Stepside Tire Combo

[mikester]

Just joined the group guys and I have a question for you stepside owners. My buddy is building a 72. Hes owned the truck for close to 30 years. Hes at the point of shopping for tires and wheels.
He wants to use a steel wheel. I think he found a set made by Wheel Vintiques. Now hes trying to figure out tire size and wheel backspace. The suspension is bone stock so it sits kinda high. Hes thinking maybe 275-60 on an 8" rim.
What are you stepside guys running ? Remember, this is a stock suspension and he wont drop it at all.
I did a search but from what I see most trucks have been lowered. Believe me, if it was my truck it would be in the weeds. LOL
Anyone ? Pictures would be a huge help ! Thanks in advance !

[OARNGESI]

3.5 to 4 bs would be ideal

[Benjamin]

What kinda look is he going for? Raked? Staggered wheels and tire? or the same thing at all 4 corners?

I ran 235/75/15 front and 31 x 10.50 rear on my stock height stepper back in the day. Stock wheels. Don't know the backspace. No pictures survived.

I know a guy here in Louisiana running 275/60/15 with a 1/3 drop. (not a stepper, pic below) So I would say that a 275/60/15 might be a little small if your buddy isn't going to lower it.

275/60/15 are 28" tall.

275/70/15 are closer to 30" tall, and about 10.8" wide.

255/70/15 are listed as 29.1" tall x 10.4" wide.

Get on tire rack . com and browse the 15" tire sizes available.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/sizes...sp?diameter=15

[ga-stepside]

1967 stepside, I am running 255-60-R18 series tires on the front and 265-60-R18 on the rear with 2.5” drop spindles and 4” lowering springs on the rear.

[Benjamin]

Not sure how many people know how to convert the metric tire size to inches.

For an example, look at a 235/75/15

the formula for width is:
mm width/25.4
235/25.4 = 9.25 inches

the formula for the diameter is:
2 x (aspect ratio/100) x (width in mm)/25.4 + rim diameter
2 x (75/100) x 235/25.4 + 15 = 28.9 inches

I threw this together to show approximate diameters and widths for the different metric sizes. These are all theoretical sizes, actual sizes are usually a little smaller, and vary by brand.

This table is organized by diameter, smallest to largest, and you can go down the diameter column, and when you find the diameter you want, pick a width and wheel diameter.

Now, I took these sizes from tire rack . com, and there could be an odd snow tire in there, and there isn't a normal tire available in that particular size, or maybe an all-terrain tire, where you would prefer a street tread, so use with caution.

Have Fun!!

[ga-stepside]

Vey cool. I use this https://tiresize.com/calculator/

['68OrangeSunshine]

I'm running 235/85/R16LTs on a '68 C/10 Stepside. Like your friend, I have no intention on altering the factory stance or suspension. It has a natural rake. [At least when unloaded.] It is a Truck and still gets used for work.
I went to that set-up in 2002, when my OEM 5.25x17.5 factory rims were shot, and being a rare size, no longer avaliable. In the Later '70s, 7.00x17.5 bias tires were hard to find, so I went to 8.00, and liked the free lift. By the '90s, bias tires were going out of style. Then I was happy on R8x17.5LT radials.
I like to run one size tire all around, so tire rotation is easy. The 235/85/R16LT comes to about the same diameter I was used to with the R8x17.5LTs.
My Stepside has a 292 L6, rebuilt with some goodies, an SM465, and 3.73 Posi rear. Taller, thinner, profile tires work very well, especially as the 292 has a lot of torque to take the larger diameter in stride. The thinner tires are more economical on freeways. I'm not offroad much with this truck, but if I am the truck's no slouch.

[michael bustamante]

cant go wrong with 275-60-15 on the rallye or smooth steelie 15x8 rim.
me personally ill be running 295-50-15 on wheel vintiques 15x10 steelies om my 67 stepper

[Mike C]

Personally, I think staying with the 15" rim is a mistake. You can't tuck the front wheel in because it hits the control arm.

On my 69 I have an ECE disc conversion with 2 1/2" drop spindles and 2" drop springs. I switched to 5 lug in the front and the wider 71-72 5 lug rear so you have some wheels to choose from.

My truck is a leaf spring truck and I used a DJM flip kit on the back for a just over 7" drop.

In the front I'm running 235 55 17 (27" tall) on a 4.5" backspace 17x8" rim (zero offset) and on the back I have 275 55 17 (29" tall) on a 17x9" rim with 5" backspacing (once again, zero offset.

I have zero issues with how the truck drives and no wheel/tire rub at all.

[BRL]

Originally Posted by mikester

...What are you stepside guys running ? Remember, this is a stock suspension and he wont drop it at all.
I did a search but from what I see most trucks have been lowered....
Anyone ? Pictures would be a huge help ! Thanks in advance !

This '69 has had the front springs replaced with new stock 6-cylinder replacement springs, (original IL-6) and the current Small Block is positioned on those 6 cyl. frame mounts. (didn't know there was a difference at the time.)

Tires are 30/9.5 15's.

Around here, potholes seem to show up overnight sometimes, and it sure is a bit of reassurance to know I have a bit of clearance and rubber when the dang tire goes "THUMP!" at 2:AM!

Oh yea, guy said he used to bottom out the rear shocks sometimes when hauling... but I replaced pretty much everything up front and the rears are still original to me 23 years ago.

You should see what a placed back Small Block with 6 cyl. mounts does to weight transfer on leaving, even off of idle...whole front end comes up!

...ain't nuthin' wrong with stock height folks, it's a truck.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I am on a stock C10. 265/75/15 out back, 30x9.5x15 up front. The rears are 30-31 inches tall for better highway cruising. They look a bit large. But fill the wheel wells nicely.