I'm trying to locate tires for my '51 GMC 250. The radial equivalent is a 215/85r/18, 18" load rated tires are pretty scarce. The Truck has currently has split rims, pretty sure they are not the "Widow Makers". I'm not a stranger to split rims and have no issue doing the mounting myself ( Army Trainining Sir ). I can get radial tubes thur NAPA.
I looking for something that looks period correct and load rated D - F.
Any ideas ??
Last edited by TUTS 59; 08/21/20268:36 PM. Reason: Add Images
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Let me know what you find Craig. I have a 57 with the split rims also that need 18’s. From what I know, be prepared to work some overtime to pay for them.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
Hey Craig. I gave your tire size to a friend that just retired from a tire manufacturer who had bought up a bunch of the old tire companies names & molds. He's going to see what he can find.
1966 C-10 Short Stepside HiPo Step-by-step ~ and on-going resto build in the Project Journals
So far the only option I can find is a 7.00- 18 Coker Tire, it's $390.00 load range D.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
I would not buy Coker tires. They're for show, not driving. They're made on 80 year old, worn out molds and and are hard or impossible to balance properly.
Even Corky Coker suggested to the president of the Peach State region of the CLC that if you're building a show car, buy Cokers. If you drive your car, buy Diamondbacks.
Diamondback makes a 700x18 blackwall radial for $349. It's expensive but it will be superior to anything Coker makes.
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I'm looking for a tire with a higher load rating. I would prefer at least a D, but an E would be better. There are plenty of 18 inch tire available just not in a width narrow enough for these old wheels.
Last edited by TUTS 59; 08/22/20261:09 AM.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Craig -- Are you doing serious work with Thor that you actually need traction tires back there? If all you are doing, really, is playing with the truck, then steers on the rear may be a viable last-resort option.
~ John
A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult.
1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 1963 Kaiser M38A1 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
John, these are for the '51 GMC 250. I have 19.5" wheels and tires on Thor (4400 1.5 ton). Thor gets worked a lot. The tires currently the GMC probably date to the 60's or older. I have less than $800.00 in the new tires and 19.5 wheels on Thor.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult.
1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 1963 Kaiser M38A1 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
If it weren't for the look of the wheels I would be fine with swapping them out for something newer and more common. I just really like the the "Old School " look of the dually wheels, to me they make the Truck.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
). I can get radial tubes thur NAPA. 
