Skinny or fat... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**JIMs70GMC** · 11-09-2002, 01:35 PM

...tires that is on a stock height truck? I'm nearing new tire time, I have 10" wide rims w/ 325/60R15 BFGs(31x12.5 equivalent). I was think of either replacing them w/ same size but mud terrains or going with 16"x8" rim w/ 265/80R16 Super Swampers(32x10.5 equivalent).

What do you think?

Mudder · 11-09-2002, 02:57 PM

What you gonna do with them? Slinny tall seem to do better in mud. Most all the mud racers (bogs) around here have switched from the big wide tires to narrower taller tires. For sand or rock climbing big and fat with low air. Myself I like the big tires. Those 32 Swampers would do real well off road I believe.

87gmc · 11-09-2002, 09:51 PM

i would stay with what you have only with mud terrain.

Pont · 11-10-2002, 02:51 AM

I personally would stay away from the 16" tire/rim combo. Still too much money in my opinion. I would find the tire you want to fit those 15x10" wide rims you have. Just don't go to wide. Might look funny wide but not tall enough. I'm like mudder, I like them big but don't go too far in either direction depending on your ride height.

Mike C · 11-10-2002, 10:23 AM

I like the 16" rim combo and will eventually get rid of my 35 12.50 15 BFG MTs in favor of 325 75 16 (35 12.50 equivalent) when I switch to 8 lugs. My last set of 35's lasted 10 years, so at that rate the slightly higher price was moot IMO. My vote is the 16's! FYI, we put a Fabtech 4" lift on my brother's 96 extended cab truck. We got a set of 265 75 16 BFG all-terrains that had been returned after 2 days on some soccer mom's suburban (she didn't like the noise) for $75 as demos with full warranty. The BFGs with some some Eagle 580s in 16x8, centers, lugs, mounting and balancing it was $800 out the door! The 265 75 16 is a nice size tire, actually. Fills the wheel well nicely and is a lot cheaper than the larger tires FWIW. That's what I run on my 70 2500. Shop around and try to get a couple of dealers to battle out the price with you! I did that with my 35 12.5 BFG MTs and got them for $125 each.

ckhd · 11-12-2002, 05:16 PM

I'd have to disagree (to a point) on the wide tires not being for mud. It depends on how heavy you are. My '69 K10 has never been stuck, simply because of the "floatation tires" it has on it (either 10" or 12.5" depending on my mood). It just floats over most mud, but it will sling enough out of the way to go forward anyway. I've even had to pull some serious mudders out of the mud with it, and I don't consider myself "serious".

whitdog72 · 11-20-2002, 02:13 AM

well from most of my experiances, which are all mostly at pismo sand dunes and alot of mud.....alot of guys that get those 16 inch rims and once they let air out they blow their bead off the rim and loose the tire. alot of the 16 and 16.5 inch rims have just barely started to come out with the little extra bead lip in the tire that the 15 inch rim has, But like i said from MY experiances, i am sure all of you have other say so's, but on my 72 chevy i have raced it at the dunes with about 5 lbs of pressure in the tires and have never had a problem i run a 15x10 rim, i say stick with the 15's you got a larger selection of tires too!!!

**JIMs70GMC** · 11-20-2002, 09:55 AM

.... Decided to lift 2" and get 33" tires for my 15" rims. Looking at all terrain tires. Maybe the Geolanders from Yokohama.

Mike C · 11-20-2002, 03:42 PM

The 16.5 do not have the bead retaining ring, but the 16's ALL do. That is why I won't run 16.5's but is why 16's and 17's are the rage now. You can get all of the height but reduce the amount of sidewall with the larger rims.

11-09-2002, 01:35 PM	#1
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Skinny or fat... ...tires that is on a stock height truck? I'm nearing new tire time, I have 10" wide rims w/ 325/60R15 BFGs(31x12.5 equivalent). I was think of either replacing them w/ same size but mud terrains or going with 16"x8" rim w/ 265/80R16 Super Swampers(32x10.5 equivalent). What do you think? __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

11-09-2002, 02:57 PM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Depends? What you gonna do with them? Slinny tall seem to do better in mud. Most all the mud racers (bogs) around here have switched from the big wide tires to narrower taller tires. For sand or rock climbing big and fat with low air. Myself I like the big tires. Those 32 Swampers would do real well off road I believe.

