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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Reading, PA
Posts: 203
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18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
So while I'm watching the world end outside I'm sitting around daydreaming about my C10 and the direction I want to take on wheels and tires. I've been searching through endless wheel/tire posts, facebook images, shopping tirerack and using tire diameter calculators to try and come up with a solid plan.
So my wishlist - I want to modernize the look of the truck, 18's or 20's, currently looking at the Ridler 695s (yes, everyone has them, but they look good and are well priced). However, I still need to use it as a truck. Towing my boat, sometimes unimproved roads, and I live in PA so I've already blown out a tire on my wife's car nailing a pothole at night on the highway. Also, tire cost and availability is a concern. I need to replace these things from time to time. The ability to rotate them to extend their life is attractive. My truck is currently riding at it's stock height, and I plan on keeping it that way, or perhaps a very mild drop (2/4 or so) for the same reasons above. It seems like *most* folks running 20's are also running a fairly low profile "car" tire - 35 or 40 series sidewalls. They're also usually running a staggered setup, even with 18's. The problem with the staggered setup - besides not being able to rotate them - is finding both a front and rear tire in the sizes that I want. If I find a front tire size I like, often there's no matching rear that I also like. Or, to match the tires is expensive. So anyway. The idea is to have matching wheels/tires all around, with a good amount of sidewall (at least 45 series or more). Lots of modern trucks are running 20's with a lot of meat (I had a 2016 RAM until recently with 275/60/20s on it) but I don't see many squarebody folks doing the same thing. It seems like for more sidewall, 18's or smaller are the wheel of choice. I saw a guy on facebook who was running 275/45/20 on 20x10's all around, and I really kind of dug the look of the truck, again, stockish height. However the picture was only from a quartering angle, so from the side not sure how it would look. He said he had no issues with rubbing, but I'm wondering if anyone else here has tried running 10" wheels on the front. Any other tire sizes that may work with my ideas that can be run all around in a 20" diameter? The Ridlers also come in a 8.5" width, 4.75 BS. Everyone seems to want to stick to the 29"-ish tire diameter, unless they are running mud tires. Why not more meat on a street tire, like I had with the RAM? 31-33" offroad tires, no one blinks. Or does it just look too awkward on this body style? With 18's, I've seen a lot of trucks running 255/55/18 and it looks pretty good as well, but I'm not sure what width wheel would work on all four corners - the Ridlers come in a 8" (4.5 BS, seems too skinny of a wheel for 255's) or 9.5" (5.5 BS). Would the 9.5's cause a problem on the front with that backspacing? I know wheel and tire posts are beat to death, but would appreciate any insight, pictures, personal experience with those running tires with bigger sidewalls on these larger wheel options. Plus I just like looking at truck pictures ![]() |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bowser
Posts: 13,594
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Have you see this handy tool?
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...0aAuWcEALw_wcB Here’s a fun wheel/tire simulator you can use. There are others. Just an example. Some you can upload your truck onto too. https://www.bigotires.com/wheel-visualizer |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Temple City
Posts: 3,586
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
What is your ideal tire diameter? How much is your truck lowered depends on how you approach tire selection. I prefer to lower then decide on tires, and trim a little if it can be fit better.
From there you can play on tire rack to find what tires have that rough outer diameter. Also towing with car 20's can overload them, and increase of tire failure. 18's at the same tire height as low profile 20's have a good deal more capacity. So I in general at this point go with 18's of your two choices. A size to consider is 17's, and on a stock height truck 275/60/17's fit well, and look like 15's. In terms of wheel to tire ratio. They have good weight capacity, and meet the other then looks qualities you sound like you want. 255/50/17 look good on a lowered truck, and work all most as well. |
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#4 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Reading, PA
Posts: 203
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Quote:
Here is the picture of the 20x10, 275/45 all around truck I saw on Facebook. The thread has since disappeared, the owner may be a member here as well. I really liked this look. https://imgur.com/a/lCEEDPT |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bowser
Posts: 13,594
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Nice truck!
Sits just right in my opinion. |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,926
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
The PO had 20’s on my truck when I bought it. I never liked them, I don’t care for skinny tires. And the wheels where ugly! So anyways, I went with 18’s. My god my truck rides so much nicer. Truck has a 2/4 drop and the tires are
265/65R18 Before and after
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FB Page for my Seats Belts https://www.facebook.com/73-87-Chevy...9439407476735/ Restoring Seatbelts: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750 SOLD My 86 Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654972 Past Restored Bench Seats:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715398 PayPal link to pay for your items: https://www.paypal.me/TKCR |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Reading, PA
Posts: 203
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Quote:
I wonder if a similar ride could be accomplished with slightly fatter 20s than you had. They look pretty skinny in your “before” pic. |
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#8 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,926
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Quote:
I was pretty happy!!
__________________
FB Page for my Seats Belts https://www.facebook.com/73-87-Chevy...9439407476735/ Restoring Seatbelts: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750 SOLD My 86 Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654972 Past Restored Bench Seats:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715398 PayPal link to pay for your items: https://www.paypal.me/TKCR |
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#9 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,484
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Just FYI, those tires are around 2.5" taller than the old school 235-75x15 and 255-70x15. Depending on what, if anything, the PO did, you might want to check and adjust your speedo/odo calibration. There a several iPhone apps that will show you road speed and distance.
__________________
Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! |
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#10 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,926
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Re: 18 or 20 wheels with larger tires - not staggered
Quote:
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__________________
FB Page for my Seats Belts https://www.facebook.com/73-87-Chevy...9439407476735/ Restoring Seatbelts: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750 SOLD My 86 Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654972 Past Restored Bench Seats:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715398 PayPal link to pay for your items: https://www.paypal.me/TKCR |
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