The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 7.50x20 Tires

Anyone know of a good place to get this size in a mud/snow tread (reasonably)? I've tried the farm stores - and their all at least $200 a tire. Any one have a set? I need 6.

I would go with re-treads on the rear. My local Bandag Dealer always had good prices on them.

Bill

Call Lucas Classic Tires @ 800-735-0166. They should have both NDT military and Hwy patterns.

Try these guys. They stock 7.50s and will make a little better deal on 6 of them. http://www.nebraskatire.com/truck/overstocks.htm

Hey, thanks for the info guys - i'll check them out.
Does anyone know if 8.25 x 20 will also fit my 1941 rims that currently have 7.50x20 on them?

The rims may be little wide for the rims but it probably won't hurt anything. How close are your rear duals now. You don't want them rubbing. Do you intend on hauling anything?

I found a set of 6 at a truck tire close out -but they are 8.25x20. Their is currently quite a bit of room between my duals with the 7.50's? Anyone ran 8.25's on their 6" rims?

I had 8.50's on my 46, worked OK as long as they were properly aired up - the fronts rubbed slightly at full lock but didn't cause any problems

Bill

New trucks had 6.5 wheels for 8:25's' but 6.0 should be OK if tubes are used and it is assumed that the tires you've found are tube type.

I assumed you could tube tires that are designed to be used as tubeless - is this not the case?( And yes I know what they say about assuming)

Sure, you can run tubes in them and you should on those old wheels which sure were not made for tubeless.

That has me to wondering now just when tubeless truck tire first became available. Anyone know?

My first guess is about 1956.

The issue with tube and tubeless tires is the bead seat can have different angles, and if so they are not interchangeable.
Also note that a multi piece rim needs a tube to hold any air.

In general for truck tires the half sizes are tubeless, 17.5", 19.5", 22.5", and 24.5" for example. And tube type are usually whole inch sizes, 16", 17", 18", 20", 22", 24".
This is the easy way to spot most tubeless rims/tires just by the size.

Not many if any tubeless tires can be used on tube type rims, because of the obvious size difference (20" vs. 22.5") and because of the bead seat angle (I think 5* vs. 15*).

Some more info here: http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/

My Dad was telling me about the '56 6500 that his Dad bought new. When they ordered it they paid extra for 8:25 X 20 tube tires. They were afraid of being out on the road and having to replace a tire and not being able to get a "new tubeless" tire. Don

I've heard that a lot.
In 56 Chevy big trucks came standard with 22.5" wheels and tires, yet most folks ordered the familiar tube type at extra cost.

My truck's got those wheels your Dad was afraid to order (well actually from a 56 4400)...

Grigg

If you are going to run 8.25 tires on a 6" rim, I would recommend using 7.50 tubes. Otherwise the tube will fold and will develop leaks in the creases in no time. Are the 8.25 radials. If so, you need to run a tube designed for radials. I doubt if 7.50 radial tubes are available. Tubeless truck tires really didn't become common until the late 1970's. I started switching my fleet from tube required to tubeless in the early 70's. My drivers carried an assortment of sheet metal screws because usually we couldn't find anyone to change tubeless tires. The drivers were instructed to pull out the nail and put cement on a sheet metal screw and screw it in the hole. That worked until we could get it patched from the inside. The reason I changed to tubeless was that almost half of our flats were caused by folded tubes and if drivers didn't notice a flat on a driver or trailer, the friction of the tube flopping around would catch fire. Tubeless tires eliminated all this and they are actually much easier to change.

Thanks for the adivce. Makes sense.