11-09-2002, 09:51 PM	#3
87gmc I Got My Engine!!!!! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Palmer, AK Posts: 253	i would stay with what you have only with mud terrain. __________________ F.O.R.D. "F*cked Over Rebuilt Dodge" -+-+-+-+Cameron+-+-+-+- 1987 GMC HIGH SIERRA LWB 1500 32X11.50 383 TBI/Vortec Heads/Intake MSD Ignition Dual Exhaust Custom Pinstriping Sweet interior & stereo http://www.cgalvin29.freehomepage.com

11-10-2002, 02:51 AM	#4
Pont I need another Barley Pop Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,629	I personally would stay away from the 16" tire/rim combo. Still too much money in my opinion. I would find the tire you want to fit those 15x10" wide rims you have. Just don't go to wide. Might look funny wide but not tall enough. I'm like mudder, I like them big but don't go too far in either direction depending on your ride height. __________________ 67 Short Fleet 4x4 04 Honda CRF450R 89 Toyota 4-Runner 34 Ford 2 door sedan - Long term project ---------------------------------------------- There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

11-10-2002, 10:23 AM	#5
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	I like the 16" rim combo and will eventually get rid of my 35 12.50 15 BFG MTs in favor of 325 75 16 (35 12.50 equivalent) when I switch to 8 lugs. My last set of 35's lasted 10 years, so at that rate the slightly higher price was moot IMO. My vote is the 16's! FYI, we put a Fabtech 4" lift on my brother's 96 extended cab truck. We got a set of 265 75 16 BFG all-terrains that had been returned after 2 days on some soccer mom's suburban (she didn't like the noise) for $75 as demos with full warranty. The BFGs with some some Eagle 580s in 16x8, centers, lugs, mounting and balancing it was $800 out the door! The 265 75 16 is a nice size tire, actually. Fills the wheel well nicely and is a lot cheaper than the larger tires FWIW. That's what I run on my 70 2500. Shop around and try to get a couple of dealers to battle out the price with you! I did that with my 35 12.5 BFG MTs and got them for $125 each. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax Last edited by Mike C; 11-10-2002 at 10:26 AM.

11-12-2002, 05:16 PM	#6
ckhd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: St. Johns, Arizona Posts: 2,660	I'd have to disagree (to a point) on the wide tires not being for mud. It depends on how heavy you are. My '69 K10 has never been stuck, simply because of the "floatation tires" it has on it (either 10" or 12.5" depending on my mood). It just floats over most mud, but it will sling enough out of the way to go forward anyway. I've even had to pull some serious mudders out of the mud with it, and I don't consider myself "serious". __________________ my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans?

11-20-2002, 02:13 AM	#7
whitdog72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Madera Ranchos, CA Posts: 130	well from most of my experiances, which are all mostly at pismo sand dunes and alot of mud.....alot of guys that get those 16 inch rims and once they let air out they blow their bead off the rim and loose the tire. alot of the 16 and 16.5 inch rims have just barely started to come out with the little extra bead lip in the tire that the 15 inch rim has, But like i said from MY experiances, i am sure all of you have other say so's, but on my 72 chevy i have raced it at the dunes with about 5 lbs of pressure in the tires and have never had a problem i run a 15x10 rim, i say stick with the 15's you got a larger selection of tires too!!! __________________ 72 LB 4inch lift 33's 350/350t stage 2 shift kit 91 chevy 4inch suspension lift, 3inch body, 33inch swampers, chipped, stage 2 shift kit ( it kicks hard!), 4 JL audio W0 10's behind my seat, and also my 72 cj5 AIM: whitdog72, FORDSSUC

11-20-2002, 09:55 AM	#8
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Thanks for the input... .... Decided to lift 2" and get 33" tires for my 15" rims. Looking at all terrain tires. Maybe the Geolanders from Yokohama. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

11-20-2002, 03:42 PM	#9
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	The 16.5 do not have the bead retaining ring, but the 16's ALL do. That is why I won't run 16.5's but is why 16's and 17's are the rage now. You can get all of the height but reduce the amount of sidewall with the larger rims. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

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