Tire size question

[M Evertsen]

Ok, another question that is driving me nuts, and I CANNOT find the answer anywhere.

I am needing to get new tires for my truck. It had the original split rims when I bought it, which I switched out to regular steel rims (traded them to a neighbor's bone yard).

The original tires were either 7.5, 8, or 8.5 16.5 (I still have the spare buried under all the crap in the back of the truck and can confirm).

At any rate, I have tried finding tire size conversions, and all of them stop at 15 inch tires. This one is really driving me crazy. I am just wanting to duplicate, or come real close to the factory tire size.

The tires I traded for are 235/85 R16, which I think look a bit too big for the truck. They do not match, and were just on the rims, so it worked out.

Is there a chart out there somehwere that shows the tire sizes for 16.5's?

Or does somone know which ones will work for the sizes I have listed.

I think I am going to be looking at

215/85 R16
225/75 R16
235/85 R16

Just not sure which ones will match.

ETA - these will be for a 69 C20

[Gumby]

this one goes over 15, side and end view.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalcold.html

[Stocker]

Check your spare so you'll know for sure what size tire you're trying to size-match. If by chance that size is still available, and TireRack carries it, they'll list the dimensions so you can find comparable 16" tires.

[Sicklajoie]

IMO the 235/85/16 looks just right on a C/20.
I actually went to 265/75/16. They are the same height as the 235/85's but a little bit wider.

[M Evertsen]

Ok, the tires I have on there now look about the same as that. I also need to put new springs and shocks on the truck (still has the AC Delco shocks, lol), which should give me about an inch of lift on each end over where it is sitting now. I was just concerned about getting too much travel with that tall of a tire, but maybe it won't be an issue?

I realize the 265/75 16's are the same height of the 235/85's but I don't want that wide of a tire for a truck that will be seeing a lot of dirt roads, and potentially snow. I have had both width tires (235 and 265), and there is a difference.

Thanks

Marcial

[Sicklajoie]

Just an FYI the treadwidth for a 265 is 8" and for a 235 it's approx 6.5"

[Mike C]

I ran the 265 75 16 on my 70 GMC C2500. I thought it was perfect size tire. Currently I have a set of 235 85 16 on an '86 K30 dually, and IMO, they are too small for offroad. Will be looking to go to 265 in the future even if that means wheel spacers on in my future...

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by M Evertsen

I also need to put new springs and shocks on the truck (still has the AC Delco shocks, lol), which should give me about an inch of lift on each end over where it is sitting now.

If you lost ride height from worn out shocks, new shocks alone won't restore that. You need new springs or if your lazy....

goto autozone or other and get the Gabriel-Load-Carrier-Shock-Strut.


I just used those for similar reasons, blown shock on way to long.
They add just enough to bring things back to normal and a good deal as its only $65 for two. Ride is great now.

[M Evertsen]

Originally Posted by Gumby

If you lost ride height from worn out shocks, new shocks alone won't restore that. You need new springs or if your lazy....

goto autozone or other and get the Gabriel-Load-Carrier-Shock-Strut.


I just used those for similar reasons, blown shock on way to long.
They add just enough to bring things back to normal and a good deal as its only $65 for two. Ride is great now.

I saw those the other night on Autozone.com, however, I am planning to change shocks and springs, so these will not be necessary. The rear shocks are definately flattened.

I also have a story about the truck, as it has been in the valley its entire life. The person who originally bought the truck (I still have some of the original paperwork), used it as a turquoise hauler. He would driver about 30 miles south here every day to get a load of turquoise from his mine and bring it back up here. In the back of the truck was a converted cement mixer, which is commonly used to tumble turquoise. He would fill it up, then bring it here, dump it on the sorting table, which was in a wire tent contraption, and lock the workers in the "tents" until all the turquoise was sorted.

The truck has been through a lot, and its no wonder the springs are shot. Also, the original owner sold it to a couple here in town, who used it as a trash truck for who knows how many years, and he died in 1994. The truck has pretty much sat since then, with only a few short trips around town.