The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline trying to decide on wheels and tires

going crazy trying to decide on wheel and tire sizes for my 55.2 gmc 150.
Keeping the 8 lug pattern, and prob disk brake front. thinking 16X8 front and 16X10 rear, but if rears are 2 wide could go 16X6 front and 16X8 rear.

Anyone running larger than stock wheels and tires? whats are you running with stock suspension and body without any clearance issues?

Front tires that are to wide make it hard to steer and it's hard on all the moving parts.

Mike B

Are you going to add power steering? If so go ahead and upgrade to the later style tie rod ends and drag link, that should ease of the issues.

Going with aftermarket PS box and a disk brake swap with booster dual master and all new bushings, kingpins and leaf springs.
It already has sealed joints on the steering but I will be replacing EVERYTHING that I can with new stuff.

Don't think this type upgrade will make anything wear quicker, since the factory 15" split rims and bias tube type tires are a lot heavier than a set of wagon wheels or even lighter aluminum wheels with radial tires.

Just looking to go a little wider and close to stock diameter on the front and just a little bigger than that on the rear. I want something that will fit without giving me any clearance issues

Don't know what the steering linkage on your GMC will allow. On my 52 Chevy 3/4 ton I found some GM 8 lug 16X6 rims. On the rear I have these with 7.50-16 radials, Set back is deeper, had about 1" clearance on the inside. Now have a HO52 from a 69 (done for better brakes) and the tires set out a tad farther, leaves 1" clearance to the outer fender loaded. Haven't gotten rid of the lock ring 15" rims on the front, with the tie rod ends clearance is slim and doesn't allow the rims without major changes. Trying to find a solution. If your GMC has the tie rod ahead of the axle the rims might work, but I'm not sure. An easier score is the GM 16X8 rim. You can also use Ford or Dodge rims, but the center hole is larger, which reduces the load capacity.

Another option is a company in California that will take the centers from your rims and mount them to some newer rims. I've forgotten the name. They can also change the setback to better fit your needs, but you need to do some measuring to find what y'all need.

10" rears may require tubbing the box depending on your offset. 8" fits stock boxes nicely without tubbing. Why not 7" front and 8" rear?

I think the Company Fred is talking about is Stockton Wheel, my Brother had set of wheels made for truck, real nice work.

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/

They also powder coat wheels.

Shipping both ways adds to the cost.

I found a local media-blaster/powder-coater for two sets of truck wheels (when I lived in an area where that tire/wheel/ powder-coating/painting service was within 30 miles travel each way).

One set of wheels were big-truck two-parts wheels (with an external locking ring).

8inch rears would be fine, seems like 7inch wouldnt be very common, seen some 6.5 wide that would be ok.

dont think my stearing will be an issue, since I will be going with at least a 16inch wheel. If your wheel rubs a little on the tie rods I would just add a spacer. I wont be able to since I am going to disk brakes and 15 inch wheels wont clear the calipers