White Wall Width?

[pjkaiser]

I purchased a 1953 Kaiser Traveler Deluxe three weeks ago and I love it.    It is a very clean and well maintained vehicle.   The tires are old and I don't want to trust them on the freeways.   I would like to know the proper width of the white wall for that year.  There is a 2-1/8", 2-3/4" and a 3-1/4 width.   I will be getting the radial that looks like a bias ply tire.

[j762538]

What show did you take it to? What is the display board?

[pjkaiser]

I found a foldout brochure on ebay for the 1953 traveler and took a picture of the inside of the explanation of the versatility of the  Traveler and had a poster board made of it.   It helps explain a great deal while I learn what questions people ask.

[Gordie]

The proper whitewall width for a 1947-53 Kaiser is 4 1/4 inches.  Radial tires were never used on K-F products but they are a popular item today but will get you points deducted in judging along with tubeless tires.  The 1953 Kaiser owners manual lists 6.70 X 15 as the original size and they are available from most of the antique tire sellers.

[pjkaiser]

Thanks for that bit of information, I do appreciate it.

[51Deluxe]

Also, just in case you haven't driven one with radials, all that rubber on the road makes it extremely hard to steer until you are rolling a bit.

[pjkaiser]

Yes, I do understand that part of it, fortunately my 53 Traveler has power steering.   It is a very nice addition to this already beautiful automobile!

[joefrazer]

Some followup to white wall widths. I checked with our chief judge and here's how the KFOCI sees things:

47-50K&F = 4”(3 1/2-4 1/2)
51F =  4”
51 and up = 3”-4”
Dragon = 3 1/2-4 1/2”
HJ = 3”-4”
Darrin 590/15 (tire) = 2 1/2-4”, 640/15 (tire) = 3-4”
Willys (passenger car) =  3-4”
Jeepster = 3-4”

[edc1953]

The reason I am asking is the above statement "popular item today but will get you points deducted in judging along with tubeless tires"
Will this tire work for the Judges on a 53 Kaiser Manhattan?
So, is this Tubeless Tire OK or do the Tires have to have Tubes?

Coker Tire#257-57500
Coker BFGoodrich Silvertown Whitewall Bias Ply Tire
670-15   ( 4.50'' x 28.40'' - 15'' )
3-5/8'' Whitewall Width
''A'' Tire Design

Coker Tire 57500 - Coker Tire BFGoodrich Silvertown Bias Ply Tires Details
''A'' Tire Design
Tire Tread Width: 4.50''
Tire Section Width: 7.00''
Tire Overall Diameter: 28.40''
Wheel Diameter: 15''
Recommended Wheel Width: 5.0'' - 6.0''
Construction: 4 Ply Poly; Tubeless



Thanks! *EDC*

[Terry T]

Don't put tubes in tubeless tires.
The tubes will wear against the inside of the tire and can get weak and blow out.

[Gordie]

Some followup to white wall widths. I checked with our chief judge and here's how the KFOCI sees things:

47-50K&F = 4”(3 1/2-4 1/2)
51F =  4”
51 and up = 3”-4”
Dragon = 3 1/2-4 1/2”
HJ = 3”-4”
Darrin 590/15 (tire) = 2 1/2-4”, 640/15 (tire) = 3-4”
Willys (passenger car) =  3-4”
Jeepster = 3-4”

I  think that we need to have a discussion about white wall tire width.  No one has ever made a 4" whitewall for a 5.90 x 15 tire as it would wrap into the tread.  KF factory installed tires were mostly supplied by just three manufacturers and the white wall width was standard at 4 1/4 Inches on full sized cars  My low mile '51 kaiser had the original tires on it when purchased and they were 4 1/4".  I still have the original spare and photos of when the car was new.  If you look at factory photos of Kaisers' and Frazer's they are all one size until 1954 when the tire industry decreased the whitewall width.  If we are going to allow a varied size white wall it defeats the purpose of judging as we will have no valid standards.  Darrin and Henry J tires were approximately 2 1/2 inches as were '54 and 55 full size cars.  47-53 Full size cars were all 4 1/4 inch.  Suggestions for judging standards are being formulated now.  If a member asks us for information we need to give him accurate advice.  Tires are expensive.  Did you know that white wall tires were not even available until March 1947 and came as standard equipment on the new Frazer Manhattan.  No US made 1946 automobiles had white wall tires.  That is why those plastic and metal beauty rims were so popular and Kaiser offered them as accessories as late as 1953.  Kaiser and Mopar used plastic and Ford and GM used metal ones and the Kaiser Frazer issued ones came in a set of five packaged in a large envelope. If you can find a set they are correct for black wall tires at least through 1953.  I have a set on my GP Frazer. The metal ones just press onto the rims while the plastic ones are held in place by the hubcaps.  Be sure that the caps are on tight!

[joefrazer]

The next time I'm in the barn I'll measure the whitewall width on my HJ tire. It's a never-been-down spare that's now fossilized, but is a whitewall!

[Gordie]

Great!  If it is an original issue tire that is good proof of the whitewall width.  We need old originals for Henry J and Willys.  !954 and 1955 could be a different size than the '51-53 especially for the '54 Henry J as it was made during the year that the tire industry down sized the WW tire width.  I wouldn't be surprised if the '54 Henry J was narrower as were the '54-55 Willys.  I'll take the cover off of my Willys continental kit to see if it might have an original as it has not been licensed since 1963.  If you guys have original spare tires that you are positive are original please measure them and post here for future reference.  Few aftermarket tires would have the original dimensions especially off brand tires.  We need tires that we know are original to the car.  Thanks for helping!

[joefrazer]

The white wall width on the original spare in my 54 HJ is 2 1/2".

[Gordie]

Thanks,  that is good evidence for the 1954 Henry J whitewall tire width.  Does anyone have comments regarding the Willys Aero or earlier Henry J's?   I have lots of factory photos that illustrate them but don't have the exact width for our judging standards.  After market tires can have any width so we need original tires that we are positive came on the car when new.  Sears Allstate tires would only be good for Allstate cars.  Original pictures of new Allstate's look the same as the Henry J but the Allstate was originally sold with their own brand of tires and batteries.  K-F cars were sold with only one whitewall width and there were no variations.