Tires

[Ojgrsoi]

I have a stock 50 Jeepster. It’s not home yet. Could you tell me if the stock rims can run tubeless tires?

I am planning to run radial tires. Any recommendation on size? I want to do some internet shopping while I await delivery of the Jeepster.

Thanks.

 

[Fred46]

Since your Jeepster is stock (mine is too) you’ll want to consider the bias ply stock size of 6.70 x 15. Yes you can mount tubeless tires on the standard rim as long as the rim is in good condition. I had my wheels blasted and painted original harvard red. All Jeepster wheels were factory harvard red despite the body color.
You mention going with radials. I thought about it also. There are advantages with radials and you can get radials very close to stock size.
BUT in my research I read information from another Willys authority (trying to recall just who, Jeepster Jim (FL restorations) or Paul Berry (Willys America) I think. Somebody…advises against radials on Jeepsters when mated to the stock original planier style front single leaf suspension. Recommended to stick with bias. Which me being the purist no freeway Willys driver I am, I opted for the originality of bias-ply on my Time Machine.It drives and steers great as it was in the day.
Those who resto-modded their Jeepster with a whole new modern front end, radials are fine.
The choice is up to you.

 

[Blindmelon]

A quick note from yesteryear on switching from bias ply to radial: General toe-in spec for bias is 1/8". For radials ZERO toe in. Rear wheel drive only.

 

[cryobug]

The closest in a radial is 205/75R15

 

[karkrazy]

I'm fairly new to the Jeepster community, having recently acquired a 48. The owners manual states the stock size is 5.90-15. The 6.70-15 would be two sizes larger, if I remember correctly, with 6.40-15 between. The 5.90 is approx 26" tall and the 205/75R15 is 27.1" tall, which I believe would affect the speedo reading and performance negatively (assuming stock engine).

 

[Mark W.]

Granted a CJ is not a Jeepster. But I run 235/75 R-15's on my CJ-5 chassis with Saginaw steering I am running 3/32" Toe in as per the book and added 2° castor shims to make up for the 1" longer shackles I am using. My Jeep steers amazing. Extremely tight and positive. I drive it 60mph on the hwy and have done 70mph granted I'm not about to be swerving at those speeds but then Bias Ply tires would help that any way.