The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steelies over Chrome?

I bought my truck with chrome Mag wheels (215 65 R 15s

I thought about power steering and collected parts for it.

Then was given advice here to use skinny tires. So I been collected steelies and soaking in vinegar to remove rust.

Chrome
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dw6HmMVv7EVggZoE6

Steelies
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sPhe5VoZNNtfS7ow6



What ya think

End result is lower RPM at same speed and easier turning (belly caused a switch to 15” steering wheel)

RPM savings.

Yup, I am a math geek

The white letter tires and chrome wheels look terrible.

The red wheels and blackwalls look great. I vote for these.

I kinda like the initial chrome look, but I'm betting your truck likes the RPM range better and your steering is easier too. Nothing says you can't color match those wheels with the truck and add some trim rings and hub caps for a little chrome effect.

They are very different looks. The chrome is a hot rod look that goes well with the rest of the truck (though I would flip them to be black letters out) while the steelies are a classic working truck look.

Both have appeal. At the end of the day, go with your gut and do what makes you smile when you see it.

I for one like the Chrome wheels over the Red. The red just seems to BOLD to me, but I actually like the raised white letters, so there is that... Your Truck your choice.

What is the tire size for the steelies?

I took a screenshot and zoomed it in. Tire markings indicate LT215/85R16.

I like the chrome, it fits better with the rest of the truck.

Also, 215 width tires aren't going to make your steering any more difficult than the ole' bias ply tires did when the rig was new.

225-80R15 tires are 29.2" high, the 215-80R16s are 30.4" in height. So a fraction wider, but still tall for a smoother ride. Just another option.

My vote is the steelies, but it's your choice! Nice truck - I have a 54 that I got down in Cobden (near Carbondale) a number of years ago.
Samantha

It's not my truck either; but since you asked, I would probably go with the steel wheels, but not in red. I'd go with either matching body color or else black.

The best thing I've found to correct hard steering is to restore your factory steering and front end to original specs. Check the king pins, the tie rod ends, the alignment, the spring shackle pins and rebuild the steering box. Do all that and I bet you will be amazed at how much better your truck steers and handles.

Unless your truck has been modified (with an IFS of some sort, for example). If that's the case ... never mind.

FWIW ... On the wheels ... if undecided, let the math geek in you decide. All else being equal, the choice between steel and chrome is highly personal, I would think. The beautiful paint job on your truck is set off rather nicely by those chromies, though. They're tasteful and classy. Personally, I prefer steel. In black, as original. Those red steelies are garish to me. I'm with Rich -- I'd make them black or match the body color.

But I'm the guy who paints his schoolbus skoolie project flat desert khaki and the wheels flat black with a rattle can ...

John

The gain in speed and easier steering just can’t be ignored. My vote is steelies color matched to you truck, with chrome beauty rings and hub caps.

Kilted54 - Lots of suggestions and really good input from folks. Your turn to respond and let us know which path you take. As all have said, it's your truck and your choice, so we'd love to see what you decided on.

The chrome!

My thoughts on why I am moving from the chrome 15” to 16” steelies:

The 215 65 R 15’s are just over 25” tire diameter.
The 215 85 R 16’s have tire diameter of 29” and change.

I am not sure why the 215 85 R 16’s seem to turn easier. Perhaps the taller tires have slightly less contact surface area.

John Milliman nailed the real reason I went back to 16” rims (steelies): Steering geometry.

The prior owner didn’t have the axle shimmed for the smaller tire and I experienced a-lot of lane wandering and bump steering.

A plus of the smaller tires was lower top end yet the the lane wondering and bump steering was a bit disconcerting even at the lower speeds.

The results of going to the steelies was no bump steering (so far) and less lane wandering. However, the higher top end has exposed the worn out shocks and the need for a front sway-bar. I guess this shouldn't be all that surprising.

I do not plan on running this often on the interstate for many reasons. One is the single pot master cylinder and another is my truck replaces my Harley for back road rides (too many inattentive drivers with to many distractions and too many deaths by left turns).

I'm definitely not looking to be a speed demon in a 71 yr old truck. Not a resto mod guy - I love the originality of my 6 cylinder and the straight axle.

I painted the rims International Harvester red. I thought about black and would have probably went that way if I was going to with hub caps and beauty rings.

I went red as my theme seems to be making it look like what someone would do in the 1960s with their dad’s old farm truck.

Drive train is a 235 with Fenton headers, dual exhaust, SM420, with 3:55 third member. Rochester one barrel.

I have a T5 with the 0.73 5th gear, but I am sticking with the SM420. It brings me back to when I was a kid riding the school bus … just like the sound of shifting the SM420.

I have an Edelbrock two carb manifold and the Carter Weber/ Pinto carbs setup that I will be installing this winter or spring.

Nothing wrong with a Rochester, but I want the bling of dual carbs, especially if I take it to a car show. I can show the kids how they use to do it before engine (dear I say LS) swaps. I did toy with putting in a 265 sitting in the corner.

I don’t go to car shows all that often but at one, I was next to a restomod with a Viper engine. I kind of chuckled and wished I had the dual carbs on to emphasize a different approach. Don't get me wring, the Viper powered AD was very nicely well done - but not me.

Lastly, I loved all the input and ideas. Thanks much, as I expect that in a few, I will probably revisit this issue. After all that is some of the fun.

Kilted - Very much appreciate your coming back and sharing more on your wheel/tire choices and the rest of the info on your truck! 100% agree with making the truck and all about it a "fun" adventure!

Don't be a stranger. We would like to here more as you continue your journey.

I'm with Dan on this one. Steelies with a matching color and hub caps.

Alvin says if you didn't have Red wheels back in the day, you weren't .....

I’m late , but here I am …
I’m with Otto - the chrome looks terrible with your distinctive and unusual forest greenish paint job. The red steel looks more period correct , and that primary color makes the body paint pop right out.
I don’t much care for hot rod wheels on an otherwise more or less stock vintage vehicle , so the choice for me was easy. That , and the way the red plays to the green , just nails it.

And I know I’m right.

I agree with the chrome. Matches the grill.

Appearance-wise, I wouldn't change a thing from the chromies. You even managed to get the yellow of the Shell gas pump color in the background to compliment the Forest Green of the truck.

I understand about the steering geometry, having been through all that myself on my 1-ton. If you could find 16" mags with the proper offset, that look as good as what you've got, I'd go with that.

When I got my 1-ton it was forest green with yellow wheels, stock hubcaps and matching yellow gross-weight lettering. It had said "Richfield Oil" with that logo in yellow on the door but that had been sanded off at some point. Anyhow, the green and yellow combo was one I liked and now, many years later, I'm sorry I didn't stick with the green. It's now Cape Maroon and badly faded.

I actually love how the red steelies look against the dark green

I kind of like both. I
I have steelies that are painted to match the truck. Green.

Any idea what size those chrome rims are?