The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Original looking tires

After reading through a bunch of older threads I am still confused about tires and wheels and hope someone can set me straight. My '54 has the original wheels, which don't seem to be the split-rim type I've read about. Which trucks have these anyway, and what do they look like?

My goal is to replace the original tires with similar-looking new tires using the original wheels. You can see from this picture that the fronts are smooth and the rears are knobby. So, I've seen that Coker offers the "4 ply polyester" tires that require tubes. 1st question is, can I get a similar looking modern radial tire that will work on my wheel? Is there something about the original wheel design that makes it incompatible with modern tubeless radial tires? Why would one want to go with a modern tubeless tire instead of the original type that Coker offers?

I'm kind of rambling here, but buying new tires is one of the more expensive parts I need to buy and I want to be satisfied with the look, and the performance. I'd appreciate any advice you all might have. Thanks!

Greg - the split rims you see refered to are on bigger than 1/2T trucks, and yes radials will work on yer rims, incl tubeless if the rims aren't rotten rusty, and you can find a size that will be appropriate - look for tall and narrow

the question is why would one want to use spendy plastic tires just to look "original" when radials will give better ride, handling, mileage and safety

Bill

Greg,

Almost all tire manufacturers have light truck radial tires (LT) that will fit the original 1/2 ton 16" or 15" wheels. As Bill said, find one that is narrow. You can check tire specifications on-line or in brochures that a retaler should have avaiable. When I was looking for radial tires, the narrowest LT radial worked on a 5.5" wide rim. Original rims are 4.5 or 5.0 and most tire companies will mount a 5.5 tire on them (although, it has been reported that tire stores in Canada will not mount this tires).

Most narrow LT radials seem to be a little wider diameter (up to 32" loaded diameter) than the original tires but this is not a clearance problem (and it gives you a higher speed at lower rpms).

My trucks have blackwall Cooper or Toyo LT radials and they appear the same as originals but they driver much better. I used tubes with plastic protectors at the stem holes. No problems in 6 years and thousands of miles (high-speed and low-speed city and interstate drving).

By the way, as Bill stated, Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks (47-55) did not have split rims but GMC 1/2 ton trucks did have some split rims available (15" wheels, for example).

Tim

I have some 235/75R15 tires on my 15" split rims.

They are wider than the original tires, but work just fine.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Tim, do you think you could elaborate a bit more when you wrote, "I used tubes with plastic protectors at the stem holes." Are you talking about tubes inside the tire? Is that some kind of special tube or would any tire store know what I'd be talking about? Is the plastic protector at the stem something that came with the tube or something you fabricated? Your statement about "6 years and thousands of miles" holds a lot of weight for me, so I'd really like to know the rest of the details! I thought I'd post my follow-up questions to you here for everyone's benefit instead of PM'ing you. Thanks!

A good radial size for 16" is 215/85R 16. But as was mentioned above I am one of those people who was told they would not mount these on my stock narrow rims. According to the manufacturers specs they require a 5-7" rim width and mine are 4". They also say that because there is no safety bead on the rim it could be a further problem.
All of this is frustrating because I need new tires and I can buy bias-ply through the States at about $200 each. Radials that I mentioned above are about $185. I know Coker makes a 650-16 radial but they are very pricey by the time they get here, probably about $300 each. Then there is mounting and such.
My only other option is to try to get wider 16" wheels from a later GMC but what years are they available.

Greg,

There are a lot of people here with positive experience with radial tires on original wheels.

I was conservative and careful regarding leaks and abrasion. The Cooper tire dealer chose and provided the inner tubes, so I do not know if they were special construction for radials. The stem protector is a little piece of hard plastic that protects the stem from any roughness under-and-around the stem opening in the wheel - these were also provided my the Cooper tire dealer.

Many other people have reported that they get along fine without tubes.

My Cooper LT radials cost about $115/each (tires/tubes/stem-protector/mounted/balanced) plus tax (about 2 1/2 years ago). I do not know what the Toyo tires cost - they were on one of my trucks when I bought it about 6 years ago.

Here is a previous discussion of tires.

Tim

I replaced the bias tires on my '51 Chev (car) Fleetline Deluxe with Kumho radials. I used 215/75 R 15. The original tires had tubes in them. We went tubeless with the radials and have had no problems. The old girl drives and handles so much better it isn't even funny. I got the whole set mounted and balanced and out the door for $ 215. I thought it was a bargain. I don't think I could stand to pay 2 or 3 hundred bucks each for tires. I also run the same tires on my S-10 only I use 70 instead of 75. I can get an easy 60 thousand miles out of them and have even reached 70 thousand before I thought they needed to be replaced. I have also ran similar 16" tires on the wife's Lumina and they work great.

You all have given me a lot to consider, and I appreciate your responses. I think my dad and I will end up getting some radials, and the only thing we'll have to decide is if we want to get knobby radials for the rear. We definitely don't need knobby tires, but the knobby rears currently on the truck make it look like the farm truck it was. I'm afraid the truck might lose some of its character if we went will street tires all around. I'll post some pictures once we make a decision and get it all mounted.

Maybe I am in the lucky minority? I drive modern vehicles for basic transportation while my antique pickups are toys. My joy comes from restoring antiques and experiencing the "good old days". Antique pickups had skinny bias ply tires. They rode rough and they didn't handle like modern vehicles. When radials are installed they do not look or ride like antiques.

I have no problem with wanting to maintain the original looks, or character of ones vehicle, but why would anyone not welcome better handling and improved ride?
I would think that an original looking tire that provides improved safety and comfort would be a good deal.
Unless of course it was meant to be just shown and not driven. That's the only reason I could think to justify paying more (for bias-ply) to get less.

It sounds to me that the radials are the best fit for the trucks that are still used as daily or occasional drivers.

Just my thoughts about this topic.

John