66 Chevy C-20 tires.

[denverslim]

I have a 66 Chev C-20 with the split rims and 700/16 set up. I'm looking at getting a set of wheels that will fit the 8 hole set up with a set of tires that will be a bit more "highway friendly", maybe even (gasp) radials.
I've studied the tire ads for help in this mod but it seems difficult to wade through all the ads. Any help? Wheels, tires. Gotta look good too!

Thanks in advance.

[SCOTI]

Ford 3/4 ton vans or 73-87 GM 3/4 ton trucks for used 16" steel wheel options. Wheel Vintiques for new 8-lug steel wheels in different sizes.

For tires, modern radials are the best choice. Michelin has several options for HD 16" tires that are common on currently sold vehicles.

[denverslim]

Great reply. Thank you. I'm on my way to check it out!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by denverslim

Great reply. Thank you. I'm on my way to check it out!

No problem. I have the Michelin MTX series on my dually (stock 73-87 steel dually wheels). Load rated for the rear duals & Light Truck spec fronts (different sizes).

I did a similar deal for my '99 OBS style 3/4 ton crew-cab shorty. It has load rated rears & LT rated fronts on staggered width 16" Wheel Vintique 8-lug wheels (through Summit Racing).

I like browsing tire options through Tire Rack.

[Southcity]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

No problem. I have the Michelin MTX series on my dually (stock 73-87 steel dually wheels). Load rated for the rear duals & Light Truck spec fronts (different sizes).

I did a similar deal for my '99 OBS style 3/4 ton crew-cab shorty. It has load rated rears & LT rated fronts on staggered width 16" Wheel Vintique 8-lug wheels (through Summit Racing).

I like browsing tire options through Tire Rack.

Great helpful info Scoti and a big reason this forum is such a valuable resource.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Southcity

Great helpful info Scoti and a big reason this forum is such a valuable resource.

I agree 100% & Thanks! It's helped me & I try to reciprocate as much as I can.

This forum & others like it are extremely valuable to the shade-tree mechanics & garage builders treading in new or different waters. The sharing of info (parts, ideas, what did/did-not work, etc...) is very helpful when one is trying to educate themselves to make good, thought-out decisions.

I feel the forums are better than the info one used to be able to find within the printed magazines because of the ability to interact.
The forums are also much better vs. the digital media players for sharing info & helping others.

[crewguy]

I used the 16" 1980's GM rims with 235/85/16 Bridgestone Duellers available thru Costco. Rides great.

[factorystock]

Commercial truck tire dealers will mount modern radial tires with radial tubes on your 16" lock ring wheels. This will retain the "look" of vehicle.

[Short 3/4]

I also have had great luck with 235 85 16 Radials of various makes on 70-80's Chevy steel rims. I think they look right, and are still easy to steer with manual box.
Used this combo for decades on my old 2wd 66, and now on my current 65 4wd.
Tom

[denverslim]

Some great advice on what I'm looking for fellas. Thanks. I'm looking at finding some good used wheels here locally-no luck yet. Maybe have to look at new ones from Summit. Would I just search for any 70's or 80's 3/4 ton stock wheels? Will the holes and backspace be what I need? Denverslim

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

16" tires would be the most vintage looking from what I gather of your desires, but 17's are the the new standard.

Steel 17's are just as cheap new, and you have a wider selection of tires. This way you can run a 60 series for a more aggressive look or a 70 series to look stock. Most will have a high enough rating to do pretty much anything a C20 is capable of.

Ram 2500 has a nice set of forged 5 spoke 17's that cool, and of course the PYO rims of GM. The pyo rims weigh 17 pounds each which is less then 1/2 the weight of Steel rims. Both those rims I am considering when if I change my steoside to C20 levels for bigger breaks.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by denverslim

Some great advice on what I'm looking for fellas. Thanks. I'm looking at finding some good used wheels here locally-no luck yet. Maybe have to look at new ones from Summit. Would I just search for any 70's or 80's 3/4 ton stock wheels? Will the holes and backspace be what I need? Denverslim

Wheel Vintiques through Summit.

OE sizes were 6 - 7" depending on year & mfr. Going wider or different back spacing for wider wheels would be based on your needs. I did 8" rears for my 99 w/5" bs (the standard bs was 4").

