Factory Specs
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: St. Louis
Factory Specs
I'm new to this forum but i just bought a 1949 Mercury m47. I'm looking for information on factory specifications and options. Specifically right now I'm looking for tires. It has a set of very aggressive tread tires something like I'd expect to see on an old military Jeep. I've looked at several vintage tire providers and all they offer are car-like tires, some with different sized white walls, some with out, any thoughts?
Dave
Dave
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,153
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From: Burbank, WA
Welcome to the Forum, Dave! It's always good to have another 'upscale' Mercury guy around here. 
Unless your truck is 4 wheel drive, as Bob asked, the standard tire was a 6.00x16 blackwall, with a slightly larger and heavier duty 6.50x16 (also b/w) being available as an option. Both were a typical highway tread design, or car-like as you described.
These old trucks were fairly spartan and basic by today's standards. Anything out of the ordinary, including a passenger side sun visor and windshield wiper, was optional.
Unless your truck is 4 wheel drive, as Bob asked, the standard tire was a 6.00x16 blackwall, with a slightly larger and heavier duty 6.50x16 (also b/w) being available as an option. Both were a typical highway tread design, or car-like as you described.
These old trucks were fairly spartan and basic by today's standards. Anything out of the ordinary, including a passenger side sun visor and windshield wiper, was optional.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,288
Likes: 1,053
From: NM
The original tires would have been tall, narrow tires. The equivalent nowadays is probably a 215/85-16 radials. There are vintage tire places that sell something like the old ones, but they are big bucks and (in my humble opinion) not as good a tire. If you have 15's, something like a P235/75-15 is a good bet (I went with Goodyear RT/S in this size, excellent tires); in 16's if you want a tall narrow tire the Yokohama Geolander in 215/85-16 is supposed to be a good tire. Goodyear makes the Falken brand in the same size, mixed reviews on performance, but cheaper.
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
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From: Central Illinois
If Bob is trolling for a Marmon-Herrington, it'll be the first Merc I've come across!
As for stock tires, if you want to really be stock and go with bias ply tires, there are at least three that can set you up with very stock looking truck type tires. The one I like is Universal Tire because they sell STA brand that is US made. The others are M.E. Miller Tire, and Coker Tire. Here's their links. Stu
Truck and Military
M.E. Miller Tire
Military & Truck - Tire Brands
As for stock tires, if you want to really be stock and go with bias ply tires, there are at least three that can set you up with very stock looking truck type tires. The one I like is Universal Tire because they sell STA brand that is US made. The others are M.E. Miller Tire, and Coker Tire. Here's their links. Stu
Truck and Military
M.E. Miller Tire
Military & Truck - Tire Brands
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 785
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From: Canada
Dave, when I had my 1950 Merc I did some research on the options, I believe it was through a Dealer Brochure.
Anyway the list I came up with was the following, now this was for a 1950 Merc.
6.50 X 16 Tires, White Walls were an option, Heater, Dual Wipers, Passenger Sun Visor, Spot Light, Cigar Lighter, Fog Lamps, Dual Tail Lights, Turn Signals, Rear Bumper, here the good one "Electric Shaver"
As for Tires if your going to put a new set on your Truck, I would go with Radials as Ross pointed out. If you can get a hold of 15 inch wheels your options are a wider range. Make sure you get the wheels that the Hub Caps fit.
Word of caution if your going with Bias Ply Tires, stay away from the "78 Series Tires". These in my own personal opinion are suicide and should be removed from the market. I had a set of these Tires on my 51 Ford in the Avatar, and almost lost it a couple of times on the Ruts in the Road.
Radials are the way to go and if you have the stock Steering Box, go with a narrow front Tire, easier steering.
Hope this helps you out a little.
Anyway the list I came up with was the following, now this was for a 1950 Merc.
6.50 X 16 Tires, White Walls were an option, Heater, Dual Wipers, Passenger Sun Visor, Spot Light, Cigar Lighter, Fog Lamps, Dual Tail Lights, Turn Signals, Rear Bumper, here the good one "Electric Shaver"
As for Tires if your going to put a new set on your Truck, I would go with Radials as Ross pointed out. If you can get a hold of 15 inch wheels your options are a wider range. Make sure you get the wheels that the Hub Caps fit.
Word of caution if your going with Bias Ply Tires, stay away from the "78 Series Tires". These in my own personal opinion are suicide and should be removed from the market. I had a set of these Tires on my 51 Ford in the Avatar, and almost lost it a couple of times on the Ruts in the Road.
Radials are the way to go and if you have the stock Steering Box, go with a narrow front Tire, easier steering.
Hope this helps you out a little.
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Mountain Pass
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From: St. Louis
Thanks for all the replies. Its not a 4 x 4 and I ever never been here before so I dont know about the "Jeep type, can some one ID these tires."
I have the original 16" wheels. I also found on Ebay an original 1949 M47 owners manual. It shows a standard 6.50x16 tire but doesnt specify what tire. It only has the drivers windshield wiper so if they didnt go for the optional wiper I would be surprised if they went for the optional white walls. My plan is to keep this as original as possible. I've been trying to find original pictures but they are hard to find. I'm probably putting to much effort into this. I dont know how to post a picture, If I can figure it out I will. We need to get a few Merc's on board, right 52Merc?
I have the original 16" wheels. I also found on Ebay an original 1949 M47 owners manual. It shows a standard 6.50x16 tire but doesnt specify what tire. It only has the drivers windshield wiper so if they didnt go for the optional wiper I would be surprised if they went for the optional white walls. My plan is to keep this as original as possible. I've been trying to find original pictures but they are hard to find. I'm probably putting to much effort into this. I dont know how to post a picture, If I can figure it out I will. We need to get a few Merc's on board, right 52Merc?
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Canada
49M47
Here is an under hood of the 1950 Merc I once owned. As you can see the engine is a sort of Ivory Color. This is the correct color, and you can buy this at Bill Hirsch or anyone that sells his Paint.
Its called Packard Ivory, and is the closest match to the Factory Color.
I will post another pic of the Truck showing the details, this was the correct Color for this Truck as you see it.
Here is an under hood of the 1950 Merc I once owned. As you can see the engine is a sort of Ivory Color. This is the correct color, and you can buy this at Bill Hirsch or anyone that sells his Paint.
Its called Packard Ivory, and is the closest match to the Factory Color.
I will post another pic of the Truck showing the details, this was the correct Color for this Truck as you see it.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 171
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From: Long Beach/Crestline, Ca
For all your "classic" tire needs. Lucas Classic & Vintage Tires, wide white wall, Pirelli Cinturato, Goodyear, Denman, Lester, Universal .. IMO with a stock truck i'd run a OEM bias ply on it. Yes i know the bias plys tend to thump till they warm up and the flatspot goes away. But i'll live with that for the easy steering the old tall and skinnys give. Tried a "close" radial on my 55 buick "no power steering". went back to the 6.70 x 15s the owners manual calls for. You can just about 1 palm on the steering wheel that car now.