VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Tire size for a 1941 chevrolet

I just bought a 1941 Chevvy coupe. Tires on it now are 600-16 bias ply. I'm going to put on radials, and I'm wondering if I can go to a 650-16 size instead. And thanks to the guys who gave great info on oil pressure on another thread I posted. Ed

Ed,

If I understand your post correctly, I think the 650x16 is too big. 600x16s came on the car and, as Goldilocks would say, they are just right.

As to radials, I don't know what the equlivant size is to the 600x16 or the 650x16s would be.

I recommend you get the bias Firestones or BFGs. Coker has them as well as other sources found in the G&D.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

Charlie

BTW: The 650x16 is too stout to properly fit under the tray in the trunk.

I agree.The 6.50 is just too fat.

Is this just a cosmetic preference or is there a handling problem with the larger size? I would assume the diameter would be slightly larger.

The O.D. of a 6.00x16 is 28.50" ad the 6.50 is 29.10". cross section is 13.60" VS 13.90",
Dosen't sound like much but completely changes the picture for looks.
The optional oversized tire (for a 6.00X16) in 1941 was a 6.25x16 and that size was discontinued during WWII.

215/70R16 is the closest equivalent to the 6.00-16 in a chart I have. 225/75R16 is listed for 6.50-16.

Sounds like the 2.15 would be too wide for the stock 4.25" rim.
Also the 70 series would be smaller in diameter.

I put 6.50-16R Coker Classic.on our '40. Drove good with a good ride. Only problem was it did not fit well in the trunk. Did not fit all the way in the well.

I got them by a suggestion from a fellow that has driven a '40 on several Great Races and about 300,000 miles.

The 6.50 (bias) will improve the ride slightly but would be incorrect for judging and make the speedometer/odometer about 4% slow.
For general driving would be a little improvement.
I my self would not get Cokers, but rather Goodrich or Firestone as their white walls stay white after a few years where the Cokers I see turn yellow.

Ed I do not remember you giving your reason for changing your bias ply???I spent a lot of money creating a matching set of wheels and radials for my 48,so I could easily switch back for judging....But what I found was that there is very little difference in ride comfort and performance between the bias ply and the radials

A very close cross for the 600x16 is a 185/85R16 but good luck finding them on this side of the pond.

HI, guys, thanks for all that info on tire size. So I'll stick with the 600-16 size. As for bias-ply vrs. radials, I always assumed radials give better handling and steering performance. But if you guys think bias is ok, I'll go along with you. (they're less expensive, too). Thanks, again, for the input, Ed

The radials also have a shorter safe to use life.