[sodly]

If your original wheels are in good shape, Yokohama makes (or at least did recently) a nice 7.50R16 tire with the correct size and look. Might have to take it to a truck/farm shop to have them mounted, though.

[1966 K10]

Thought these looked nice for the burb, anyone use these yet?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/R...4aAlaPEALw_wcB

edit:

A little spendy but 7.5x32 seems about right for these old rigs

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/bf-goo..._/R-BDKZ-21105

[denverslim]

Looking good. The "fitment" process says "doesn't fit the '66 C-20. Is this just because they weren't stock? Do they not allow cross-over. Just want to be sure before I would pop for the wheels. Also, any reason we couldn't go to an 8" wheel, same hole pattern and back space?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by denverslim

Looking good. The "fitment" process says "doesn't fit the '66 C-20. Is this just because they weren't stock? Do they not allow cross-over. Just want to be sure before I would pop for the wheels. Also, any reason we couldn't go to an 8" wheel, same hole pattern and back space?

They're intended for a Ford f250/350 8-lug truck/van. They won't cross reference to an old GM built truck.

The hub bore is probably different on those vs the GM wheels but that's not a deal breaker on lug centric applications. Wider wheels can be used but you'll need to verify what back-spacing would work for your application & taste.

[dmulally]

Originally Posted by denverslim

Looking good. The "fitment" process says "doesn't fit the '66 C-20. Is this just because they weren't stock? Do they not allow cross-over. Just want to be sure before I would pop for the wheels. Also, any reason we couldn't go to an 8" wheel, same hole pattern and back space?

My 66 C20 originally had 16.5 rims. Which is really annoying. I bought some very expensive tyres only to find I had two 16.5 rims and two 16's.

I ended up going 16 all round and got some 7.50X16LT commercial radials. Pretty cheap, heavy duty, will last for years and I think look the part.

[denverslim]

This is what I think I will do. The more I research and the more I measure, the more confused I get. The original manual says the rims are 17.5 X 8.
It's hard for me to know how to measure the exact rim size but mine "could" be that.
Looking at the close proximity of the front tires to the tie rods, I know I need to be careful with the backspace. Looks like most guys are going with a 4" bs, my existing is right at 5", so 4 should be ok. Sheese!

[denverslim]

I should have included that I cannot seem to find 17" wheels anywhere with the the other qualifications. Wheel vintique only has the 16" and they are pretty pricy at over $140!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by dmulally

I ended up going 16 all round and got some 7.50X16LT commercial radials. Pretty cheap, heavy duty, will last for years and I think look the part.

Look great! Look like truck tires, not car tires. What brand are these?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by denverslim

I should have included that I cannot seem to find 17" wheels anywhere with the the other qualifications. Wheel vintique only has the 16" and they are pretty pricy at over $140!

8-lug steel wheels are considered a HD wheel so the market is HD trucks. Late model dually wheels upsized the diameters to 17" after approx 2010. Not sure how many single wheel apps there were during these years but 16" wheels were still used.

No aftermarket OE style 8-lug 17" wheel is available that I'm aware of. Detroit Steel makes 'solid' steelies in larger diameters but they're not what I call an original type wheel. And yes.... Even steel wheels are going to cost over $100 a pop or more depending on how big/wide you want to go.

[dmulally]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Look great! Look like truck tires, not car tires. What brand are these?

My C20 is in storage so I can't easily check. Pretty sure it were Bridgestone as they are the only local truck shop who will touch a split rim. I'm in rural New Zealand.

I had the same tyres on my Isuzu Canter light truck and they went forever. Zero grip on any sort of grass throughout winter and spring. So purely for the road.

I ended up getting a second set of rims for winter with knobblies on it because I got so sick of getting bogged on nothing.

[denverslim]

With 16" wheels instead of the original 17's, I assume my speedometer will run fast?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by denverslim

With 16" wheels instead of the original 17's, I assume my speedometer will run fast?

Wheel size won't change the speedo. Tire size will. If you get tires for the 16s that are the same overall diameter as the tires on the 17s, your speedo will read the same.

Discount tire has a good tire size calculator that you can easily compare two sizes side by side

[gmc684x4]

I put 245 75 r16 on my 72 c20 there off my 99 express parts van they look nice and look like they belong

My 62 k20 has stock 17s on it

I do like 235 85 r16 had a set on my 99 c2500 I didn't like how quickly the big wore out under load trying Nokia tires next go around