The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk tire size

I have a 52 5 window 1/2 ton. It has 6.50/16 on the front and spare and 7.50/16 on the rear. Is that what it came with from factory or did someone change the rears to a bigger size. What is the factory size they would of come with?
Thanks Jason

1/2 ton should have came with 6.50X16. If you are thinking modern tire a 225-75-R16 is nearly the same dimensions. The 650 is 28.5 inches tall and the 225 is 29.3 tall but when installed and the weight on it, it is 28.5" tall also do to the normal "squish" of a radial. The 225's do make the steering with the old straight axle a little less trying.

Anyone know the correct tire pressure for 16.5 radials. I've got a '65 C20. Previous Owner put slotted-steel (Jackman style) rims and Sears 16.5 TrailHandlers all the way around. This is for normal street driving, light to medium duty, no camper, etc. (They have 47psi in them right now)
??

Thanks Coilover. That was my next Q. I want to install radials but wasnt sure of the size. This helps alot.

Is the 225-75-R16 wider than original tires.....will it cause an interference issue with 47-55.1 bed side tire carriers?

I think they are slightly wider but cause no interference problems, front or rear, on our 53 1/2 ton.

50GMC253: I think you'd have a problem. I'm running 215-75-R15 on my '53 and the spare fits into the dimple perfectly. A 225-75-16 would be 1.59 inches larger diameter (or about .79 inches radius) than my spare and .4 inches wider from sidewall to sidewall. Even though the fender dimple is wider toward the outside than it is closer to the bed side, I think it would be a tight fit, and rather than the spare fitting tight to the carrier plate and not rubbing on the fender, I think your size tire would touch and rub. You might be able to put some washers or some kind of shim plate over the bolts between the wheel and the carrier bracket to make the spare sit further out.

How does a 215/85R16 fit in with the above? Will these tires fit the original narrow rim?

I'm thinking of making some 1/4" spacers plates to put under the carrier but hate to do it if not necessary. Above it is stated the factory shipped 6.50-16 but Jim Carter says that is incorrect. The factory shipped with 6.00-16 and I'll bet they would fit the carrier nicely. Unfortunately the tires I have now are 6.50-16 but they were retreaded making them even larger in diameter. If I bought 6.00-16 I could find out, but the retreads look new and good for many many miles. I doubt I could sell them and they are way too good to throw away. The retreads will barely clear the fender with 1/4" spacers on the carrier studs but there is not enough thread left to provide a secure feeling.

Our truck doesn't have the side mounted spare, in fact the're pretty scarce. The spare mounts under the rear of the bed on a swing arm. An easy solution to the spare would be to have one to fit the dimple and run the 225's on the ground.

50GMC253: According to the service manual, the 52 1/2 ton standard tire was 6.00 X 16, but an option was to run 6.50 x 16 on the rear to boost load-carrying capacity. The original 6.50 would probably fit, but as you say, retreads add to the diameter.