Another Tire and Wheel Thread But Please Read!!

[LDO]

Folks,
please don't hate me!

I believe I have read every rally wheel and tire selection thread on here.

My 1985 has 7" rallies. I was planning on going with 255/60-15 front and 275/60-15 like several members here have but they've used 8" rallies.

My truck will have a 4/6 drop. 2.5 spindles and drop springs, rear flip kit.

Does anyone have pics of what those tires will look like on 7" wheels? The tire rack website says they will work but it would be great to see what it will actually look like.

Thank you in advance.

[lolife99]

I Personally think 255's are too wide for a 7" wheel.
I do think 7's and 8's look the best though.
I normally run a 215/70 on a 15x7 wheel with a 275/60 on a 15x8 wheel on static dropped 73-87 trucks. I'm always looking at side wall height and overall tire height,... Along with trying to keep the WIDER front track width in check.

[bbbc10]

why not do 15x8 in the front and 15x10 in the rear? that's what I ran on mine. and 255 is gonna be pretty wide for a 15x7 wheel

[cadillac_al]

You can usually do what you want but when you put wide tires on narrow rims you wear out the center of your tread prematurely. Lower tire pressures can help but it is best to get the wider rims in the first place.

[jones9j]

Everyone seems to be worried bout the 255 on the front, that's not as big of an issue ad the 275 on the rear. You have got to get atleast an 8" wheel fir the rear

[Shady Rascal]

Originally Posted by jones9j

Everyone seems to be worried bout the 255 on the front, that's not as big of an issue ad the 275 on the rear. You have got to get atleast an 8" wheel fir the rear

No sir. A 275 will fit a 7 inch wheel with no drama. Case in point, GM did it factory on the 454SS trucks. A seven inch wheel with a 275/60-15 tires.

[LDO]

anyone have any pictures, i appreciate everyone's input!

[bbbc10]

I have pics of my 15x8/15x10 if u wana see

[LDO]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

I have pics of my 15x8/15x10 if u wana see

of course

[bbbc10]

15x8 in the front with a 255/60/15 rubbed in the front and 15x10 rear with a 275/60/15 the drop is 5/6

[darkhorse970]

^^^nice!^^^

[Kaysen]

I'll gladly send you a pair of nice 15x8s in trade for two of your 15x7s. I'm about to do a similar setup on my 86 but planning on 235/70 or 225/70 on 15x7s up front and 275/60s on 8" wheels out back.

[LDO]

Originally Posted by Kaysen

I'll gladly send you a pair of nice 15x8s in trade for two of your 15x7s. I'm about to do a similar setup on my 86 but planning on 235/70 or 225/70 on 15x7s up front and 275/60s on 8" wheels out back.

wow, I just saw this. That would be pretty cool. I will pm you.

[LDO]

Are there any issues with a 2.5 drop spindle (Mcgauhpys)sp.... and running a 15x7 or 15x8 wheel in the front?

[LDO]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

15x8 in the front with a 255/60/15 rubbed in the front and 15x10 rear with a 275/60/15 the drop is 5/6

this is a sweet truck BBC!!

[slotard]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I Personally think 255's are too wide for a 7" wheel.
I do think 7's and 8's look the best though.
I normally run a 215/70 on a 15x7 wheel with a 275/60 on a 15x8 wheel on static dropped 73-87 trucks. I'm always looking at side wall height and overall tire height,... Along with trying to keep the WIDER front track width in check.

That's an odd combo. You're running 60mm wider tires on 1"/25mm wider wheels.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by slotard

That's an odd combo. You're running 60mm wider tires on 1"/25mm wider wheels.

Actually.... it's not "odd". Height & width were considered here along w/availability. Not all tires come in the exact sizes desired & not all wheels are easily obtained in the sizes needed vs cost. It's a budget compromise that works quite well.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by LDO

Are there any issues with a 2.5 drop spindle (Mcgauhpys)sp.... and running a 15x7 or 15x8 wheel in the front?

Actually the 5-lug 15x7's have a 3-5/8" backspace which works out better than the 15x8's which have a 4" bs.
Are you sure they aren't the 15x6.5" van rallys?
they also have a 4" bs.

[lolife99]

This is my old squarebody burb.
7 and 8 inch rallys.
215/70 and 275/60 tires.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Actually.... it's not "odd". Height & width were considered here along w/availability. Not all tires come in the exact sizes desired & not all wheels are easily obtained in the sizes needed vs cost. It's a budget compromise that works quite well.

If you're running 215s on 7s, I'd go for 235s or 245s on 8s. Or, if you're running 275s on 8s, I'd go for 245s or 255s on 7s. Or, if you want 215s and 275s, I'd want to go 2-2.5" wider on the rear wheels.

Not saying there's anything wrong with it, just that there's a significant difference in how the two look and feel.

[bbbc10]

go with western chassis 2.5" drop spindle and you wont have to grind anything if you use 15x8 in the front

[bbbc10]

thanks!!!!! I got all parts to bag it to lay frame.

[LDO]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Actually the 5-lug 15x7's have a 3-5/8" backspace which works out better than the 15x8's which have a 4" bs.
Are you sure they aren't the 15x6.5" van rallys?
they also have a 4" bs.

I will try to get a wheel off the truck today or tomorrow and see what is stamped on the back.

I know for sure my spare is a 15x7, that stamping was easy to see.