53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

For Pre A discussions and questions
Message
Author
User avatar
Curtis Batchelder
356 Fan
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:18 pm
Location: United States

53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#1 Post by Curtis Batchelder »

I have a 53' Coupe #512xx in metal restoration, the rear fender profiles were enlarged by a previous owner. It is time to consider the rim size and tire combination, has anyone used the new "Model A's from HRBB" either the 16" x 5.5 or 15" x 5 Aluminum Rims? Any ideas or comments on radial tire sizes for stock fender profiles?

Thanks

Curtis

User avatar
Greg Bryan
356 Fan
Posts: 3692
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:05 pm
Location: San Pedro, CA 90732; Fallen Leaf, CA 96150
Contact:

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#2 Post by Greg Bryan »

Curtis - I'm sure someone will speak up with info regarding your question.
We love to see pictures of cars undergoing restoration, hint-hint ...
Good luck!
Greg Bryan

User avatar
James Davies
356Talk Moderator
Posts: 2951
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 9:15 am
Location: Heidelberg, DE

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#3 Post by James Davies »

I would not go with a wider rim size if you want to keep stock fenders. There just is not enough room. With the original 16x3.25 rims, you can go with a 550R16 Michelin or Avon radial. Hard to get on, but it will fit. Anything larger probably won't fit.

User avatar
Jules Dielen
356 Fan
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#4 Post by Jules Dielen »

James Davies wrote:I would not go with a wider rim size if you want to keep stock fenders. There just is not enough room. With the original 16x3.25 rims, you can go with a 550R16 Michelin or Avon radial. Hard to get on, but it will fit. Anything larger probably won't fit.
+1 i just went from a 5.00x 16 to a 5.50 x 16 on my 52/53 and was surprised about the tight fit. I am running 185x70 on my A without problems.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

Hendrik Moulds
356 Fan
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:35 am
Location: Beautiful Yorkshire, UK

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#5 Post by Hendrik Moulds »

Can't remember without looking but I think I have 5.25 crossply tyres on my standard wheels.
They fit fine in the wheel arch although there's not much room for manoeuvre.
I can imagine anything more will be very tight.
'53 Cabriolet
'61 Notchback

User avatar
Curtis Batchelder
356 Fan
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:18 pm
Location: United States

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#6 Post by Curtis Batchelder »

Ew054331.JPG
Thanks for the input guys!
Attachments
IMG_1975.JPG
IMG_2271.JPG
IMG_2222.JPG
fender01.JPG
Ew050331.JPG
Last edited by Curtis Batchelder on Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
James Davies
356Talk Moderator
Posts: 2951
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 9:15 am
Location: Heidelberg, DE

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#7 Post by James Davies »

Looking really good Curtis!

User avatar
Curtis Batchelder
356 Fan
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:18 pm
Location: United States

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#8 Post by Curtis Batchelder »

Finished - 16" Rims w/ Michelin 550 X 16 TT Radials.
Attachments
IMG_0372.jpg
IMG_0372.jpg (649.36 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
IMG_0371.jpg
IMG_0371.jpg (558.92 KiB) Viewed 2599 times

User avatar
Jules Dielen
356 Fan
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#9 Post by Jules Dielen »

coming along well Curtis! Do they fit in the wheel wells? I can't fit 5.50 in mine without deflating the tire :(
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

User avatar
Curtis Batchelder
356 Fan
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:18 pm
Location: United States

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#10 Post by Curtis Batchelder »

Jules
Too early to tell, I'm just about finished re-bushing the front suspension.
I wasn't planning on 16" rims but had some problems with a set of aluminum 15" rims, and abandoned that effort.
What it came to me with was 165 SR 15's, those are a bit shorter but wider profile and the prior owner liked them.

Martin Bruechle
356 Fan
Posts: 392
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:41 am
Location: So Cal

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#11 Post by Martin Bruechle »

Looking good Curtis. I've got the same problem with my rear fenders on my 53. The previous owner trimmed the top of the fenders about 2" and about halfway down the arch.
I was wondering how you got the measurement for the center height ? Had some crappy flares on it. I have factory fenders trimmed off a rear clip.
If you have any measurements that you used to get the correct height I could use them.
Thanks, Martin

User avatar
Mark Todorovich
356 Fan
Posts: 482
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:42 pm
Tag: Drive em
Location: St. Louis, Mo.

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#12 Post by Mark Todorovich »

I just went to moto tire USA with 5 newly painted wheels (16/3.25) . Between me and the tire guy Heidenau sent the 16/5.5, they looked too tall to me . I had him order the 16/5:0 ,I hope that I am doing the right thing.
Mark Todorovich 4243
52 Coupe
56 Speedster project now underway
63 Cab?

George Kehler
356 Fan
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:24 am
Location: johnson city, tn

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#13 Post by George Kehler »

I ordered the Michelin tires and found them to look too tall. Sold them and replaced with Dunlops. Look and drive great but they are not made anymore.
George Kehler II

1955 Coupe
1971 911 S
1997 993 Targa

User avatar
Mark Todorovich
356 Fan
Posts: 482
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:42 pm
Tag: Drive em
Location: St. Louis, Mo.

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#14 Post by Mark Todorovich »

Wheel color? Does anyone have a correct wheel color recommendation. Last time I had sheet metal powder casted I used a black with a gloss percent. I think we chose 80. I don’t want my wheels to look like they are trying to be chrome. With rattle cans getting a dull silver seems tough to get right.
Mark Todorovich 4243
52 Coupe
56 Speedster project now underway
63 Cab?

User avatar
Donald Zingg
356 Fan
Posts: 371
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:03 pm
Location: Sunny So. California
Contact:

Re: 53' Pre A 16" Rim Questions.

#15 Post by Donald Zingg »

Mark Todorovich wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:34 pm I just went to moto tire USA with 5 newly painted wheels (16/3.25) . Between me and the tire guy Heidenau sent the 16/5.5, they looked too tall to me . I had him order the 16/5:0 ,I hope that I am doing the right thing.
According to Veiko Marschner at Heidenau, the P29 5.00-16 tire diameter is 677mm, which is pretty close to OEM tire spec for P-356 cars. The diameter is 695mm on their (wider) 5.50-16 P29 tire.
Mark, after your order arrives, please share your experience of getting these tires from Germany.

Post Reply