tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

For those running the factory style wheels but the 16x7 size, I just grabbed a set of 4 from the local junk yard off a 90-something Ford Van. My question is how big of a tire can you run on these on a factory suspension C20? I saw one post with someone running 265/75/16s. What I especially want to do is fill out the rear wheel wells as much as possible so Im not opposed to running slightly wider tires out back than in the front.

Thanks for the input!

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

For a 16x7 that 265/75-16 is about as wide as you would want to go. You start running into contact patch problems if the rim is too narrow.

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

Here's a chart I copied from a booklet from the Rubber Manufacturers Assoc. It has some good info.

Bob

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

This isn't true with 7" wheels. 285/75s are perfect. I've only done it in 4wds,but I believe a friend had that combo on a '72 C/20. I think 265/75s would be a good size,or get into the 70 series. I've run 285/75s on the stick wheels of my '92 K3500 almost 20 years. The ones on there now look great and have been mounted since '08 with no center bulge wear issues

That P-metric chart is for car tires...30-45 & 50 series? Those don't belong on a truck

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

so what I decided to do is order two 265/75/16's and see how they fit on both front and rear. If there's room in back, Ill go up another size to fill out the wheel well and leave these on the front. If there isn't enough room in front to turn the wheel lock to lock without rubbing, Ill leave these on the back and go down a size in front. Other forum members have run this size on 16x7 wheels, but that was on a K20 while mine is a C20 so we'll see what happens. Ill post pics as soon as I have them.

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

They will fit on front and there will be plenty of room in back. 12.50/33s on 10" wheels fit. whichever way you end up going,you know we'll want to see pictures.

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

I said this because BFG and Goodyear both list a 7.5" width as the narrowest to use with the 285/75-16 and an 8" rim as being the preferred width for that tire size. I also said this because most tire shops in my area won't mount a tire on an out of range rim width for legal reasons.

Sure the 285/75-16 fits on a 7" rim but depending upon where he is at he may not be able to get them installed.

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

agreed, that why Im going with 265/75/16

Re: tire size for 16x7 wheels?
 

I know this is a late reply, but I agree with Special-K.
I have run 285/75 x16 tires on my factory 7" wheels for years.
The tire guys did not want to re-install the same size tire based on some "recommendation" they have. They had just removed 4 tires on 7" rims that had over 60,000 miles on them!
My point to him was two fold
1. You just removed a set of tires that had over 60,000 miles on them and
2. You put a 12.50/33 x15 tire on an 8" wheel, that tire is 4.50 inches wider than the wheel, why not put a tire that is only 4" wider on a 7 inch wheel? (Most 285/75x16's are 11.00 to 11.25 inches wide depending on the manufacturer and design of the tire).
He finally installed them realizing that my logic and tire wear superseded their "recommendations" which are only there to limit their liability. That and the loss of a $700.00 tire sale!