Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1956cameo · 11-09-2009, 05:46 PM

I have a 72' suburban that I am trying to keep as stock as possible, or at least in appearance. Although the tires that I have now are getting the job done I would like to buy new ones. When I went to Discount Tire to get a quote on a new set of 16.5" tires they said it would be about $1,050 for a set of four, and they could only get them in Bias Ply.

Since I don't want to pay that much for what is essentially trailer tires I was curious if there were any 16" 8 lug 3/4 ton rims from the mid to late 70s that would hold the 72' 3/4 ton hubcap. I am hoping so because I know that the 73 up style 3/4 ton hubcaps are just like ours except they are painted yellow. However I dont know if they were still 16.5 or 16" rims in 1973 and later. If there were 16" rims that will hold the stock 72' 3/4 ton hubcap please let me know what years to look for. Thanks.

Tim240Z · 11-09-2009, 08:08 PM

According to TireRack you can get some Firestone radials for $138 each:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...=1&RunFlat=All

Longhorn Man · 11-10-2009, 01:11 AM

i would make the move to 16 inch... well, I would, and I have on 3 trucks.
sometime in the mid 70's they went to 16 inch, and your original 69 - 72 hub caps will fit.
In 88, they went to the silver wheels that took a center cap and trim ring, those will fit, but no hub caps. Anything after that and the back spacing gets funny.
Don't forget to look on vans too, although they generally had slightly too much back spacing. Not enough to prevent running them, but enough to tuck them in the fenders a tad too much and look a little funny.

mosesburb · 11-10-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

However I dont know if they were still 16.5 or 16" rims in 1973 and later.

I do not know when GM stopped offering 16.5" wheels, but I do know they were available until 1985 as we had a one ton with 16.5" wheels stock (these were offered along with 16" wheels as my uncle had a '85 3/4T with 16" wheels).

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

If there were 16" rims that will hold the stock 72' 3/4 ton hubcap please let me know what years to look for. Thanks.

Pretty much any GM truck until 1988 will have the correct wheel and from '88-'91 in the "old body-style" trucks. Pretty much any GM wheel with the "nubs" for the hubcap will work. I have even tried our hubcaps on mid-80's Ford wheels and they fit good on those also.

All of my wheels are from mid 80's eight-lug trucks and they hold the stock-type hub caps:

olblue60@aol.com · 11-10-2009, 09:23 AM

BFG all terrains are also avail. 16.5s I sometime find them cheaper then 16s because of smaller demand for 16.5s

1956cameo · 11-10-2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. It looks like I will have no problem finding rims, and even have more options than I thought if I need to get the original 16.5" tires.

**oldgold70c10** · 11-23-2009, 08:31 PM

I would switch to 16 because the 16.5s do not have the bead locks, at least the stock 16.5s on my burb didn't.

11-09-2009, 05:46 PM	#1
1956cameo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Angleton, TX Posts: 2,219	Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims I have a 72' suburban that I am trying to keep as stock as possible, or at least in appearance. Although the tires that I have now are getting the job done I would like to buy new ones. When I went to Discount Tire to get a quote on a new set of 16.5" tires they said it would be about $1,050 for a set of four, and they could only get them in Bias Ply. Since I don't want to pay that much for what is essentially trailer tires I was curious if there were any 16" 8 lug 3/4 ton rims from the mid to late 70s that would hold the 72' 3/4 ton hubcap. I am hoping so because I know that the 73 up style 3/4 ton hubcaps are just like ours except they are painted yellow. However I dont know if they were still 16.5 or 16" rims in 1973 and later. If there were 16" rims that will hold the stock 72' 3/4 ton hubcap please let me know what years to look for. Thanks. __________________ I don't always drive trucks; but when I do I prefer Chevy's. Stay driving my friends. '72 blazer 2wd build 67-72 Factory Big Block Registry

11-09-2009, 08:08 PM	#2
Tim240Z Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LAX area, So Cal Posts: 499	Re: Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims According to TireRack you can get some Firestone radials for $138 each: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...=1&RunFlat=All __________________ 1972 Suburban C20 454/TH700R4, eaton-corporate 4.10 (looking for 3.7) Sold: 71 Cheyenne 20 Installed a 99 5.7L L31/4L60E from Suburban 1500 (2005)

11-10-2009, 01:11 AM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims i would make the move to 16 inch... well, I would, and I have on 3 trucks. sometime in the mid 70's they went to 16 inch, and your original 69 - 72 hub caps will fit. In 88, they went to the silver wheels that took a center cap and trim ring, those will fit, but no hub caps. Anything after that and the back spacing gets funny. Don't forget to look on vans too, although they generally had slightly too much back spacing. Not enough to prevent running them, but enough to tuck them in the fenders a tad too much and look a little funny.

11-10-2009, 09:23 AM	#5
olblue60@aol.com member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Silver Spring Md.20901 Posts: 2,031	Re: Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims BFG all terrains are also avail. 16.5s I sometime find them cheaper then 16s because of smaller demand for 16.5s __________________ 1967 C/K10 Chevy Panel 1968 C/K20 Chevy Pickup 1968 C/K10 Chevy Suburban 1941 Chevy Sedan Delivery 1960 Chevy Sedan Delivery 1972 Camaro SS 396 #s matching 1971 Harley FX Superglide Last edited by olblue60@aol.com; 11-10-2009 at 09:25 AM.

11-10-2009, 11:30 AM	#6
1956cameo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Angleton, TX Posts: 2,219	Re: Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims Thanks for the input everyone. It looks like I will have no problem finding rims, and even have more options than I thought if I need to get the original 16.5" tires. __________________ I don't always drive trucks; but when I do I prefer Chevy's. Stay driving my friends. '72 blazer 2wd build 67-72 Factory Big Block Registry

11-23-2009, 08:31 PM	#7
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,025	Re: Question About 3/4 Ton Suburban Rims I would switch to 16 because the 16.5s do not have the bead locks, at least the stock 16.5s on my burb didn't. __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel



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