Ford Custom Tires

Ford Custom models from 1949, 1950, and 1951 use one listed tire size: 670-15. All available products for that fitment use a 15-inch rim, with listed rim-width recommendations that commonly fall in the 4.50-5.00 inch range, while some products also extend slightly narrower or wider. Every listed option for Ford Custom is a bias-ply tire rather than a radial.

That makes Ford Custom fitment much easier than many collector cars, but the wheel still needs to be checked because rim width can affect how the tire sits and drives. If the car has replacement wheels or has been restored over many years, verify the wheel diameter and width on the actual car before settling on a particular sidewall style or tire series.

On a Ford Custom, 670-15 is an older numeric bias-ply tire size. The 670 refers to the nominal section width in the period inch-based sizing system, commonly understood as about 6.70 inches, and the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not translate directly to later radial sizing conventions.

Knowing that distinction helps when comparing reproduction tires, because period-size bias-ply tires are chosen for authenticity, proper stance, and the steering feel expected of an early postwar Ford. If you are replacing older tires that only show a modern substitute size, compare the actual wheel diameter first and then work back to the proper 670-15 collector fitment.

Ford Custom fitments listed here are all bias-ply tires in the 670-15 numeric format, and a tube is required. That follows normal practice for this style of collector tire and is the correct approach for maintaining proper installation on period-type wheels. None of the listed Ford Custom options are radial tubeless fitments.

Tube choice matters just as much as tire choice on a collector car that sees occasional use, because the tube, flap arrangement where applicable, and wheel condition all affect air retention and service life. When tires are mounted, have the wheel inspected for rust, pitting, or burrs so the new tube is not damaged during installation or use.

Ford Custom tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions within the 670-15 size. The product range includes several whitewall widths, from modest narrow-band treatments to broad period-style whitewalls that change the appearance of the car significantly. All of those options remain within the same basic size and bias-ply construction family.

Sidewall style is often the final detail that determines whether a Ford Custom looks restrained, upscale, or fully in line with an early 1950s boulevard presentation. If the car is being restored to a particular trim appearance or judged standard, compare the whitewall width on the tire you choose with period photos, factory literature, or marque-club guidance before mounting a full set.

Ford Custom tires in 670-15 are offered from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, Universal Vintage Tire, BFGoodrich, Excelsior, Avon, Goodyear, and STA. Those brands cover several period-style bias-ply series, including classic passenger-car lines and one heavier-duty truck-oriented option. The range gives Ford Custom owners more than one path depending on restoration goals and visual preference.

Brand choice usually comes down to the look you want, the series you prefer, and how closely you want the tire to resemble a mid-century replacement market appearance. It is worth comparing sidewall style, listed rim-width range, and overall series character rather than choosing by brand name alone, because the right visual match can matter as much as the basic size.

Ford Custom listings include multiple series such as Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Super Cushion, Custom Super Cushion, Super Cushion Deluxe, and Super Transport. Most are passenger-car bias-ply lines with different branding and period styling, while Super Transport stands apart as a heavier-duty military and truck-oriented series. The Avon Turbospeed entry is also a distinct bias-ply series with its own pattern and presentation.

Series choice affects the final personality of the Ford Custom even when the nominal size stays the same. Owners focused on a passenger-car restoration usually start with the classic passenger series and then narrow the field by sidewall style, while owners seeking a more utility-oriented appearance may look differently at the heavier-duty option.

For the 1949, 1950, and 1951 Ford Custom, the listed size is 670-15 across all three years. That means the main confirmation points are not year-to-year size changes but the wheel diameter, wheel width, and whether the car still carries the sort of period wheel the tire was meant to fit. The tire itself should be matched to a 15-inch rim and to the rim-width range shown for the product you choose.

Start at the wheel rather than the old tire, since replacement tires on collector cars are often mixed, substituted, or decades newer than the car. Measuring the rim and checking period service information will tell you whether the car remains on its intended wheel package and help you choose the most appropriate blackwall or whitewall version for the way the Ford Custom is being restored.

A Ford Custom should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, heaters, welders, and ozone-producing equipment. Clean tires and wheels before long-term storage, and keep inflation at the level appropriate for the tire and the car’s intended resting condition. Extended exposure to heat and ozone shortens the life of collector tires even when tread wear is minimal.

If the Ford Custom will sit for long periods, move it occasionally to avoid creating flat spots in the same position, or support the car in a way that reduces constant load where appropriate for the storage plan. Tire covers, a clean floor surface, and routine pressure checks go a long way toward preserving both appearance and serviceability.

