How do I get my wheels with radial tires onto the rear wheel drums ??

[nicolosisa]

I am not concerned about judging. I just want to be able to safely drive my '54 Kaiser Manhattan, and preferably economically.

The tires I have been buying (one at a time, because I'm not drivable yet) are Sentry Touring 205/70 R15 96T SL BSW (black side walls) which are amazingly affordable at $50 each (plus tax & tire mounting) at Discount Tire Co. They look great on the front wheels, but I am now "wrestling", with the rear wheels. I have the stainless trim off of the rear wheel well, which improves clearance "a little". I have raised the differential about as high as my low-profile floor jack can extend, and I still can't get the width of the sidewall to pass between the center protrusion (spindle) of the rear axle hub and the fender itself. I am considering removing the cotter pin and the hex nut on the spindle, which just might give me just a tad more "wiggle room" to get the sidewall past the spindle head, but I'm not sure that even that would help ... (and I suspect there is a "better way").
Any suggestions, anyone??? Should I just admit defeat and call Triple A

[Gordie]

Try using your bumper jack one side at a time to maximize the lift and space between the car body and the frame. Your tire store should have a bumper jack that raises both sides of the rear bumper at the same time which is safer and quicker.  The stainless fender skirts definitely need to be removed before starting.  You can also use the floor jack on the frame ahead of the wheel well.  You may need a block of wood to maximize the lift on your floor jack.  Jack it up until the tire starts to leave the ground when mounted on the car for removing or installing it.  Be sure to block your car so it can't roll.

[joefrazer]

Deflate the tire. It will then easily pass between the inner fender and the spindle. Once on, re-inflate. Works for me.

[superk226]

How did you remove the old wheel and tire? What size was the old tire?

[rrdcorvair]

You said you were jacking up the differential.  That would only push the rear axle up higher in to the body.  You need to be placing the floor jack on the frame (just ahead of where the rear leaf springs attach) and just before the frame starts to curve upward.  You jack up the frame rail which as the car goes up the leaf spring and axle assembly sags downward.  Once the wheel comes up off the floor you can remove the tire assembly and put the new tires on.
 

[boatingbill]

rrdcorvair is correct. Do not use a bumper jack. KF bumpers can be dented or distorted by bumper jacks depending on the type used. Do not put a frame jack directly on the frame, put a block of hardwood between the jack and frame to prevent slippage.

[nicolosisa]

Thanks everyone, for some really good suggestions and cautions. I will let you know how things go.  As for the question asked by superk226, the wheel that I removed had a very old bias ply tire that was much narrower in the sidewall area. I no longer have it, because I dropped that wheel off earlier today at Discount Tire ,and I neglected to notice the tire size. I can tell you that it was an Atlas tire, which used to be sold (exclusively, I think) by Standard Oil back in the late '40s and early '50s when my dad worked at a Standard Oil filling station. So that tire was really old.

[nicolosisa]

Success!!
After considering all of the excellent suggestions, I decided to go with using my floor jack to lift the driver's side frame-rail.
I used this challenge as a reason to justify purchasing a cross-beam attachment for my floor jack (only $40 at Harbor Freight, after using a 20% off coupon).
The beam permitted spreading out the stress  on the frame (the lifting plates are rubber-faced and individually height adjustable).
I really recommend this cross beam to anyone looking to buy one. Thank you, once again, to everyone who offered suggestions.

[r1lark]

Didn't know those were out there. I went to HF to look at them, so here is a link:
https://www.harborfreight.com/steel-floor-jack-cross-beam-60762.html

The only comment I would have about this is to make sure the load on each side is fairly even. Otherwise it looks like a pretty handy device.

[Gordie]

It seems like that would kind of defeat the purpose of trying to jack up one side of the car and it would limit the space space needed to slip a wheel and tire through it.