The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 7.50 - 17 Tires - Where Can I Buy Them?

I decided to by replacement tires,
but I'm have a hard time finding a set.I'd
like to buy 5 bias ply tires.

- Doug

check the links section for vintage tire places, but if you look around you may find some at a truck tire shop, it's a size used on trailers .... tho' radials in an appropriate size would be better IMO

Bill

I was told by a knowleable tire shop that the newer
radials don't work well on split rims.
I just want to find 5 bias ply tires,for a reasonable
price.

- Doug

Dicth the spilt rims.

I'll disagree. The 17s that I've seen used by Chevy are a three piece multi-part wheel that have a Firestone/Kelsey Hayes rim design known as an "AR" mount. If your wheels are in good shape there's nothing wrong with keeping them in service. I doubt your 17s are the "widowmaker" style known as Firestone RH-5°. You can read about them in Grigg's Tech Tips article.

I use 7.50 x 17" tires on my Fords and like the STA tires sold by Universal Tire because they are USA made. Others are made by Tornel that are I think Mexican, and still others I've seen sold under the Power King brand are probably from China. Here are links to Universal Tire, Lucas Tire, and M.E. Miller tire. Stu

http://www.universaltire.com/truck-and-military.html
http://www.millertire.com/
http://www.lucasclassictires.com/BIAS0324101419.htm

Coker sells the Tornels, and others too. They aren't cheap, but not too many truck tires are. I have the splits, and bias ply tires on my truck, I like them. Nice and tall. I have the tractions on the rear, highway grooves on the front. That makes you look like a real farm truck! The only disadvantage, is that you can't rotate. But for the miles most people drive, it doesn't matter. My fronts are worn from cornering, and its almost time to have them turned around on the rim. Of course, I've put 16,000 miles on so far.
Any truck shop can mount them for you, and inflate them in the cage.

Thanks for the replies - I've some thru Universal-
$1155.American made.That's a lot of money.
What would be the equivilant rim/tire combination to
go with radials (bias ply is 34.50" overall diameter)?

- Doug

Curious to know what you've come up with. I am in the same boat myself. The tires are looking rougher than I thought and some new rubber is a must before I hit the road.
This truck is going to be a driver, as in daily, every day and may see highway miles from time to time though not highway speeds right now.
I'm considering going the econoline van wheel route, I'd prefer to find them in 17" rather than 16" though.

Jeremy

I bought STA brand tires (made in Indiana,Pennsylvania),
including liners & tubes (5) for $1113.09 delivered.
This is the former McCreary Tire plant.

- Doug

OK, I had looked at those the other day and was thinking of them. Have you mounted them up yet?
I'm driving the truck up to Talent, OR in a week or so.

Jeremy

McCreary tire is now Specility tire and they have 2 plants in the US and I believe they are picking up the Denman molds as time goes on and customer requests

I know this is an old thread but.... Looking to replace the 7.50-17 tires on my 1950 3800, and have noticed that both the STA and the Tornel tires recommend a 6" rim width and I believe the stock rim width on my 1950 is 5". Is there a significant difference?

Thx

The sidewalls will bulge if you put 7.50s on a 5" wheel. Nebraska tire still sells 7.50x17. I'm not sure if they have 700. Google Nebraska Tire and call them. They still supply a lot of old farm trucks with tube required tires. There is nothing wrong with bias tires on semi drop center wheels. Thats all we ran for many years.

I put power king 7.50-17" bias ply tires on my stock 49 3800 split rims, And they work and look fine.

OK tire in Fargo, ND sells them. I bought mine there. I recommend that you have them trued and balanced after mounting.