Whitewall Width Question

Posted by Steve Henderson On 2018/2/24 12:46:57

I just bought a 1949 23rd Series Deluxe Eight sedan that sat in a garage for 25 years with some of the tires flat. I know I have to replace the tires to have any kind of safety on the road. The tires on the car now are H78-15 (tubeless) with 3-1/2 inch wide whitewalls.

I can't find any information on the internet as to correct whitewall width for the period. I'm considering radials, as I'd like this to be a road car. I hear good things about Diamondback radials, but I've always bought from Coker. Coker radials seem to be offered in 2-3/4 inch whitewalls only, 3/4 inches smaller than those on the car now.

Does anybody have recommendations about whitewall width in 1949 and/or use of radial tires on this car? Will the 1949 wheels stand up to the stress of radials? Should I have tubes added if I buy radials? Also, what do you think about Coker vs. Diamondback...or perhaps others?

If possible, I'd like to buy tires for this car only once, so any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve in Indiana