What size front tire to run on my 69 lowered GMC? Opinions please!

[GMC"ER]

Hello all, I have had a few posts of my 69 GMC stepside on lowering questions and have gotten very good feedback thanks. Now for what I have done is put a 5" rear leaf axle flip kit and added 3" lowering springs up front but with non satisfied results so I have ordered a set of 2 1/2 drop spindles with the disc brake set up hoping that will lower it down where it needs to be? Next problem I am running 235 75R 15"s on factory rallies and with the future drop the front tires are going to scrub. I am going to keep the 235 75R's on the back but what size would you guy's suggest on the front? Anybody with the same or similar drop (pictures please!)? I was thinking about a 215 70R's on the front but not sure if it would look right with the 75 series on the back? What would you all suggest would look good? Here is a picture of the truck after lowering it but without the 2 1/2" spindles installed on it yet hope to have them on by first of the week that is why I am needing the tire size so I can go buy tires, I can not move out of garage! Thanks Robert

[Palf70Step]

what about a 235/70. You'll have same width, just lower
235/75 = 28.87 x 9.25 width
235/70 = 27.9 x 9.25
225/70 = 27.4 x 8.85
215/70 = 26.85 x 8.4

Those were some numbers I got from tire sites. Depending on how much your tire hits/scrubs will depend on how low you go. Make sure the size you take will safely support the weight your truck has on it. Personally I think 21570 might be a tad small on the weight capacity.

[GMC"ER]

Thanks Bill for the information on the tire size's I just don't really know what size I will be able to run after it is lowered another 2 1/2" I will have a 5 1/2" drop from factory after the spindles are added next week. I was hoping for some pictures of similar drops but looks like I will have to just do some searching on past post and fine some examples. I did have one tire dealer tell me that he would work with me and trade out other tires if I was not satisfied with them as long as I didn't run them. I told him that I was lowering the truck and didn't know what would fit so he is good enough to trade them out if the size I pick does not fit so I will buy there for sure. I think that the only trouble that I will have is the height of the tire but not sure? I would like to have the same width as the back just not as tall, maybe the 235X70R 15's may work? But anyway thanks for the information Robert

[Palf70Step]

What size are your front ralleys? 15 x 7 or 15 x 8? Most folks I know with that drop are running 7" wide ralley and a 225/70x15 tire.

[GMC"ER]

Bill they are 15 X 8 4 wheel drive rallies I didn't know that there was a 7"? They hard to find?

[Palf70Step]

They are out there, just don't know how plentiful in the 6 lug style. I know in the 5 lug you can get 6.5, 7, and 8" wide.

[TobyArnot]

Here's my setup:
.
Understand, I wanted a "big & little look" Had (1) coil/cut front springs along with the dropped spindles, but I found it too low for regular driving, went back to stock front springs. Started with 205 x 60 -15's on the front. Drove too scary for me. Not enogh tire for a front heavy truck.
FRONT - 2-1/2" spindles - 15 x 6 (5-lug) T/A Radials - 235x60-15
.
REAR - 4" CCP springs with long panhard bar. Wheel Vintique 15 x 8 (6-lug) - T/A Radials - 255x70-15
.
Otherwise pretty much what you see is what I got!

[CC69Rat]

3" CPP coils, 5" rear spring drop. 6 lug, stock spindles. 15x8 Kelsey Hayes steelies.

F-235/70/15
R-255/70/15

[70cst]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

3" CPP coils, 5" rear spring drop. 6 lug, stock spindles. 15x8 Kelsey Hayes steelies.

F-235/70/15
R-255/70/15

Nice truck

[Bryan H]

Here is mine. Its a five lug. Front rims are factory 15x6 steelies with a 215/70/15. It is lowered with 2.5" dropped spindles and 2" dropped springs. Rear is 15x8 steelies from Summit Racing with 4" dropped leaf springs with 2" lowering shackles and rear tires are 255/70/15. The bed had to be notched to get the full 2" lowering shackle to work.

[502ms]

I love that Bryan. Looks awesome.
Posted via Mobile Device

[72freak]

I have the 275's on 8" steelies all the way around with a 2.5-4 drop with no issues and we have also run them with a 3-5 drop.

