Rim question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 18, 2015 | 09:24 AM

moose79

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 145

Likes: 0

From: london ontario

Rim question

I have a 1950 Mercury m-47. With what appears to be the original rims. Are the rims suitable to mount modern tires onto? Not gonna be a real fast truck. More of a cruiser with a 302.

Dec 18, 2015 | 10:13 AM

52 Merc

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 16,188

Likes: 4,795

From: Burbank, WA

The original rims will be 16x4 1/2". Lots of people use old rims with new tires without incident, so that wouldn't bother me. The issue will be finding a narrow enough tire that will fit on that rim. I think a 215-85R16 is going to be the tire of choice (fairly narrow with the height needed to be close to stock), but it's unsure if it will be a good fit on a 4 1/2" rim. You may want to check with vintage tire suppliers for other options.

Dec 18, 2015 | 05:32 PM

pbsdaddy

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 17,559

Likes: 1,081

From: Central Delaware

Try Coker tires. I'm sure they have a few options for you. Here are the bias plys. they also have radials

https://www.cokertire.com/catalogsea...Typen&q=600-16

Dec 18, 2015 | 06:05 PM

moose79

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 145

Likes: 0

From: london ontario

Thanks guys. That all being said what's the narrowest tire and widest tire I can mount to these rims safely

Dec 18, 2015 | 07:07 PM

pappacrunch

Mountain Pass

Joined: Feb 2014

Posts: 128

Likes: 29

From: Spring Valley

Here is a site where you can play around with tire and rim sizes to see what might work together.
Custom rims, wheel tire packages for your ride - RIMSnTIRES.com

This site has tools to let you see what tire sizes fit on different rim sizes.
https://tiresize.com/comparison/