Tire options for 15x6 wheels

[blf]

Hi everyone --

My truck currently has black 15x6 steelies wearing 235/75 R15 (Hankook Optimo H724). This setup is all from the previous owner.

I like the look of the wheel/tire combo as far as the proportions and the black wheels with the white stripe, but my issue is traction -- I don't know much about the motor build in my truck, but it's no monster, still it spins these tires a little too easy for my taste. Maybe I'm just getting used to the truck still, but I think they aren't the best choice for it.

Any thoughts on better tires for these rims? Do I just need to go 15x8 or something? I will probably keep whats on here for a while because the tires are basically new, but I just want to see what is out there when I decide to change them.

[35boulder]

For what its worth, I just put some new tires on my '69 with 15x6 rims and Discount Tire would not put anything bigger than 225/75R15 on mine. So if you are wanting to go "bigger" might need different wheels.

[dmjlambert]

I have 225/75R15 from Discount Tire on 15x5.5 rims. I consulted with quite a few people and websites and Discount Tire people. The general agreement is technically 225/75R15 is too wide and out of specifications for these skinny rims, but the 215-wide tires have too small of a max load rating although their width is correct. So they couldn't sell me 215-wide tires because of the load rating, and the 235-wide is the correct load rating for the 1/2 ton pickup, but they shouldn't sell me those because of the rim width, so 225-wide is a compromise.

I have heard but don't fully understand there is such a thing as ply-rated truck tires that are sold with a different numbering system that looks something like 28X8.50R15 and they supposedly have a greater number of plies. The plies may not be "real" counts, just a number that represents the load because modern tires are made differently. Fewer plies that are stronger, perhaps? I don't think Discount Tire sells those.

I wish somebody in-the-know could explain it to me better. I've read a whole lot on the Internet and I don't have the correct story about really what are the "correct" tires for these trucks with stock rims.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I just switched from 235s on the back of my 71 to 265s. I can actually launch this thing now. With the 235s it would spin like a mother. To be fair you are also running a cheap tire that comes factory on a lot of compact cars so they aren't built to give great traction. Perhaps fltry to find a sticky tire in that size? Otherwise, bigger wheels and tires or just keep smoking those pizza cutters. There isn't much weight over the rear axle in these.

[LongBox]

My all original 69 has 15 by 5.5 steel rims, and 700x15 radials. They look pretty skinny, but they are 6 ply rated, as far as I can remember, so they can carry the weight. I like the originality, but will be looking for rims that are quite a bit wider, maybe 8 inches, that will allow me to run modern tires, for better traction and looks.

[Already Gone]

When I bought my truck in 2014 the original 15 x 6 inch rims were on it with P235/75R15 Goodyear Wrangler RSA tires and dog dish hubcaps. I felt the 6 inch rims were a tad narrow with the 235's. I found a set of 15 x 7 80's rally wheels ( and was real lucky as they had been powdercoated white but never installed ) and instaled the 235's on them and added a set of PO1 full wheel covers and that extra inch width on the rim makes the tires pop like they should. Sorry no pics of the truck with the 15 x 7's on it.

[Warrens69GMC]

heres 15x10 6 lug aluminum wheels

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/wto/5721960506.html


15x8(?) here
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/wto/5767360120.html

[Already Gone]

If you want to change the rims a set of 15 x 8 80's rally wheels with the caps and trim rings on 255/70R15 tires really look good on the trucks as they are high and wide and fill in the wheel well real nice. That is whats on the pictured truck.

[blf]

Thanks guys -- this gives me some ideas -- I like the 15x8 rally wheels on that last one.

Warrens69GMC -- Thanks for the CL link -- I realized today my truck has been converted to 5-lug... well what I really realized is it was originally 6-lug, I knew it was 5-lug all along.

[Warrens69GMC]

check size-
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/wto/5711031185.html