Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,022 Posts1,055,381 Members48,422 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | 
#2468 08/06/2004 12:43 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 | Okay, the ole '53 is in need of some one-piecers and I have found a guy with some one-piece 17" 8-lugs. He says he has pulled them off of his '52 3/4 ton and had no problems with them. Would there be any reason why the same wouldn't be true for my truck? Were the backspacing specs the same b/t the two years and would there be an issue with rubbing the wheel wells? Also, how much more expensive are 17" tires over 16"? As usual, thanks for the input.
Whad you do?!?
Shane
1953 Chevrolet 3600
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 188 Member | | Member Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 188 | Stock rims were 2 piece. The factory did NOT offer 17" 1 piece rims that I'm aware of. 17" are being phased out. You can still find bias ply 17" in 8, 10, and 12 ply ratings, no truck radials. I checked a couple of months ago, were around $100.00 each. My 49 3600 had the stock 17" 2 piece rims. I wanted to keep them for the height, but could not find radials. I truly believe that radials handle and steer MUCH better than the best bias ply. I bought 16" rims and 10 ply 225/85 R16 radials. Stock size wouild have been 215/85R16.
Dave | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | What's the possibility that those "17" rims are actually 16.5"? If so, it would be deadly dangerous to try to mount 17" tires on them. The tubeless tires with the tapered-bead rims are great, if the tire and rim matches. I had a friend who almost lost a hand when he tried to mount a 14" tire with a tube in it on a mobile home 14.5" rim. The bead wires broke,and the tire blew off the rim, nearly cutting his hand off in the process. Be absolutely sure the tire and wheel are compatible!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 | My '48 3/4T had three stock 2-piece 17 inch rims on it when I bought it. The 4th was a 17 inch 1-piece rim with a 7.50x17 tire and tube on it.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 | Might want to verify if these are stock or aftermarket rims, huh? Since he said one-piece, I just assumed aftermarket...but I think I will clarify that one. Thanks for bringing the obvious to my attention. I, too, am swinging towards the 16" with slightly taller sidewalls to hopefully gain some minor increase in highway speed. Don't want to dive off into an S-10 tranny swap just yet. Thought I might check out these 17's just for grins, bigger is ALWAYS better right? 
Whad you do?!?
Shane
1953 Chevrolet 3600
| | |
|
|
