47-55.1 Wheel Clearance question for 52 GMC 100

[S15shaka]

Would 16" wheels off a 2002 Suburban clear the hubs and tie rods on a stock 52 GMC 100?

Are the hub size differences going to cause issues as well?

Thanks.

ps I believe they are 16x6.5 +31 offset with 245/75/16 tires.

[mr48chev]

The should if the center fits the 52 hub. I'd try one on the truck before I laid out any money though.


1/25/25 8:18 pm
One more issue that I just thought of The 2002 Burb wheels require buldge seal lug nuts. You will have to buy a set of 7/16 Bulge seal lugnuts (the ones from the burb are 14mm to mount them safely.

I'm having computer issues and can't upload the image of the stock lug nut for comparison.

[S15shaka]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The should if the center fits the 52 hub. I'd try one on the truck before I laid out any money though.


1/25/25 8:18 pm
One more issue that I just thought of The 2002 Burb wheels require buldge seal lug nuts. You will have to buy a set of 7/16 Bulge seal lugnuts (the ones from the burb are 14mm to mount them safely.

I'm having computer issues and can't upload the image of the stock lug nut for comparison.

Thanks for the reply.

The truck has the original wheels with two of the bias ply tires having rotted out.

So before we get to work on it, I have to get tires on it, so might as well switch over to a basic set of used wheels/radial tires.

So that's where the question originates from, it's alot easier to find used 6 lug truck wheels/tires from newer trucks than stuff pre 80s

[mr48chev]

This is the stock 52 1/2 ton GMC lug nut for comparison.

[mr48chev]

True there. The lug nuts will add to the cost if you just use them as rollers but you can get by with less lug nuts if they are just hold up the truck rollers and not what you use as the long term runners after you get to the buy the wheels you want stage. I've seen too many guys tie up all of their build money in a brand new set of wheels and tires the day after they get the project home and then the project stalls out because they don't have funds for it.

[dsraven]

mr48 speaks wisdom there. if the wheels and tires you are lookking at are just for the "repair work" time of fixing the truck then a set of wheels that fit the hubs and a set of used tires is all you need. if you have a plan for what you want your truck to look like when done, and it is not what the truck was when it was new, then having a set of wheels with the same offset and width and a set of tires the same size as you will use for your finished truck will really help you when fitting things togther. if you plan to, say, go with independent front suspension (IFS) then having a set of wheels that fit that set up will be required, unless you plan to find IFS with the 6 lug wheels. the same goes for a transmission swap that would require a rear axle swap.
anyway, an old set of wheels good enough to roll the project around is kinda essential but I suggest not to go buy new tires as sometimes projects get held up and those new tires are really only good for 10 years. the clock starts ticking at their date of manufacture (shown on the sdiewall as the DOT number that is written in order of year month, google it for info) so new tires get old fast. find some used stuff somewhere, like a tire shop, that wild air but not need to be road worthy.

[leegreen]

Yeah, don't drop money on new rolling stock too early in the project

Hard to find used rubber to fit the narrow rims well enough for a good seal, I'd invest in some new tubes and either put those in the rubber you have or get whatever narrow-ish tire shop castoffs you can find and put those and the tubes onto the old rims.

Time to buy a couple of tire irons and learn how to use them too, if you don't already

My truck sat on at least 40 year old rubber n tubes while I worked on it and never leaked down enough to bother me