The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Tire and wheel question for a 53- 3100

I'm looking to taking off the stock tires and wheels on my 53 pickup. It has the 15 inch wheels. I'm looking a putting on a set of black wagon wheels on my stock truck. I would like to go to 16 inch wheel and a wider rim. Does anyone have information on what offset, bolt pattern and how wide a wheel I could use? And also tire size. Thanks Jeff

I just dealt with the same thing on my stock 52. When I bought my truck it had 15 x 6 rims I believe came from a 1950 chev car car and 235-75-15 radials on it. The radials were bulging off the 6" rims but it drove pretty nice. I had a tire shop measure mine up and they guaranteed anything I bought from them wouldn't rub. I've seen some guys say the tie rod will interfere first but the place with the least backside clearance on mine was the boxside. They told me I could replace axle studs and then a 17" wheel would mount and the tie rod would sit inside the wheel but this required some type of tubbing modification on the back so I scrapped that idea. I wanted to be able to switch from a rod look with fat tires and chrome mags to a classic look with wide whitewalls and stock hubcaps with no other modifications. Anyway the bolt pattern is 6 on 5 1/2" and the old rim had a backspace of 4". There were a few rubmarks on the boxsides so I knew I couldn't go any further that way. I tried a set of rims from an Avalanche and they hit the boxsides and tierods and needed at least 1/2" more space. Some guys put spacers but I wanted to avoid that as well because that also involves changing all the studs. To fit a stock truck you need rims with a 3 3/4" backspace. I found several styles I liked but the only drawback is that they were only offered in 15" with the bolt pattern and backspace I needed. I bought 255-70-15 radials and I'm more than happy with the difference it's made for me. Here's what I bought:

style:160-5883 15x8 -19 offset 3 3/4 backspace 6-5 1/2 b.c.

Here's what they look like:

http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/details.asp?wheelid=18&name=Atlas%20Polished&style=160&desc=1-piece%20alloy,%20polished&section=S

With that backspace/bolt pattern all these styles will fit a stock truck:

Atlas,ventura,nitro,wagon wheel,baja,mohave,python and maybe more.

I'll have to take a picture soon and post it.
Curt B.

Specify that you need rims for a '73-'87 Chevy 4x4 truck. 16x8 should be ok.Don't use later model rims, the backspace is too deep due to the design of the front end on the late 4x4's. A 245/75/16 or 255/70/16 should fit ok.

check 6 lug jeep rims @ your local junker

Thanks for the input. I'm guess I'll try the 16x8's.