07-20-2021, 08:21 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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. |
07-21-2021, 09:50 AM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
07-21-2021, 09:56 AM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Great reply. Thank you. I'm on my way to check it out!
|
07-21-2021, 12:06 PM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
07-21-2021, 12:22 PM | #5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 1,177
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
__________________
66 GMC Suburban Custom 66 Chevy K10 Suburban |
|
07-21-2021, 02:05 PM | #6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
|
07-21-2021, 02:42 PM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: 20 minutes east of Vancouver, B.C.
Posts: 34
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
I used the 16" 1980's GM rims with 235/85/16 Bridgestone Duellers available thru Costco. Rides great.
|
07-22-2021, 08:56 AM | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,380
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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.
|
07-22-2021, 09:01 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
Posts: 554
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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
__________________
65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
07-23-2021, 02:33 PM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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
|
07-23-2021, 03:55 PM | #11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Temple City
Posts: 3,623
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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. |
07-23-2021, 05:03 PM | #12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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").
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
|
07-24-2021, 08:01 PM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,034
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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.
__________________
WANTED: * 60-66 Chevy and GMC FACTORY PHOTOGRAPHY (scans) of pickups and carryalls. Custom Camper Club-- Own a 65-66 Custom Camper? Join us at: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/g...hp?groupid=117 |
07-25-2021, 10:55 PM | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Rainier, WA
Posts: 152
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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 Last edited by 1966 K10; 07-25-2021 at 11:09 PM. |
07-26-2021, 03:39 PM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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?
|
07-26-2021, 04:28 PM | #16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
|
07-27-2021, 06:27 PM | #17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Shannon, New Zealand
Posts: 31
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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. |
|
07-27-2021, 06:39 PM | #18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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! |
07-27-2021, 06:46 PM | #19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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!
|
07-27-2021, 07:04 PM | #20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,380
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
|
07-27-2021, 09:21 PM | #21 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,025
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
|
07-27-2021, 09:33 PM | #22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Shannon, New Zealand
Posts: 31
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
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. |
|
07-27-2021, 11:15 PM | #23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: denver colorado
Posts: 67
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
With 16" wheels instead of the original 17's, I assume my speedometer will run fast?
|
07-27-2021, 11:23 PM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,483
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
Quote:
Discount tire has a good tire size calculator that you can easily compare two sizes side by side
__________________
Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
|
07-28-2021, 02:27 AM | #25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Whitehorse yukon
Posts: 1,218
|
Re: 66 Chevy C-20 tires.
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 |
Bookmarks |
|
|