The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 15 in. six bolt wheels

Were the 1955 2nd series 15 in. wheels six bolt? If not, when did
chevy pickups come with 6-bolt, 15 in wheels? Question to my OCW Q&A column. Thought it best to ask yoou guys first.

Hey Tom! Welcome to the Stovebolt Page! Good to have you on board.

Should be someone along soon with the answer.

Best regards,
John

Tom,

My impression is that the 2nd series '55 up to '59 wheel stuff is virtually the same. If not, somebody please correct me. Anyway, my '59 wheels were 15" 6-bolt.

MY 62 was 16X6bolt only assume they were stock.

15" six bolt wheels were an option on 1/2 ton trucks for most, if not all, Advance-Design years (1947-1955).

I will post detailed information later tonight (option numbers, etc), if someone else does not post info right away.

GM light trucks were 6 bolt from very early to sometime like the 70's at least - 15's were standard for the 55-9 1/2T trucks, with 16's available for heavier GVW's

Bill

In 1949/50 (and maybe earlier), the Advance-Design Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks' standard wheels/tires were 6.00-16, 6 ply on a 16x4.0 rim

In 1949/50 (and maybe earlier) the Advance-Design Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks had three different 15" wheel/tire options:
RPO 288B 6.70-15, 6 ply on a 15x5 rim
RPO 273H 15"-6 ply on a 15x5.5 rim
RPO 280F 15"-8 ply on a 15x5.5 rim

In 1954/55-1st, the Advance-Design Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks' standard wheels/tires were 6.00-16, 6 ply on a 16x4.5 rim (6.50x16, 6ply on a 16x4.5 rim was available as a common option on the rear-only or on front and rear)

In 1954 the Advance-Design Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks had one 15" wheel/tire option:
RPO 273K 15"-6 ply on a 15x5.5 rim

Some, if not all, 1947-55 1/2 ton New Design GMC trucks also had 6-bolt 15" rims available, but I think they used a split rim.

Hey, wait a minute. Tom Brownell? THE Tom Brownell? The Tom Brownell that wrote the book "How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup"? The very book that goes under my pillow every night when i go to bed? Whoa dude, what an honor it is to post something on the same site as you! The book is awesome! If anybody on this site has not looked at or does not have a copy of this book, friendly word of advise, go buy a copy! If you're not the real Tom Brownell, two things: (1) You've busted my bubble impersonating the real Tom Brownell and (2) change your name to something else and quit pretending to be Tom Brownell.

Hi Tom, Welcome! - The first 15" wheel I know of being used by Chev. was the 15" artillery style wheel used as standard equipment on the 1937-42 3/4-ton pickups. This same 15" wheel was also an option on the 1/2-tons in those same years. So I would say the first 15" wheel came way back in 1937!

I think every pre '72 1/2 ton truck, regardless of wheel size, was a 6 bolt pattern. Obviously there were many different wheel configurations over the years,
Scott

I just looked in the Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessory Catalog and the first reference to 15" wheels goes back to 1935 (appears to be cars and maybe trucks) and 1939 was the first reference i saw to "commercial" vehicles.

Are those all 6 bolt 15" wheels?

There is a 15" 6 ply (15x5.5 "short spoke steel disc") optional wheel listed for Light Delivery Trucks in the 1939 Chevrolet Salesman Truck Data Book: "low pressure balloons for easy ride and greater capacity"

A 5.50-18 tire option was also available for muddy roads.

The same 15" wheel (artillery style) is shown for the 3/4 ton truck. Maybe someone who has a 30s truck can confirm that the light duty truck (1/2 ton) used 6 or 8 bolt wheels.

Hey, Kens 50 PU, I was thinking the same thing!
I show a 15" option for '37 in the standard catalog, I do know that the '55 2nd came standard with 4 ply 6.70x15 tires, and that 15" 6 lug wheels were used on all 1/2 tons to '70, 4x4 1/2 tons to '87/'91 on Blazer/Suburban.

Yes, the '37-'42 15"x5-1/2" artillery wheels were 6-bolt. 3/4-tons weren't 8-bolt until '46.

tclederman, in response to your question above about "were they 6 bolt?", the catalog did not say. it gave diameter, width and offset, but not bolt pattern.

Kens 50 PU -- It is THE Tom Brownell. Not only does he stop by regularly here, he sent in a Gallery submission for his son Anthony's dump truck! When he first sent it in, I had the same re-action as you ... "are you THE Tom B?" Felt honored, also

His book is GREAT. We hope to get a few for the IRWPI contest this year.


Peg

Thanks for the held and welcome comments guys and Peggy. A feature on the Stovebolt Page will appear in Vintage Truck, Dec. 06 issue.