Wheels & Rims
 

Hello, this is my first time posting on c10trucks.com. I was hoping I could gain some knowledge and get some advice on tires and rims.

I have a 72 C10 that is factory height. I currently have stock rims and tires on but want to get new rims and wider tires.

Can I get some thoughts, opinions and advice on tires and rim choice?

Tires: 275/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A
Question: what is a cheaper tire that is comparable to the BF Goodrich and also looks good?

Rims: American Racing Baja 15x8 with a -19 offset (http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/10351/ar172-baja)
Or: U.S. Wheels 75 Series 15x8 with a -19 offset (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...5855/overview/)
Question: Also open to rims that are comparable to the two listed above

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

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I can't help with the question but I wanted to welcome you to the board. I'm sure someone will be able to give you some advice on the wheels and tires.

LockDoc

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Be careful with that copy and paste. :) might end up on the wrong site. Haha.

In all seriousness, I'm in the same situation with my truck and would like to hear some folks opinions, too.

Welcome to 67-72chevytrucks.com :)

Thanks, LockDock. Nice to meet you!
Posted via Mobile Device

Ahh, I got caught red-handed! Nice to meet you and I hope we get some replies. Thanks!
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

As a less expensive tire option, I've bought Cooper Cobras in 275/60/15 and 255/60/15. Another optional size would be 255/60/15 rears and 215/70/15 fronts. There is a Chinese tire call Turbo Tech that has the raised white letter look too.
U

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I clicked on the second link and now my computer is all messed up and the link doesn't work. Actually, I was kidding about the first part. Welcome to the Board. Now that you're here you have to listen to what wheels we tell you to put on your truck. Some of these guys have really bad taste but the rest of us will come along and start a big fuss and the thread will get locked. But, you'll know to not get those and just start a new thread. In the end it's what you like, so look around at picture threads if you haven't already, search around. We all have a look we are after in mind.


About your user name, I'm curious how you decided on that one, f you don't mind. Reason I ask is I'm in Maryland and I always associate Freestate with that. Is there another place with that name? Just being curious about history.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Do the Cooper Cobra's have raised white lettering?

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Yep.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/coo-39612/overview/

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Thanks for the tips! I'm open to any suggestions and advice. I'm just going for a classic truck look with nothing too flashy on the rims. My truck used to be my grandfathers farm truck and it has been handed down in the family. I finally got it restored and I'm putting the final touches on it.

As for the name, I used to live in Lawrence, KS while attending school. Freestate is a brewing company that serves up some amazing beer (http://www.freestatebrewing.com/). There is also a long history story of where they got their name and the rivalry between two states.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Also a consideration is where you plan to drive your truck and how often, i.e. interstate or side/back roads, what rear end ratio, and if you have an over drive transmission. Tire height plays into RPM's at highway speeds. 275/60/15 is a short tire and at 60 to 65 mph with a 3.07 rear end and Turbo 400 or 350 transmission is tolerable but if you're running a 3.73 or higher it will limit sustained speeds on the highway. I have a truck with 255/70/15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A's with a 3.73 posi and I don't drive it above 60 mph. Another truck I have 275/45/20's on with a 3.07 rear and I'm comfortable on the interstate at 65-70 mph. Both have turbo 400's and both are big block trucks.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Thanks for the advice! I plan to drive it on side/back roads. Maybe on the highway every now and then, but it would be a rare occasion on interstate.

It doesn't have an over drive transmission and the rear end and trans is stock. I'm not sure what the rear end ratio is on the stock 72 C10's with a 350. Maybe you can help? I'm a newb when it comes to transmission and differential talk. Both the transmission and rear end are stock.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

If the SPID is still on the glove box door please post a picture. Most common with a 350 engine would be a Turbo 350 transmission and a 3.07 rear end ratio.

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Here is a picture. Attachment 1630042

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

You have a Highlander truck! If you're not familiar with the Highlander special promotion package do a search on this forum as there is a wealth of information available. That's a very nicely equipped truck. My best guess would be a 3.07 open rear end with a Turbo 350 transmission as the SPID would normally denote anything different on the rear end ratio. If you put 275/60/15 tires on you will be at ~2500 rpm's at 65 mph. Check out these two links.

http://spicerparts.com/calculators/e...rpm-calculator
https://tiresize.com/height-chart/

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Yep! Just installed the highlander seats. Not the style for everyone but I think it adds something you don't see very often. Attachment 1630133

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I converted the front to discs so I had to find something else to fit over calipers. I found these Ralley 15 X 8's at a junkyard for $200 and then had Les Scwab powder coat them for $60 x 4 = $240 and then GMC stickers from a sticker shop http://www.nolimitspdx.com/ for $10. So $450 total for this setup. I have the chrome rings but prefer to leave them off.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Her is a link to the Highlander thread. Nice color on your truck but I'm little biased as mine is the same color.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...23#post7879423

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Nicely done! Can't beat that price.

