The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '51 3100 wheel question

I have just purchased a 1951 Chevy 3100 and a newbie on the forum. All original except the wheels. Owner before me added 15 inch rims with wide tires with rally hubs. I want an original look. Can anyone please tell me what size the original wheels were and where I can find replacements? Also what size tires would be best to fit the rims. Again, going for a more original look.

i cant help with the tire and wheel size but welcome.

Welcome aboard. This is from the "Old Chevy Manual Site" from the 51 Resto Pack.

http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevyresto/51150.htm

Hope this helps.

if you ever change to disc brakes the stock rims will not work.
the tire choices may be better with the wider rims.

Never thought about the disc brake problem. I'll need to think about that one. My gut still tells me to keep it original and rebuild the drums, use original wheels, hubcaps and tires that give me the original height and ride. Would give in on radials though...don't really want the ride of belted tires. I think coker has radials that match ride hieight and look. Some argue that radials will not work on OEM wheels. Anyone have advice on that one?

I'm not sure of the width but I believe the diameter would be 16". My old 55.1 3100 panel came with 6:00x16 front & rear.

The link Randy posted shows they were available with 16" (standard)or 15" (optional). The 16" will fit over the CPP disc brake set-up.

The chart also shows the width.

By the way, Please read the post "Why posts are edited, moved or deleted." Your title was too vague before editing.

51shad,

Radials will work on original wheels (16" or 15"). If your wheels are not pitted, you might not need inner tubes; otherwise, radial tires with inner tubes will also work fine.

The standard 6.00-16" rim has a 4" rim width; the optional 6.50-16" has a 4.5" rim width; and, the optional 15" rims have a 5" or 5.5" rim width. Some tire dealers might balk at mounting a radial on such a narrow rim (I have had no problems getting them mounted).

If you use high-profile truck (LT) radials, the high profile will not only look original, but also put less sidewards stress on the wheels (if that really matters at normal speeds and on modern roads).

Most tire manufacturers sell LT radials that can be mounted on the narrow original rims.

Tim

Thanks Tim. Great info.

If you use radials with tubes, make sure that they are tube type radial tires. 99% of radials available are tubless, and are not intended to run tube in them. I've seen too many tubless tires that have had tubes in them blow out due to internal friction, even with the so called "radial tubes". That name is somewhat of a misnomer, those tubes are not meant to be put in tubless tires, but rather tube type radial tires. So please, use caution in your tire and wheel choices.

Does anyone have suggestions where to source replacement rims in either 6.0.-16 or 6.50-16 with the 6 blot pattern.

(For sale offers are not allowed in General Truck Talk...Cletis)

Whatever you do don't scrap them! I'd take them but it would cost me a month's pay to have them shipped here. Someone is always looking for theose wheels.

no worries, he contacted me about them, i didn't want to have to scrap them thats why ive been trying to find a good home for them, but i need to start cleaning up around the yard and getting rid of stuff im not going to be using.

The debate about radials and bias-ply tires has gone on for years here. I bought 215-85R-16 radials for my stock rims but when I went to install them the dealer refused as according to him I needed at least a 5.5" wide rim. It also states that on the web site. He also did not like the idea of no safety lip on the bead.
Last year I bought Firestone Deluxe Champion 650-16 bias ply tires and put them on the stock rims. Like I have written on this site numerous times since, I love the tires. Smooth ride, no flat spotting, although like all bias-ply tires they can wander, which could be my front end.
Other members of this site will swear by their radials which is great, but for my application (2500 miles per year, speeds maxing about 40 mph) the bias-ply are fine.

Wheels are available from many sources. You can even have them made to fit, but that would be costly. I would try a tire shop first, if you are looking for new wheels, they will know where to get them, but it might not be the cheapest option. Check with Jim Carters, and the other various vendors.

If used will do, I would look at swap meets, and also watch the many various web sites for wheels. I have seen them listed in the parts for sale of the Stovebolt, I have also seen used ones in the free section.

I finds things all over. Make a list, search the web, scan the newspaper want ads, go to swap meets and car shows.

Try the links section of the Stovebolt.

Good luck

John