The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts "Traction" tires and 19.5" on 20" rims?

Does anyone know of a source for the old type "traction" tires. Some people call them snow tires, but they're basically the ones with the zig zag or Z-tread. I've looked on the internet (Coker, Universal, Lucas, etc.) but haven't been able to find anything but your typical "street tread" tire in 20". And what about radials---does anyone know of radials in 6.50x20 or possibly 7.00x20?

Also, it seems like there is a wide variety of tires in 19.5" size--and they're radials, too. I know it's not safe to put a larger tire on a smaller rim (such as a 16.5 tire on a 16 rim), but is it possible to squeeze an old 20" rim into a new 19.5 radial? These are the old multi-piece (not split) rims with the removable lock ring, so I'm thinking they might go on easier than on a one-piece rim. I know of old timers who've done this with a 16 tire on a 16.5 rim, but then again it might not've been a safe setup.

Thanks for the help.

yokohama might have something , tho I think any 650's and maybe even 750's will prolly be trailer tires so not likely traction tread - the closest I found for my 46 was 850x20 [bias ply] - fronts rubbed slightly on hard turns, but the back were fine w/ proper pressure - wouldn't try puttin 19.5's on

I've got 700x15LTR Yokohama tractions on the back of the red58 now, and they're excellent tires w/ a good truck height, narrow tread

Bill

Try Farmers' Co-Op for traction tread tires in a variety of sizes. They sell some of the best mud & snow tread tires around, with a VERY agressive tread pattern. We used to run them on tractor-pull vehicles in the superstock truck classes where we couldn't run the chevron-tread tires.

All the XX.5" tires have a tapered bead shape that will climb right over a tube-type or tubeless rim, and behead anybody close to the wheel. They require a correct-diameter rim with a taper that matches the tire. One of my friends almost lost an arm that way, after putting a tube into a 14.5" mobile home tire, and trying to inflate it on a 14" passenger car rim. If you do something like that, buy lots of life insurance first, and make me your beneficiary!
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Jerry

46Dually; try www.millertire.com M.E.Miller Tire Co. 17386 State Hwy. 2 Wauseon,Ohio 43567-9486. They have a catalog and a big selection. They also do farm implement and equipt. tires. Located 40 mi. west of Toledo off exit 3 Ohio Tpk.Phone (419)-335-7010,ask for ext. 4 closer to you than me I know they go to the shows Regards Steve sr.

If you want 19.5 tires get the 19.5 rims.
I am running them on my truck with Goodyear G171 8R19.5 tires, they are all steel (except for the rubber part) and have about the roughest tread I could find in that size and at a very reasonable price.
So far I have been very happy with them.
Grigg

Thanks guys for the help. I haven't put any 19.5's on yet--I was wanting to check the collective wisdom here before doing anything stupid.

Bill, Yokohama came up dry, too. I have a 1-1/2 ton truck and according to the Chevy literature, the 850 tires require the 2-ton fenders with the larger wheel openings.

Jerry, Thanks for the info on the shape of the bead on the 19.5" tires. That was exactly the type of wisdom I wanted. Not sure what you mean by Farmers' co-op, though. The co-ops around here just own and operate grain elevators and feed stores. Do you have a phone number, web site or anything?

Steve, Thanks for the link to Miller tire. The smallest 20" traction tire they have is the 750's. They might work, but the overall diameter is about 5" larger than my 650's.

Probably my best bet for the long term is to start looking in junk yards for some 19.5 rims and throw on some newer radials. They look close enough to the originals, so I doubt anyone would really notice.

Again, thanks for the help,
Bob

I just bought a set of six from a guy who had to upgrade his tires to 22.5's. His truck originally had the widow-maker wheels and they wouldn't pass inspection. I gave him $200.00 for them and 4 of the 6 were almost brand new. I found another set for my other truck at a salvage yard. The truck had brand new tires installed just before the driver blew up the engine (Ford truck). Got that set for $450.00. Both sets are the 8.25X20's. If you search you will find some. The 6.50's and the 7.50's are getting to be quite rare and hard to find. 8.25's are much more common,
Scott

Are the fenders on a 1.5 ton not the same size as a 2 ton?
I thought they were?
Grigg

They're the same,
Scott

yes they are - the bigger fenders were on anything above 1T
Dually, the truck I had 850's on was a 1½T, and the 'fit' problem was just turning to lock they'd rub the frame a bit - no big deal, worked fine

Bill

A few months ago, I ordered the GM resto pack. For some reason, they couldn't find the book for 46, so they sent me a 42 instead. Included was a vehicle spec book which lists RPO's (Regular Production Options). It says that for the 1-1/2 ton trucks, optional "special front fenders" were available for "7.50-20-8 ply and larger tires".

If anyone has a spec book for 1946, I would gladly reimburse you for copies, but I'm assuming that the 46 is probably about the same except for the addition of the 2-ton trucks.

So, yes there were probably a lot of 1-1/2 ton trucks ordered with the larger tires and fenders out there, except mine wasn't one of them.

So, the way I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), there were three sizes of front fenders---a) 1/2 and 3/4 ton, b) 1 ton and 1-1/2 ton with small tires, and c) 1-1/2 ton with large tires and 2-ton.

For an example of this I noticed Marvin Ribbich's 1-1/2 ton dually panel about two-thirds the way down the Viewers Truck Gallery on Brad Brown's site:

http://www.brads41-46chevys.com/id8.html

Then, if you look directly above his truck, Chris ??? shows a picture of the larger wheel openings.

My truck is like Marvins, so that's why I'm looking for either 650-20 or 700-20's, which as Scott said (and I'm discovering) are getting very rare and hard to find.

Grigg, about your 19.5 rims---Did they come off of a 1990's 3500HD truck? I noticed that they also use the 10-lug rims. Is the hole spacing the same?

Thanks,
Bob

Bob,
Yes, my rims came off of a 94 3500HD. The hole spacing is 10 holes on a 7.25" diameter with a 5.25" center hole.
About my earlier comment on the fenders, I had in my mind you were talking about an AD truck, I know they are the same size for 1.5 and 2 ton. But I don't know much about the older trucks like yours.