radial all season tires for 1968 two piece rims?

[mike16]

shopping for tires, origonal tires were 750 16's on a two piece rim. truck is a 1968 k20. looking for an good all season radial. I must use tubes and flaps.

[Stocker]

Look for size 235/85R -16 -- there are many to choose from and the overall dimensions are virtually the same as your original 7.50-16s. I read somewhere years ago that you need tubes designed for radials though, because standard tubes won't hold up well to the sidewall flex that radials have.

A good site for research & comparison (and buying, if you wish) is http://www.tirerack.com/content/tire...150922202850:s

[mike16]

been putzing around with this issue for a few months.manny of the tires I would consider , the sales rep insist that they cannot be mounted with tubes installed.

and for those of you still using the two piece rims, there are several tube choices. radial vs other being one consideration.

another one that is important is the valve stem needs to be about 4 inches long and bent 90 degrees.

any way, I was looking at some michelin XPS LT 235/85 16's at 260$ each, ordinary tubes are about 15 bucks each, flaps are 12 bucks each, those Radial tubes with bent stems.....run about 35 bucks each. My dealer wants to charge me 35 bucks per tire to mount and balance a to piece rim. ouch!

just thinking out loud... does Michelin care whether the radial tube with a bent stem are chinese or Michelin brand, ditto on the flaps. I wonder.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by mike16

just thinking out loud... does Michelin care whether the radial tube with a bent stem are chinese or Michelin brand, ditto on the flaps. I wonder.

Michelin may not care, but I would trust Michelin quality far more than Chinese quality.

If it were me, considering all that must be done to mount radials on your rims.... I would do what most others (including myself) have done. Scrap the old wheels and find a set of steelies, such as boneyard 16x7 Ford wheels.

[mike16]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Michelin may not care, but I would trust Michelin quality far more than Chinese quality.

If it were me, considering all that must be done to mount radials on your rims.... I would do what most others (including myself) have done. Scrap the old wheels and find a set of steelies, such as boneyard 16x7 Ford wheels.

It as not a Michelin rep, It was a mail order big box tire outlet rep. If Michelin had the tubes and flaps I d buy them over chicom stuff anyday.

I cannot do what you and MOST others have done. I choose the path less traveled. My truck has less than 13k miles on it. Chevy steelie are numerous and plentiful here. but thats not the problem.

[Sicklajoie]

You could try Michelin LTX MS/2 also. That's what I've got on mine.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....XMS2&tab=Specs
I think these are a better all season than the XPS, which is more of a highway tire.

[SS Tim]

Have you considered using an original style bias ply tube tire like STA's Super Traxion? They have them in 7.50-16 D&E.
http://www.stausaonline.com/tires/sta-super-traxion/
A set of these on black wheels and you will be looking factory stock.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by mike16

I cannot do what you and MOST others have done. I choose the path less traveled. My truck has less than 13k miles on it. Chevy steelie are numerous and plentiful here. but thats not the problem.

Understood. With OEM authenticity in mind, why switch to radials? There are still companies making bias-ply tires, and using them would eliminate your problem.

[mike16]

its the rims that are origonal. no problem choosing radials. the traxions look good. went to thier web site but no prices. no mention of tubes and flaps

[Sicklajoie]

https://www.universaltire.com/truck-...r-traxion.html
All kind of Traxion info here with tubes and flaps.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by mike16

I cannot do what you and MOST others have done. I choose the path less traveled.

Right on brother Thanks for trying to keep history alive! Otherwise, we will just have photos of what these trucks once looked like. Black was the wheel color on '67-'68 most '69's 4x4's before the transition to white.

[mike16]

factory stock,

right on!

factory origonal is the only way to go. In my own narrow intollarant and unforgivable opinion. esier and cheaper to run too. roses got thorns but its a rose none the less.