VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum Best Tires and Shocks for my 1950 Fleetline Sedan?

I'm preparing my '50 sedan to go back on the road after a 45 year rest. I purchased it in 1973 with almost new bias ply 6.70-15 tires which still look like new but I am assuming it is not a good idea to drive the highway with these. Am I correct? I have gathered that radials are the best way go for drive ability. Are stock rims suitable for radials? The owner's manual lists both 6.70-15 and 7.10-15 as being available, is either one preferable? My current tires are blackwall but my car is a black deluxe model and I think whitewalls would look better. Any suggestions for the period correct whitewall width? My car is a 34,000 mile survivor that has always been stored inside and will be used primarily as a driver seeing limited miles on gravel and pavement. I am not looking for car show points and would appreciate any suggestions on purchasing reasonably priced, good quality tires and shocks. Thanks. Jim

I have radials on my '51 with original wheels. Have been on it over 10 years and no problems. Tracks so much better than bias ply. There are plenty of options with black wall tires but very limited and more expensive with whitewalls. You will have to determine if the extra cost and maintenance are worth it.

Had radials on my 52 mounted tubeless when i bought it. You needed arms like a gorilla to steer when not moving or going slow. Put four new bias on and steers much easier. Does not track as good but I like driving it.

Money is just a detail.

Order a set (5) Diamond Backs in whitewall. I'd go for the regular production 670x15 ones.

If you want to get more speed than the old 4:11 differential will give you then look for a 3:55 or 3:74. The power glides used the 3:55 and in 51 thru 54 used a 3:74 with standard transmission. Somebody check me on this because I'm not sure about the years and ratios.

Good luck with your car.

Best,

Charlie

I have bias ply on my 1950. ran a set of radials for one year and went back to bias which look better and makes steering easier especialy if your 1950 is an early model with the 1949 steering ratio.
&.710 were usd on convertible with Power Glide, only due to increased front end weight.
The Firstones I have on my 1950 are a little fatter tan original and almost look like 7.10 size. Also white wallls stay nice and white. The 3 1/4" white wall is correct for 1952 and older.
The Firestone available is also one of the brands GM used in 1950 and is of the same tread pattern.
I feel that mt 1950 goes down the road well with bias and a tight front suspension and steering...
For rear shocks most gas shocks today are very stiff. I found a non-gas shock for mine.

Gene, any idea/info on what is considered "1950 is early model with 1949 steering ratio". I have a 50 I'm working on and wonder how I can tell. ...by vin/production number?
(Its only been in and out of my shop a few times since buying it)

The late style has a large raise letter X in the casting. It is on the top of the steering box near the oil filler plug. Early has nothing.
Change in about March of 1950.

Thank you, Gene, for the clarification. I"ll check mine tomorrow before it goes to the painter.

Gene,

You posted that owing to the extra weight of the power-glide transmission, the 1950 convertible came with 7.10 x 15 tires.

The 1929-50 parts book merely shows in group 5.803: 1949-50 All Pass... (15x 5k) (w/6.70 x15 tires).

Was there a bulletin that came out after the parts book was made that corrected this listing owing to the extra weight? If so, what number bulletin said so?

I wonder how much heavier the PG was over the regular 3-speed manual transmission. Doesn't seem there would have been so much difference to call for a larger tire.

Just wondering.

Thanks,

Charlie

Charlie, I was led to believe that the convertibles came with the 7.10X15 tires because the extra framing in them led to a heavier vehicle, hence the larger tire.

Charlie, look at this. It is in the spec. sheet.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/5037.htm

Look at the last listing for tires and wheels.(2134)

'41, To your question, the 710-15s were listed as RPO 283 on the convertibles with PG only, '50-'52. That was expanded to an option (RPO 297) on most other models, '53-'54. These RPOs are listed in the original Chevy specs, documented in the Vehicle Information Kits, by model year (available at the GM Heritage site as I'm sure you know).

I don't think the larger tire size had just to do with the weight of the transmission, since the PG-equipped sedans still had the standard 670-15 tires, and RPO 288 added an option for 6-ply 670-15 tires for load capacity (although the comparison is interesting - 3-speed standard weighs 55lbs and PG weighs 219lbs - data from the '50 and '51 VIK). The convertible also had an extra x-brace in the frame, which also added weight, but it seems more likely the larger tire fitment was more of a marketing nod to the sportiness of the convertible (and perhaps a desire for better ride than the 6-ply tires would have provided).

Hope this helps.

Doug

The convertible weighed more than a sedan. The Power Gide added another 125 pounds to the front tires make that exceeded the load capacity for a 6.70 tire so the 7.10 was used. The sedan had 1725 pounds on the front tires and the convertible 1845 then add the weight of the heavy cast iron Power Glide..
The tire pressure recommended for a cold tire was 24 pounds.
The wagons which were heavy to begin with and could carry 8 passsengers came with 6.70X15 6 PLY tires and that with the increased recommended pressure had the 6 ply tire exceed the 7.10 4 ply for load rating.

All that makes sense to me.

I wonder how long did they keep having a larger tire for the power glide equipped cars?

Thanks to all who replied.

Best,

Charlie

The weight on te front wheels of a sedan just made the weight qualificication for a 6.70 tire. Consumer Reports said the 6.70 tires were over loaded.