Tire and wheel issue
 

I bought my truck around 1980. The previous owner, at some point had installed aftermarket wheels 15x10 in the rear and 15x8 in the front. Both wheels are from US Wheels and have 4 inch back spacing. This was in the beginning of Radial tires but the PO installed bias ply. I really liked the way the truck sat and now that I am reconditioning for the second time I intend to keep the same stance. In about 1990 I replaced the front tires with a radial that I am happy with the size (265/70x15). Now that I am getting ready to make a decision on the rear tires and need to figure out a good compromise on the size. The PO evidently had some issues with fender well clearance and had trimmed the rear bedside, outer lip to allow for more clearance. I have never had an issue there and have reconstructed the wheel wells to original. The old tire size is 31x11.5x15. The tire is similar to a mild all terrain of today. I am thinking a tire in the 29-30 inch outside diameter range and big enough to fill out the 10 inch wheel. does anybody have any input on possible size/brand etc?

One picture (the pretty one) was taken in about 1985. The other (the dirty one) when I started the rebuild in 2012.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

They still make the 31x10.50x15 tires and in radials. If you liked the old ones, go with them again. I have seen them in both an aggressive off-road tread and mild like you currently have. 31x10.50x15 is also a good size, just a bit narrower.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

a 265/70 is 29.6 inches in diameter.

bfg silvertown makes a 285 70 for $225 ea, fits wheel widths 8-11 inches and rides like a pillow. you can get them on summit.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...D55D281659.jpg

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

Check out Tire Rack.Com for tire sizes

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I have been online and looking at the tire calculators. I have not seen the 31x11.5x15 size in a radial. Seems to be all metric when you get into those tire sizes. I have not looked at Cooper or some of the other manufactures that do tires for the older vehicles. Maybe that is next.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

You might want to check that the differential hasn't been changed out to a 1970 which is about 1 3/4" wider.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I put 31x10.5 x 15 Falken at on mom's stock 97 GMC step side. It's got a mild sidewall decorative tread not aggressive like bfg at. What are you looking for in tire? Smooth sidewalls and tread or all terrain or bigger is better?

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I did see some old school buggy tires at shop but not in truck size. They did have some muds in a 265/70/16 that gave a bias look. BFG MT or Bridgstone

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

the bfg silvertown is a car radial, not a truck tread. it has the same tread everyone knows bfg radial t/a for.

https://www.cokertire.com/285-70r15-...blackwall.html

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I sure like the looks of the tires on that 97 GMC. Never heard of Falken though. I will have to search it.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

differential is definitely OEM. That is another PO story I never want to relive. I don't think there was ever any interference. I believe it was just someone with too much beer and a set of hand shears that thought there might someday be interference it the truck jumped off a cliff.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

A while back I did some searching for a tire to fit a 15" x 10" wheel that did not have an aggressive tread. I kind of like the Yokohama Geolander A/T-S and they seem to be reasonably priced.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....landar+A%2FT-S

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I agree that is a good looking tire. do you recall what size you were considering for a 15x10 rim?

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I put geolanders on my wifes hona pilot suv, ironically because of how much more aggressive the tread looked compared to the stock tires. good tires, little noisy, but comfortable and last a long time (had them 4 years and 50k miles so far)

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

I was looking at the 32 x 11.50R15's. They are a little tall, but with a 3.73 rear gear, should work out okay. Not many tire manufacturers still make a 32 x 11.50 tire. Running a 31 x 10.50 on a 10" wide wheel is stretching them a little too much. A former member here, Lakeroadster is running Goodyear Wrangler 33 x 12.50R15's on 15 x 10's. Those are a little bigger than I want to run.

Re: Tire and wheel issue
 

On my 1986 C10 Shortbox Fleetside, I ran 31/10.50R15 Goodyear Wranglers on the front, mounted on 15X8 American Racing Chrome CP-200 wheels, and 33/12.50R15 Wranglers on the rear, mounted on 15X10 CP-200 wheels...Both sets of wheels were 4 1/2" backspacing and I didn't have any rubbing issues...Good looking setup...Took it to Belgium and England, when I was in the Air Force...That "Apple-Red" pickup stopped more traffic than the "Arrest-Me-Red" R/T Charger I took to Spain in the mid-70's...