Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum
General Category => Willys Forum => Topic started by: ss442 on March 24, 2011, 12:02:42 PM
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i have a 1952 willys aero eagle with original type tires they are 6.40-15 goodyears however i cant seem to be able to find a modern size thats compatible ive heard 205 75 15 will work but will wear unevenl due to being wider any suggestions looking to go cheap
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what other wheel options will work for the aero
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Here is a converter with lots of explanations. It doesn't have 6.40 x 15, but between 6.00 and 6.50 should be good. What would would want to get (IMO only) is the tallest skinniest radial you can get, so forget 60 or 65, and strive for a minimum of 70; 75 is better, and if they still sold P-Metric, that would be best.
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HERE is the link--forgot it!
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevylist/tech/tire_size_conversion.htm
If you are having trouble finding tall skinny 75 or 80 tires, try looking for light truck tires or consult with a large RV place as they might be able to supply something appropriate (likely not in whitewall, but you can always go the re-pro route if you wish and you win a lottery <g>) NORMALLY, some RV trailer tires might not be suitable for regular modern cars due to power/speed ratings, but there might be something which would be fine for an Aero
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thanks jim b, the conversion chart was very helpful to me now i can understand such a confusing problem thanks again
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I put 205 75R15 tires on my 54 Aero Eagle Custom and was not happy with the ride, handling and slow speed steering compliments of the radials. I had radials on my 48K and didn't have the same troubles. I swapped the radials off the Aero for 6.40x15 bias ply tires and the difference was remarkable. I do not recommend using radials on the Aeros. The suspension and steering geometry is obviously alot different than that of a Kaiser and was noticeable in the poor performace of the radials.
By the way, the tires were a better than average quality Firestone tire.
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Ah, glad to hear from a 'voice of experience'. There are always trade-offs with radials versus bias, and handling versus ride comfort is the obvious one. Just as an aside, and not a direct comment on the Aeros as such, generally speaking, you cannot 'just' replace the tires in an older car especially one with king pins. Some tweaking has to be done (toe in, camber etc) to get each tire to work as 'properly' (based on its design) as you can get it to work, because they have such different characteristics. That's if you can find a radial that is (remotely) close to the size and shape of a bias in the first place.
I remember a fellow being upset with his Studebaker, after he went to the trouble and expense of getting repro bias tires with the wide whitewalls--it just didn't ride like it had before. Turns out that the suspension had been adjusted at some time prior to when he purchased it FOR radial tires, and when it went back to bias he forgot to give the specs for the OEM style of tires. It was in an older shop where this normally would have been been picked up, but it was a younger fellow was doing it instead of one of the old pros, and he was unaware that bias just are different that way.
Another thing to remember as a safety issue is that steel belted radials have a safe life of maybe 7 years from date of manufacture, whereas the fabric belted bias--with care and protection from sunlight--can last a lot longer.
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i have a 1952 willys aero eagle with original type tires they are 6.40-15 goodyears however i cant seem to be able to find a modern size thats compatible ive heard 205 75 15 will work but will wear unevenl due to being wider any suggestions looking to go cheap
6:40 x 15 Firestone tires are available in Coker's 2011 catalog and they are available from Lucas as well.
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Whatever you mount on your Aero wheels BEWARE! Any bias-ply tire larger than 6.40X15 will rub on the tie rod ends, eventually grinding through the wall of the tire. If you go to a radial, don't go to a larger "comparable" tire unless checking for clearance first.
I had this problem in an F-head Aero with the smaller trunnions. I do not know if the larger trunnions of the 226-engine car will make a difference.
The rear wheels have planty of clearance.
Also, the four lug pattern of the Aero 15" wheels is the same pattern as the 14" Ford Falcon wheels which also bolt up to AMC and Chrysler if I remember correctly. I do not know of any 15" pattern the same as of this writing.