wire wheel size for 62 W/Disc brakes
I have a 62 thunderbird convertible and it has disc brakes on it. I bought it as a roller and now ready to put wheels and tires on it, I really want wires and wide white wall radials but al the companies like coker and american go by charts and say I need 14". Problem is they wont clear brake calipers so I need 15". Any advise on where I can buy what I want that will work.
If you know the wheel manufacture, perhaps they could tell you the reccommended tire size. BUT, if you take one of your rims with you to any reputable local tire dealer you should be able to get a set to fit the rim and your wheel wells. Be advised that most dealers MUST put the manufactures reccommended tire on a car. Since you have 3rd party rims, you don't have a Ford factory size specification.
I think I misread your problem... Do you not have any wheels. I thought you had wire rims but now I don't think so. What wheels were on it when you bought it as a roller? If you don't have wire wheels, you will be VERY lucky to find wires that will fit your disk. Be sure to specify bolt pattern and size. Please let me know exactaly what you have and what you don't. The 65 and 66 have disk brakes and you might be able to find a used set of wheels to fit them.
You have 1 5 on 4 1/2 inch bolt pattern. The stock wheels were a 14X6. If you go for a 15X6 wheel, you should be fine. Just stay with the original offset. You can even go 15X 6 1/2 or 15X7. The first rim I would try is the wire wheel off a mid-80s Lincoln Town Car. They had a proper wire wheel as a factory option, in a 15X6 size. and you are probably looking at a P215/70R15 tire to give you the correct over all diameter. I would not go any narrower, so if that is too big around, look at a P215/65R15. The 70 series is available in a white wall in both S (white wall version of the Radial T/A) or H (white wall version of the Traction T/A) speed ratings from Diamond Back Tires. The tires will run somewhere around $250 each.
The Thunderbird wire wheels were made by Kelsey-Hayes and came in 1" and 15" diameters. They were 5-1/2" wide and te factory skirts on the t-birdshad to come off as the wire wheels would protrude past the skirts. Yo can now find the reproduction K.H. wire wheels as they are readily avaolable but quite expensive with Chinese made versions starting at $1600 all the way up to american ade stainless steel versions at $2200. You can buy rgular blackwall tires and use the wide whitewall add ons over your stock tires or buy the Coker repro tires. Here's a couple links to the wheels at http://www.cadillacworld.net/Thunderbird_kelsey_hayes_wheels.html or http://www.hobbycar.com/thunderbird-wire-wheels.html Good Luck, Kenny/MrBlueOval
Supposed to read 14" and 15", sorry for the typo. Kenny.
MAN, !!! Gotta get me a new keybard, umm, keyboard. This ones ready for the trash.
The 62 did not come with disk brakes. You need to find out what car these are off of to get the right wheel. If you are lucky, they will be from a 65-66 Bird and stock wheels will fit.
