The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts need some help with tires

Hey guys need some help about tires for my 1940 chevy dump truck. The size that is on it now are 700-20 all the tire places are saying they can't get them and I have to go with 750-20 do any of you guys know if this is true and will a 750-20 work for me? Or 650-20

Thanks for any help or sites to get tires

Call J and E tire in Indianapolis. They could get Power King tires for me the next day in 7.50X20 or 8.25X20. Price was $212 a tire. Their number is 317-781-8808 I spoke with Patricia.

Power King is the only brand that I have found that is still made in the US. Something about putting import tires on a stove bolt just doesn't seem right to me!

If you need some help mounting them let me know.

RDomeck is right, they are a good tire. I have 6 of them on a '36 1.5 tonner and I have put 1500 miles on them. Still run true and straight. Mine are 7.50 x 20 and I like the taller size it makes the truck look bigger...Good price too, don't forget your flaps (liners)and tubes in the cost....if it matters mine says " Made in China " on the tire, just saying.

1936only,

Are your 7.50x20's Highway or Mud/Snow tread???

Thanks,

Mike B

Highway, Mike B, I not planning on driving it in the snow if I can help it...lol.

Thanks 1936only,

I'm keeping an eye out for (6) new 7.50x20 Mud/Snow for my '56 4400 Napco project.

I may end up with the 8.25x20's as they still seem to be available.

Mike B

MikeB,
Check out the 8.25 x 20 Pacificas I put on my '42 GMC Deuce and a half in my signature pics under CCKW Build, got them at Les Schwab's. Pretty rugged look.

Just looked at Nebraska Tire's web site and see that they are going to have 7.50x20 M/S tires made by a US Tire Company. They are taking orders and expect delivery this July/Aug. The price is $275 each...they also have Sampson (made in China???) 8.25x20 M/S for $195 each.

http://www.nebraskatire.com/truck?page=1

Mike B

Universal tire lists 6 tires in 7.00x20 $220-230 each (One is even a BF Goodrich)

https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_filter/?ftire_size=700-20

Most, it not all 'specialty tires' come from Specialty Tire Company of America in PA. There are some made in china... and as long as they have the DOT number on the side wall run them. Some made in China tires are not DOT certified and are for off road use only.

Universal tire goes to the bigger car shows and they usually deliver for free/low cost if you prepay.

I just purchased 4 Pacifica tires that came with tubes and flaps for $190 each. After searching and calling around I couldn't find a US made tire for anywhere close to that by the time I had them shipped. For those of you wanting ( and I did too ) a US made tire, I called Coker and Universal tire. They both had them in stock and could ship out same day. I just couldn't bring myself to spend $1500 on 4 tires when I could buy them locally for $800...

The tires look good and I put one of them on my wheel balance and the runout seems to be good.

Universal Tire is about an hour from my house.. I used to talk to them often as my CCKW will require 11 7.50x20's and for all the times I spoke with them they never offered a significant discount.. my G508 and G508 will need 18 tires.... you think they would deal... not really.

I will order tires from alibaba.com. Sure they are Chinese but so are most tires on the road. Most sellers are listing 7.50x20s for $80 per tire. Can't pass that up and mud/snow tread makes them look close to NDTs.

A few of years ago I purchased 2 Power King 7.50-20S with new flaps and tubes from the tire guy at work for $450 total. He dismounted my old tires, I cleaned and primed the wheels inside and he mounted the new ones,but they were also made in china

On just about anything,you can get away with going up one size without clearance problems;I believe it's a fail-safe from the factory in case,for whatever reason,you can't find replacements in the same size you currently have. On your '40,I'd definitely go for the 7.50's,in fact I'd ask about trying 8.25's on it to see what clearances look like. Around here the tire shops don't generally mind mounting up a tire to check fit and fender,spring and steering clearance before you open your wallet.
When the opportunity presents itself,I try to up-size when I have to replace tires. I didn't on my 2 ton simply because I didn't have the money to jump to 9.00's. I DO,however,have a 1-1/2 ton that can use these new 8.25's if I'm able to upgrade to 9.00 Radials in the future.
My thinking is you can "gear-up" your truck a bit by going up a size or two,here's a calculator to help you figure out what difference a size change will make. http://www.rocky-road.com/calculator.html This may be the way to bring you closer to what your goal is-better road speed at cruising rpm,or lower rpm at the same speed,but may lose some pulling power if you're running a smaller engine,but you can build a little more power (carbs/intake,headers,cam,higher compression,trick ignition,etc.),probably cheaper than you can build taller gearing(buying another set of tires in a bigger size or re-gearing a big truck rear end). Tire size is a trade off,so think it through and decide what's most important to your driving style before you buy,higher road speed,lower cost,more load rating,lower rpm on the road,more pulling power,better ride quality or even availability,should you rip out a sidewall or throw tread on a Saturday evening,hundreds of miles from home. (Not that something like THAT ever happens to US. )
Speed