The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1.5t tire size

I need to get tires for the 45 1.5t that I just got going. Can see belt through the slicks(treads long gone). It has 7.50 x 20 on the fronts and 8.25 x 20 on the rears. I can't find many 7.50, is that the correct size for my truck?

Have you tried to see if Coker has them available?

Most likely the rear tires were also 7.50 x 20 from the factory. The supply of 7.50 traction tires has all but dried up except for the NDT military tires so people began to use the more readily available 8.25 traction tires on the rear. If your trucks gearing and motor are currently happy with 8.25's and it's not lugging and it is a two wheel drive truck then a new set of 8.25x20's should be OK.

-Mike-

Normally these trucks were spec'd with a tire size larger on the rear. If you look at the load capacity chart at the rear of the yr. specific drivers manuals for these trucks, you'll see the listings. That truck of yours could have very well came from the Factory with 7.50, front, 8.25 rear. Most all of the Chevrolet 2 ton trucks I've had through the years were this way. I always tried to install 8.25, all the way around. To know for sure, i'd buy a 1946 Chevrolet Truck Operators Manual, & see what it says.

Give these guys a call. http://www.nebraskatire.com/truck I have bought from them. My 46 GMC 303 which is a 1 1/2 ton has 700x20 on it which was probably what they came with. A 7.50x20 which is still readily available was a common replacement.

Kenneth,

Thanks for that link.

What does the E refer to after the size? I will need two 9.00 x 20" for my 54/55 2-ton GMC COE and could only find a few sources at much higher prices.

If you are in the market for 9.00x20 tires with 6 lug Budd style wheels, another low cost option is used military 2 1/2 ton truck tires. Many of the guys in that crowd are using larger singles on bobbed trucks and the 9.00x20 tires are unwanted so they sell for cheap and the wheels fit GMC's. Of course, the tires are Non-directional tread. I looked at this option for my 41 military Chevy, but they are a little too tall.

Thanks, Paul

The wheels have 10 bolts. I'll be also be looking to buy two "spare" wheels, but I have not measured the hub-hole in the center of the wheels.

I want new rubber on the two "new" front wheels. I'll use the old/wheels tires for spares (the rubber has a little cracking on one side - they should be OK for spares.

Tim,

Sorry, I thought the 2+ton trucks were all 6 lug, especially the GMC's. Learn something every day. I have 2 two piece ten lug wheels from a 51 Chevy 1 1/2 ton I got in a trade and are no good to me if you are interested.

I understand about going for new rubber especially in the front. Short cutting with worn cracked tires is a recipe for disaster. I recently "bit he bullet" and bought 7 new 7.50x20 NDT's. Ouch!

Paul

Pete's Tire Barn has 8.25 and 9.00 - 20 truck radials at a good price. I didn't check on 7.50 and I don't know about bias.

I decided to do 8.25 all around on the 2 ton. That is the biggest that will fit in the front on stock rims.

Tim, I'm not really sure what the E means. There is a load range E that would be about the capacity of these tires, but the best thing would be to call them. They are in rural Nebraska and are old country boys willing to help.

i thought the 2 tons had 9.00 x 20

The factory spec sheet (1-1/2, 2 ton) showed 7:50 x 20 and 8:25 x 20 on the original rims. A later addition to the spec sheet were 9:00 x 20 on "DOT" rims.
7:50 fronts and bigger rears were common.

Mark, looking at the list of trucks on your signature, I must be missing why you're asking the question, but just in case... Your original question was "is that the correct size for my truck?" I would suspect the answer as one of the other posters inferred is on the GM Heritage site in the online Vehicle Information Kits (original specification manuals). Here is the link. Make sure you scroll down the page to see the online document links.
http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html
See if this helps.