the rolling resistance between the radial and the bias tires (never got a reply on that).

I didn't intend that the post become a bias vs radial question, i.e., regarding which gave the best service, ride, handling, etc. You are right about basic bias vs radial issue being discussed quite often. But, still, I guess it is a popular topic, and because some may be at the threshold of making a decision about what new tires to buy, me included, the issue will continue to pop up now and then. They cost too much to get it wrong.

Please just bear with us, GRIN
Charlie

BTW: As to forgetfulness, I plead guilty as charged. Bigger grin.

Charlie,
The radials have lower rolling resistance than bias ply tires. That is because the bias ply tire tread "squirms" due to angle of plies. Radial tread rolls without the squirm. That is why radials get more gas mileage, last longer and run straighter. Radials do have some drawbacks like more lateral pressure on wheels in turns, tread separation and harder steering particularly at low speeds.

Chipper,
I think your reply is "right on."
Thanks,
Charlie