Tires on a Ford Custom should be inspected before each drive and given a more thorough review at regular intervals even if the car is seldom used. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, valve stem issues, air loss, and any signs of tube or wheel-related trouble. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out.

A practical habit is to make tire inspection part of every pre-drive walkaround and part of every seasonal service visit. Because a postwar Ford may spend much of its life parked, deterioration can sneak up visually and structurally, so periodic hands-on inspection by a shop familiar with bias-ply collector tires is a wise part of ownership.

Tires on a Ford Custom should be replaced when age, cracking, impact damage, persistent air loss, sidewall weakness, or uneven structural wear appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Low annual mileage does not prevent rubber from aging, and long storage can harden or weaken a collector tire long before the tread is consumed. Condition matters more than tread depth alone on a collector car.

Replacement timing should be guided by regular inspection rather than by mileage intervals alone. If the car shows vibration, develops repeated pressure loss, or has tires of uncertain age from an older restoration, have the set evaluated as a system, including tubes and wheel condition, instead of replacing only the most visibly worn tire.

Ford Custom uses the 670-15 size across the 1949 to 1951 range covered here, and the available products are all period-style bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims. Several series are offered within that fitment, including classic passenger-car lines from multiple brands. That means the key original-fit question is less about changing size and more about choosing the sidewall style and brand presentation that best matches the car’s year and trim character.

If authenticity matters, period factory literature, sales brochures, unrestored survivor photos, and Ford club references are the best way to narrow the final look. A broad whitewall can create a very different visual effect from a blackwall or narrow whitewall even when all are technically the same 670-15 size.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation, judging results, and perceived value of a Ford Custom. Judges and experienced collectors often notice whether the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance match the period character of the car. Even small visual differences in whitewall width can change how authentic an early postwar Ford appears.

That does not mean every Ford Custom needs the same appearance standard, because a driver, mild custom, and concours restoration may each call for a different look. Still, if the car is being restored for serious show use, compare your intended tire choice with marque-club standards and period photography before mounting a full set.

Ford Custom tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles, all within the 670-15 fitment. Any of those can be appropriate depending on the specific restoration goal, because sidewall presentation varied with trim level, owner taste, and period replacement practice. The size stays constant while the visual character changes substantially.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained working-car look, while narrow and wide whitewalls move the Ford Custom toward a more upscale early 1950s appearance. The best choice is the one that matches the exact story of the car you are restoring, whether that means factory-style understatement or the fuller whitewall look many owners favored in the period.

A properly mounted, correctly sized 670-15 bias-ply tire in sound condition can be appropriate for driving a Ford Custom on public roads, provided the entire car is mechanically ready for road use. Tire safety depends on age, condition, inflation, wheel integrity, tube condition, and the overall state of the suspension and brakes as much as on tread depth. Collector-car tires should be evaluated as part of the whole vehicle, not in isolation.

Because Ford Custom is a postwar full-size car designed around bias-ply behavior, road use should be approached with the understanding that steering response, braking feel, and tracking will differ from a modern car. A careful shakedown drive after mounting new tires is the right way to confirm that the car feels settled and that no wheel, alignment, or balance issue is hiding in the chassis.

Before driving a Ford Custom, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of rubbing or uneven clearance. On a collector car with bias-ply tires, it is also smart to look for flat-spotting after storage and to make sure the steering and brakes feel normal before heading into traffic. A short visual and hands-on inspection can catch most issues before they become roadside problems.

If the Ford Custom has been sitting, begin with a slow local drive so the tires can round out and you can listen for noises or feel for pull, shimmy, or vibration. That first drive also confirms whether inflation, balance, and wheel condition are working together properly after storage or recent tire installation.

A Ford Custom on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition of the tires, the age and preparation of the car, and the limitations of a 1949 to 1951 chassis. Even when the car is in good order, these tires are meant to deliver authentic vintage driving character rather than modern high-speed behavior. Smooth, moderate-speed touring is more in keeping with the way a bias-ply-equipped Ford Custom feels and responds.

The practical approach is to let the car’s stability, steering feel, and braking confidence set the pace rather than trying to match modern traffic expectations at all times. If the tires are older, the car is newly restored, or the wheel and suspension history is uncertain, keep speeds conservative until the entire combination has been carefully evaluated on the road.