The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1955 Chevy 6700 School Bus

Hi Ted and Welcome to the forums.

I have a 1959 Shorty I have been working on and have been through what you are going through now...tires and wheels. Most of this information came from this site, but there's is a lot of it, so it never hurts to have someone elses viewpoint.

My bus had the stock 2-piece locking rim 20's on it. You probably know that your wheels are hub piloted, so you need to comply with that, and your bolt pattern. So, 10 lug, 7.25 x 5.25 center.

I'm sure you have read Griggs article that advises the "hard to find" 58-59 one piece 22.5 wheel. That enables the use of the 9.00 x 22.5 radial tire. The overall height of the wheel and tire is the same as the 7.5/8 x 20, so no loss there.

Our stock wheels (6" wide?)cannot safely accept anything wider than the 9.00 tire and there would probably be clearance issues with the duallys anyway.

So, if you are going to stay with the stock rear, this is the option. If you are changing out your rear, or plan to do it in the near future, you may want to consider doing it now. Wheels and tires hit your pocket book (at least it did mine).

Good luck with your bus.

Victor