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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 | Hey all,
I've been doing quite a bit of digging, but I haven't been able to find an answer to a question I'm having. I thought I'd try here, since it's rather a more general question. Maybe I'm totally overthinking this, but I'm trying to figure out what size of aftermarket wheels would fit over the stock drum brakes. Not really in the position to do a front disc conversion yet. I'm really just looking to get away from the 6.00-16 radials, and get a more modern tire.
Suspension is completely stock. My biggest concern is that I get too deep of a wheel, and I start rubbing during turns. Well, that and I get a size that doesn't fit over the drums and I have to send them back.
Am I overthinking this? Would something like a 16x8 wheel be fine?
1952 Chevy 3100 - currently apart and hogging up the garage.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | 16 x 4.5" rims. LT215/85R16 truck radials fit very nicely my 16" 1954 1/2 ton rims (tubeless or tube). | | | | | Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 | 16 x 4.5" rims. LT215/85R16 truck radials fit very nicely my 16" 1954 1/2 ton rims (tubeless or tube). Hi Tim, Those are stock rims? If so I'll certainly look into that size. Thanks!
1952 Chevy 3100 - currently apart and hogging up the garage.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | Unless you plan on adding power steering, you will want to stay with skinny tires. A wider tire will wear your arms out trying to steer the truck before the truck is under way. I have two 3100s with the LT215/85R16 tires which Tim listed. I have experience a huge improvement in ride quality and not having to chase the truck down the road due to grooves worn in many of the roads around here, due to bias ply tires.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 | Unless you plan on adding power steering, you will want to stay with skinny tires. A wider tire will wear your arms out trying to steer the truck before the truck is under way. I have two 3100s with the LT215/85R16 tires which Tim listed. I have experience a huge improvement in ride quality and not having to chase the truck down the road due to grooves worn in many of the roads around here, due to bias ply tires. Ohhhhhh! Okay I didn't think about that. Thanks for that! Looking at that chart Tim posted, the rim width is 4.5". Will that be okay for the LT215/85R16?
1952 Chevy 3100 - currently apart and hogging up the garage.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2020 Posts: 43 | I've been doing some more looking with that size, and I think that these might work fine? Grabber HD LT215/85R/16
1952 Chevy 3100 - currently apart and hogging up the garage.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 325 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 325 | I'm no expert but I would think those would be fine. I have the same size 215/85/16 on stock rims and they work great. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 620 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 620 | tclederman advised me a month or so ago. I put 1988 thru 1994 Chevrolet/GMC 16 inch wheels on my 54-3100. They look to be off a 3/4 ton. No problems. I'm looking to buy stock 16 inch rims for my 52. If you are not going to keep them PLEASE send me a price. Thanks Doc.
Currently making 1954 3100 better than new and Genetics
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 56 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 56 | | | |
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