47-55.1 Tire Options for 1954 Chev 3100 15x5 Rim

[Darthintel]

I finally found / purchased a rim and hub cap for fitment from Jim Carter truck parts.
Rim and hub cap fits hub and spare tire carrier! This is exactly what I was looking for. I think they look great.
I'll be painting the rims black - as they will eventually match the running boards when I paint them black.

I settled for a 15" rim vs a 16".
Rim is 15x5 , 6 on 5.5, with 3" backspace.
Now to order 4 more.

For the 16x6 rim I was planning on mounting a LT215/85R-16 tire.

What is recommended for the 15x5 rim for this truck?
I will be keeping the original drive train - so speeds will not be over 45 MPH.

Thanks

[mr48chev]

Some may argue but this chart says that a 185 tire is as wide as you want to go on a 5 inch rim. It matches about 5 sources that I checked but an 85 tire is pretty tall and skinny to begin with

[mr48chev]

I've just spent the past 16 minutes looking for a 205-85 15 tire and I can't find one listed. Where are you finding that tire size?

I did find this that says they don't have any tires that size available. https://tiresize.com/calculator/

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I've just spent the past 16 minutes looking for a 205-85 15 tire and I can't find one listed. Where are you finding that tire size?

I spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out what you are talking about.

he said he was putting a 215/85/16 on the 16s but wants a tire for his 15s.


for the OP, remember that SECTION WIDTH is not the same as TREAD WIDTH. section width is the widest part of the tire, usually the sidewall bulge, tread width is the tread width and isnt listed on the sidewalls. on older cars they used a big balloon section width with little bitty tread. usually they were bias ply. to get those type of tires in radial you might need a specialty retailer like coker. I would suggest a 7.60 15 or 8.0 15, the 8.0 will be ~29" tall which is close to your 285/65/16 (30" tall). unfortunately though, they both recommend a wider rim than you have, 5.5 for the 7.60 and 6 for the 8.0.

https://www.cokertire.com/american-c...blackwall.html


you could also go to a 7.0 15 but I am only finding them in bias ply. still around 29" tall. you could go radial sizing, 225/75/15 but that will require a 6 inch wide wheel too.

[Darthintel]

Local tire shop told me the 205/75R 15 is the tire for that rim. (15x5)
I'll go take a look at it.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Darthintel

Local tire shop told me the 205/75R 15 is the tire for that rim. (15x5)
I'll go take a look at it.

thats a full two inches and some change smaller than the 215/85/16. see what it looks like installed.

co-inky-dinkly, thats the stock size on an S10 2wd. here is what my 205/75/15s looked like

[Darthintel]

What other choices do I have for a taller tire that would fit a 15 x 5 rim?

I know stock is 29 or 30 inches tall, and the 205's are 27" tall.

For reference, the tires on the front now measure 25" tall, and 29" tall on the back.

[Darthintel]

What other choices do I have for a taller tire that would fit a 15 x 5 rim?

I know stock is 29 or 30 inches tall, and the 205's are 27" tall.

For reference, the tires on the front now measure 25" tall, and 29" tall on the back.

[mr48chev]

I also found this rather nifty bias to radial conversion chart. http://www.vintagecarconnection.com/...sion_chart.htm

[weim55]

OK, these tires are a Power King brand load range E that can go up to 80 psi. They are sold as a trailer tire but I consider that a non-issue considering the type of use my completely stock '50 3600 3/4 gets (55mph tops). Heck, it even has the same leaf spring solid axle suspension a trailer has. It's a radial tire which is a real plus and the truck drives fantastic. The tread width is about 5.75 inches. I believe my stock wheels are 5.50 inches. Advertised diameter 29.6 inches. I had to run tubes in mine as i'm still using the stock split rims. I work for an equipment company so I was able to purchase these wholesale from US auto force $76.00 each.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[weim55]

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[weim55]

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[weim55]

I run mine mine at 45 or 50psi so the truck doesn’t ride like a brick unloaded. And like you mentioned, the effort to steer with manual steering was cut in half with these tires. Amazing what a difference it makes having a narrow tire that the truck was designed for in the first place.

Steve weim55 Colorado