Alright guys, friend of mine needs some help.

[Miller92]

A guy I go to school with has a '62 1/2 ton longbed and want to put some big tires on it. What's the biggest size tire you can put on your truck WITHOUT having to modify the inner fenders or anything?

[steverino66]

Probably need more info to answer: wheel diameter, width and offset; is the truck now or will it be lowered?
Mine has 275/15s on stock 8" rallys with lots of clearance at stock ride height, but the backs might rub if I weighed the bed down a lot.

[markeb01]

Whether it's a fleetside or stepside makes a difference as well. I believe the fleetsides have a bit more clearance. I'm running 255/70-15's on my stepside and they clear everything, but as above - lowering could potentially cause problems. I've run both 7" and 8" rims on the rear and both had zero offset.

[Miller92]

We have no plans of lowering it. Neither of us can afford a lift so we wanna lift it as much as we can with the tires without having to modify anything. Right now we're lookin at either 15x8 or 16x8 wheels.

Thanks for the help guys

[Miller92]

You guys have any pics of yalls truck that I can show him and get an idea?

[steverino66]

Here's a shot of my stepside with setup described above - as Mark pointed out, you probably have plenty of room with fleetside, depending on offset of wheels

[markeb01]

This is about the best shot I can find of mine that shows the fit of the rear tire. Again this is a 255/70 on a 15x7" rim. No clearance issues even when fully loaded.



Also, here are a couple of earlier threads dealing with the same topic that may be helpful:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=biggest+tire

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=biggest+tire

[Greg63]

I have 18" x 9 1/2" rims with 295/50/18 tires. That is pretty close on my fleetside wheelwell's.

[kirtzen]

Mine are 265/70/r16 they clear everything just fine.

[Miller92]

Beautiful trucks guys! Kirtzen, I love the way your truck sits! I think I may end up doin mine like his too. lol do you think there'd be a difference in clearance on a 3/4 ton and a 1/2 ton?

[kirtzen]

Originally Posted by Miller92

Beautiful trucks guys! Kirtzen, I love the way your truck sits! I think I may end up doin mine like his too. lol do you think there'd be a difference in clearance on a 3/4 ton and a 1/2 ton?

Thank you. I'm not sure what the difference in clearance would be. I've seen 1/2 tons that ride about the same as mine, if that helps any.

[Miller92]

Ok thanks. Now I gotta figure out what size their tires are. lol a kid we go to school with said his dad has 85 LTs on his '65 and they look good, but he don't know if his dad has a lift or not. And somewhere on another forum a guy said he's got 31s on his but it's rubbing the fender-wells when he turns so he's gonna do some modifying on it. We were both talkin today bout how we'd love to put some 31s on our trucks but we're both still in high school and aint really got the tools or money to modify our fender-wells or anything else.

Thanks again guys

[lakeroadster]

Miller92,

Did you ever post an answer to Mark's question? Fleetside or Stepside? The Fleetside design allows for a wider tire. Also, as Steverino66 eluded to you will need to unbolt one of the rear wheels and determine rim width and rim backspacing. Get us that data or it's all a crapshoot.

Even then you really would be better served by getting under the truck and measuring clearances. Who knows the history of the truck, it's nearly 50 years old: does it have the original rear end, ever been wrecked such that the bed is not centered. Getting under there, taking dimenions on both sides, and then comparing the data is the only sure firre method to know what will work on that truck.

Just trying to help.

John

[Miller92]

Oh sorry bout that guys, thought I answered it already. We both have LWB fleetsides sittin at stock height.

[Miller92]

Thanks for the help John. Not sure if he's gonna use his wheels he has now but I'm lookin at some 15x8's and as of the moment I have my stock rear end in it but we're talkin bout replacin it with another one for the disk brakes.

[62 Longbed]

Here is a picture or two of my 62 Longbed with stock 15x8's Rallys with 305/50R/15 rear tires .. after these wear out I'm going with 275/60R/15 as replacements ..

[Miller92]

Beautiful truck man

[62 Longbed]

Thanks for the The Good Words !!! Good Luck with the choices ..

[Miller92]

Thanks. I think I found what I want off another member's pics. He has a '63 like mine and said this combo fits and only rubs when he has a load, so I'm thinkin either some stronger springs or helper bags and I'll be good to go.

This is a pic of the combo he has.