[Bryan H]

Originally Posted by 502ms

I love that Bryan. Looks awesome.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by GMC"ER

Bill they are 15 X 8 4 wheel drive rallies I didn't know that there was a 7"? They hard to find?

I have 15x7 6-lug rallies on my red '69 with 215/70-15's.

[chopnchaneled]

I have 2&1/2" dropped spindles and 2" springs with 235x70x15s on 8.5 rims front.
5" springs and 255x70x15 on 8.5s on the rear.
I've pulled my boat and had some what of a load in the bed and not had any clearence problems.

[RenoKeene]

Another thing to keep in mind is when you go from drum to disk on the front of your 69 (mine's a 70) you will gain about 2" in total track width with the same size wheels and tires as on the back. (Measure outside of tire to outside of tire). Thats where the 15x7's come in handy. GM compensated for this in 71 by making the rear ends wider. I'm sure some folks smarter than me can add some input to this.
The 15x7 6 lug 10 slot wheels are a bit hard to come by but I do have 2 extra if you end up going that direction.
That is a very sweet short stepper you have! Good luck.

[GMC"ER]

OK the spindles came today! Already had everything taken apart ready for the new 2 1/2" spindles just finished them a little while ago put the 235 X 75 X 15's back on and guess what? Yep they almost touch, I have about 1/4 inch on the side as the fender sets kinda down over the tire but it will turn and clear but no way drivable so going to tire store tomorrow evening and get two front tires still thinking about the size but with my 8" ralley on the front I guess the 215X70X15 will be the size I will settle on, I need a more narrow and a little less tall so I guess this size will fit the truck alright hope it will look good with the 235X75RX15's on the back? I would like to find 2- 15X7 ralleys for the front but will have to use what I have for now. Sorry but no pictures tonight I will post some tomorrow evening as soon as I get the new tires and mount the on the truck. By the way what would a 15X 7 ralley have been on? The 73 and up 4X4 ralleys were all 8" right? I called a 67-72 truck parts dealer kinda close to me and he told me that the 4X4 ralleys were all 8" so if he is right what kinda vehicle do I need to be looking for also mine are 6 lug. Thanks for all the help Robert

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by GMC"ER

OK the spindles came today! Already had everything taken apart ready for the new 2 1/2" spindles just finished them a little while ago put the 235 X 75 X 15's back on and guess what? Yep they almost touch, I have about 1/4 inch on the side as the fender sets kinda down over the tire but it will turn and clear but no way drivable so going to tire store tomorrow evening and get two front tires still thinking about the size but with my 8" ralley on the front I guess the 215X70X15 will be the size I will settle on, I need a more narrow and a little less tall so I guess this size will fit the truck alright hope it will look good with the 235X75RX15's on the back? I would like to find 2- 15X7 ralleys for the front but will have to use what I have for now. Sorry but no pictures tonight I will post some tomorrow evening as soon as I get the new tires and mount the on the truck. By the way what would a 15X 7 ralley have been on? The 73 and up 4X4 ralleys were all 8" right? I called a 67-72 truck parts dealer kinda close to me and he told me that the 4X4 ralleys were all 8" so if he is right what kinda vehicle do I need to be looking for also mine are 6 lug. Thanks for all the help Robert

Not all 4x4's.
The last set of 15x7 6-lug ralleys, I bought,... came off a '78 GMC blazer.
This was the spare,...

[lolife99]

Here are some other's I have bought in the past.
I try to buy them every time I see them.

Not much demand for them,... even though they are rare.

[GMC"ER]

Thanks Keith I will try and find some around here may run across a couple for sale also may put an add on the wanted board. Thanks again Robert

[CC69Rat]

Robert - I'll keep my eyes open for you too, I'm semi close to you.

[lolife99]

I've only seen about 4 complete sets in 30+ years of looking.
I find a few individual wheels evry now and them.
Most of the time the owner of the wheel doesn't even know they are 7's.
There easy to spot if you know these wheels.

[lolife99]

Here's a good picture.
15x7 on the left.
15x8 on the right.
Info is from this old thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=15x7+6-lug