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| | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 | Hi all ... I have a 1954 chevy 3100 and need to get new tires on the truck to be able to move it since the tires are shot. I have 16" rims but I'm not sure they are original. 3 of them look like they may be (paint colors match) but one has a totally different paint color. I read a post about tire recommendations on this forum and am planning to get 235/85/16 LT E rated. But before I do I thought I'd pass it by you because I know zip about tires.
Right now the tires on the truck are on the back Michelin 205/80 R16 104T M+S Radial XM.
The front tires are Armstrong 6.50-16 LT SD 200.
Any idea if the tires I'm planning to get would fit?
Thanks so much!!
1954 Chevy 3100
1994 Nissan 300ZX Convertible
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | You didn’t state if the tires are just to “Move it” or drive it. Two entirely different things. If your just moving it around then air up what you have or get some six lug wheels/tires from your local salvage that will hold air. If it’s time to start driving then what you have proposed buying will be just fine.ðŸ›
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: May 2018 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2018 Posts: 11 | I'm about to the point where I need to get tires too.. Will regular tubeless work on these old steel wheels? I guess I'm wondering if they are air tight
Last edited by 53BarrelHauler; 09/07/2018 12:07 AM.
1953 3100 Mariner blue (some anyway)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 | Thank you for your reply Martin. The current tires won't hold air, so I'm just going to put new ones on at this point.
1954 Chevy 3100
1994 Nissan 300ZX Convertible
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 | 235/85/16 LT E rated tires are the standard size for a '99-'04 Ford Superduty F250 or F350. They are way oversize for a '54 3100 and require a wheel that's 7 inches wide. The standard wheels for a 3100 are 4 or 4.5 inches wide.
I believe that some of the guys here have recommended 215/85R16. C load rated tires would be plenty for what you need. Higher load rated tires would give you a much stiffer ride, bordering on tooth-rattling.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 | Yes, indeed. I have logged on 110,000 miles with 215 85R 16 Michelin Radial X tires. No tubes, stock rims. The first set I bought 'gently used second hand' and got nearly 50k miles and at the end the tread on all four was still legal. Second set, same model and size, same mileage. I am now on a third set. Good luck with your decision.
~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | ditto on using 215 85R 16 (radial)
Play with the PSI to achieve best tracking (lower pressure) and easy steering (higher pressure). | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 |
I had the 215 85R 16s as well. Mine wouldn't hold air overnight unless I had tubes. Ran tubes for years, no problems.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I have had tubes in the set on my Suburban for about 15 years.
The rims on my pickup did not require tubes. | | |
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