The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Wheel sizes?

This is just a general question for those that may be interested. When i bought my 52' 3/4 ton a couple of months ago it was fitted with 15 inch split rim wheels. NOW was this the original fitment or have they been changed during the vehicles life at some point?
I have now put 16 inch rims on so as to gain a better selection of tires available, and the vehicle now stands tall and proud.
Just interested thats all, as everyone keeps telling me here in the UK that they have never seen a 3/4 ton fitted with 15's before.

Cheers
Tim

p.s. don't you just love this forum, it's great!!!!!

Hy Tim Newton, according to my 1949 truck data book 17" wheels were the standard for a 3/4 ton truck, I think the 15" split rims came along latter, hope that helps.

My '52 3600 came with the base 15" tires on 15 x 5.5 semi-drop-center rims. 17's listed as optional.

3B,

Is your 1949 Truck Data Book for GM of Canada? Might the standard wheels/tires be different in CA than in USA?

My 1949 (and 1947) USA Chevrolet Truck Data Books show 15x5.5F-SD as the standard equipment wheels for a 3600 models.

1952 wheels and tires, as described by Steve, above.

Tim

The 3/4 ton AD chevy truck had 8 lug rims. !7" rims were standard and 15" were an option.

Oops - I goofed! - 15" rims (3 piece lock ring design) where not 8 lug but were 6 lug. Correct me if I'm wrong.

At the 1952 wheels and tires link above (and in all Truck Data Books) the 15" wheel was "base" for 3600 trucks and all the wheels had 8 lugs/bolts. It looks like there was one 17" wheel option and three 17" tire options in 1952.

There was an optional 15" 6-bolt wheel for 1/2 ton Chevrolet trucks in all Advance-Design years. The Chevrolet 15" 6-bolt wheel was one piece, and I think the GMC 15" 1/2 ton 6-bolt rim had three pieces.

15" wheels were "base" on all U.S. Advance Design 3600's right from the get go. (1947)
It is a common misconception that 17" came standard, though a lot were optioned that way.
3600's also had a three speed column shift as standard equipment.
(mine does) The 4 speed was an RPO.

My 49 3600 Chevy that I sold had the orig rims and They were 16 inch rims which had to be special ordered. This truck was a special order and had a very short chassis. It was built for use in the fruit orchard in southern California... It had a great turning radius. IT was a deluxe cab with a 235 with the 4 speed trans, radio etc.

I forgot to add that The shop manual/acc. manual stated 16 inch option 17 inch standard.

This in the section that shows the load cap.

Hey tclederman - You're right on the mark on those 15" rims for the AD 3600. And , yes the GMC 1/2 ton did have the 3 piece 15"rims. Thanks for the correction and info. I was having a brain cramp.- wbrowne

Well since posting this thread, i have been amazed at the different answers. It seems that unless you specificly ordered an OPTIONAL larger size wheel when the vehicle was bought new, then you were to have the 15 inch rims standard. Thanks for all the replies.

Regards

Tim (UK)