Radial tires on 1963 Avanti

[floyd jaehnert]

I have read some articles about wheels cracking when used with radial tires on original type wheels. What are the issues, is it the age of the wheels, the width of the wheels or the type of wheel used. What replacement  wheel would be the best to use?.

[PackardV8]

Tubeless radial tires exert far more pressure on the bead area of the wheel than did tube-type bias tires. 

All manufacturers redesigned their wheels, making them of heavier gauge steel.

So yes, an original Studebaker wheel, equipped with wider-than-optimum tubeless radials has been known to fail.  "But I like the look of the wider tires.  Those 195s just look too skinny."  If going 205, 215, 225, go with stronger wheels.

The Avanti wheels, being 5" wide, will last longer and take more use/abuse than the 4.5" sedan wheels.

In the bad old days, wrecking yards were awash with Ford and Mopar wheels with the same 4.5" bolt circle as Studebaker.  That's what most chose to substitute.  A 6" x 15' is about perfect for the Avanti.   Some of the 7" and wider wheels, not so much.

FWIW, fifty years ago, I got a rude surprise, choosing some 6" wheels stamped FoMoCo, had them sandblasted and painted, only to discover they were Mercury, which had a 4.75" bolt circle.

jack vines