Tires: tire conversion for 1958 Ford Fairlane 500, tire size conversion, tire size conversion chart

Question
I have a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500. It has 8.00 x 14 bias ply tires on it. I'd like to convert them to WSW steel belted radials. The vintage tire size conversion chart indicates that the P215/75R14 or the P225/70R14 tires would be compatible. However, on an earlier question it was stated that the rim for my current tire isn't wide enough to support the weight requirements of the radial. I really want to use my wheels if possible. Is the conversion chart wrong or could the more narrow of the identified tires still work? I don't want to buy the tires if they really aren't appropriate for the wheels. Thanks.

Answer
Richard,

Modern radial tires are done differently than the old style bias tires - and the result is that there may or may not be an acceptable alternative.

To answer such a question, I developed a spreadsheet.  You can find it on my website:

http://www.barrystiretech.com/vintagetireexchange.html

If you look up 8.00-14, you'll find that a P205/75R14 is an acceptable alternative with the following provision:  The tires is going to be smaller in diameter and wider by 0.2".

Now, that's different that the chart you were looking at.  I googled to see if I could find the chart you were looking at to see where they got their information - and i did.  I was disappointed with what I found.  It's obvious whoever made that chart didn't spend a lot of time researching it - which is why I made up my chart.

So there you go.