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Awesome! I haven't found that paint combination online much, so it is nice to see someone else with it.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Not to derail this thread, but could someone point me to the appropriate thread on how to install the trim on the tailgate? Unfortunately, the person I had paint and install the trim did not put on the tailgate trim (new tailgate from LMC).

Also, some parts of the trim are very loose. How can I tighten them down and make them secure?

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Me too. I have used BFG Radial T/As for >25 years on various cars and trucks, but their prices have gone through the roof in the past few years. I saved nearly $200 on a set of four 255/70x15s Cooper Cobras vs. Radial T/As. The white letters don't look as cool as the T/As, but I run mine blackwalls out anyway.

Also, I think the Coopers make the truck handle better than T/As. Although I've never used the Coopers and T/As on the same vehicle, the Coopers feel like they have a stiffer sidewall and are more responsive to steering inputs.

Wow, $53 per tire difference at Discount Tire!

http://www.discounttire.com/fitmentr...width=275&cat=

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Looking at the pictures of your truck, I sure wouldn't go with 275/60-15 tires. If you want to keep it sort of original, stick with the steel wheels, hubcaps, and maybe some 235/75-15 tires if you can still find that size. Or at least some 8" rally wheels with 70-series tires, like 255/70-15.

Here are pictures of the 69 C10 I gave my son several years ago. 255/70-15 tires on 73-87 8" rally wheels with later model center caps attached from the back. Truck is lowered approx 1.5" front and 3" rear.

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL38.../329007583.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL38.../329007588.jpg

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Thanks for the advice! And, very nice truck.

Can I ask why you wouldn't put 275/60's on? Do you think it would stick out too far? Even though I'm going for the original look, I still intend to spice it up with new rims and dual exhaust (classy but mean look).

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Very nice truck. Great colors and stance..

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Freestate - a little off topic, but can you tell me how you took that picture above that shows the corner of your cab and the interior? Fancy lens, or iPhone, or ???

It's a cool angle that includes a lot of the truck, something I don't see often.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

There are not a lot of them. I'm kinda jealous of your truck as yours is a YG8 Package C truck which gives you the nice 7 1/2 x 10 exterior mirrors and tilt as well as the A/C. Mine is a non-Package truck with A/C added. I do have a tilt for mine now and I'll be installing the green plaid factory buckets with console as well.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Welcome to the board. My first truck was a custom deluxe dark olive/med olive. I will agree on the cooper cobras and 255/70/15s. To me running the 275 series on the front is to wide. Many here have run 275 back 255 front.I wanted a 285/70/15 for the back of mine, till I found out now there about 225 apiece. Really to me on a longbed it looks better with the same size tires all the way around.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Tim, here's a little more detail on Kansas being a free state.

Free-Staters were those settlers in Kansas Territory during the Bleeding Kansas era in the 1850s who opposed the extension of slavery to Kansas. The name derives from the term "free state", that is, a U.S. state without slavery.
http://www.civilwaronthewesternborde...ee-state-party

Freestate, Rock Chalk!

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

First off, I lust after the green trucks.

These are 275/60, 15's, with a 2/4 drop on the truck.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Good looking set-up you have! What brand of rims are those? And are they 15x8?

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I bought those wheels about 15 years ago. I sold them with the tires right after that picture was taken. I don't recall what brand they were. There used to be a bunch of them running around here, but most weren't chrome plated like these.

They were 15x8.

The next set were 17x8 Torque Thrust one piece.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

The black truck has 255/70/15 and the green and white has 275/60/15. The taller 255's fill the fender wells better but give you a lot less meat on the pavement. It comes down to personal preference.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I took those with a GoPro Hero 5 Black. It does a nice job of capturing a wide view along with taking 4k photos. Below are a few other pictures that have a good angle along with a desktop background I made.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I actually took the 7.5x10 mirrors off. I wasn't a big fan of how large they were with the overall look of the truck.

Watch out! The plaid material is pretty expensive so make sure you purchase only what you need.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Nice to virtually meet you! Thank you for the advice. I've noticed there are mixed posts about putting 275/60's on versus 255/70's. Does anyone have a picture of a long bed comparing the two?

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I have bought the plaid material form SMS and yes it was 95.00 a yard and I bought 2 yards probably more than I need but I'd rather have too much than not enough. Did you paint/replace your door panels as they should be parchment as should your seat belt retractors.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I painted the door panels black. Originally, they were the off-white but in the 80's the truck had a small cab fire and discolored them. My uncle then painted them green. When I started restoring the truck I wanted to go back to the original white, but after installing the seat I thought it might look odd having two shades of white. Especially, since it is hard to find the original white door panel and the arm pad to match.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

Actually with the black dash pad, black carpet and steering column, seat belt retractors and gauge bezel I like the look of the black door panels on your truck. I bought a chrome glove box door and am going to paint the insert flat part of it black to match the gauge bezel and balance out the interior look. The pic is photoshopped.

Re: Wheels & Rims
 

I like what you have done to the inside of yours!

That was my thinking behind painting them black. It ties in nicely with the other black components on the truck. Plus, there is black in the plaid material.