Time to buy some tires

[swissarmychainsaw]

1973 K10 Suburban 350/350

Question: does a bigger tire offer so much advantage that it's worth the extra cost?
I'm tempted to put stock rims and tires on this bad boy, but I do want to do some offroading. Realistically, I will be doing lots of hwy with *some offroad.

I'm open to changing the rims. Would a newer rim size make for a better tire selection?

I had a tire disintegrate on the highway today, it motivated me to buy some new tires! It did not blow, but it threw some rubber and SURE woke me up!

Since we all love pics, here you go:



Here is what is currently on it some very old:
BF Goodrich All Terrain AT 33" x 15 12.5



They are pretty age-cracked so they need to go.
BUT Replacing them is about $1000. And I'm not sure I like the super wide tires.

I always liked the look of Stock 3/4 ton burbs, but I plan on doing long trips with some offroad. So not sure what to get.

Here is a "stock" size 31" x 10.5 (my Spare)




Vs the bigger ones:



What tires did you like and why?
I'm trying to work on a budget here...!

[TheBlueBomber]

I like both. Personally I prefer the 33"s on these trucks if they are 4x4 but in this case either one would work well. Thats crazy what happened to the old one!!

[Pano]

I'm liking the look of the stock size.

[geezer#99]

Check tire rack. 600 to 700 bucks for a set in your original 33's.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe....5&diameter=15

[swissarmychainsaw]

Will stock 16" chevy truck wheels work? (6lug)

Seems like there are a lot of those around.

I think I have decided the wide 15" ones I have are going on the block.

Seems like a stock width and taller is the way to go.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Check tire rack. 600 to 700 bucks for a set in your original 33's.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe....5&diameter=15

Great tip!

[andrewmp6]

If it was me i would stick to the bfg at like you got or maybe a good year wrangler duratrac.If you can afford to go bigger i would but only if its a good tire not something that you would hate later on.

[cadillac_al]

I have had good luck with the BFG All Terrains. I won a lot of trophys at the mud bogs with them and they are so much quieter than my old mud tires. I feel like they are the best of both worlds. Up here on the logging roads the BFG's are the only tires that will last. Almost any other tire gets cut by sharp rocks sticking out of the logging roads. I have forgotten how many people have told me stories of cutting and ruining their tires while hunting and fishing out there. I guess the 3 ply sidewalls really do make a difference.

[Zane M]

Originally Posted by swissarmychainsaw

Will stock 16" chevy truck wheels work? (6lug)

Seems like there are a lot of those around.

I think I have decided the wide 15" ones I have are going on the block.

Seems like a stock width and taller is the way to go.

If they are of the newer generation('88 up), not without modification.
The backspace/offset is wrong, and the center hole is not large enough to accommodate the 4x4 hub of a solid axle truck.

[mitch1965]

Personally, I'm a big fan of tall and thin. I am planning on replacing the 265/75R16 that are presently on my '87, with 255/85R16 Cooper tires. Adds a little height, but no rolling resistance since they are 33"tall and 10"w. I've run them before, and will go back.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Yeah tall and thin seems good to me too.

On Tire Rack I found some BFGs in the right size 33x10.5x15". (Can I put narrower tires on these rims? Not sure how wide they are, but they seem beefy)

The crazy thing is that getting them "cheap" online and shipping them, then having them put on only saves about $140. But that's still $140 I guess huh?
Heck that's a tire! (almost!)

Are all the BFGs Made in USA? I just realized I put Chinese tires on my other truck (trying to go cheap).
I would prefer to go with "Made in America", and I'm willing to pay more!

[superwade57]

Find some Cooper at/3 great tire for the price and still mild off road worthy available in a ton of sizes and load ranges from passenger to c to e or the the Cooper discoverer s/t you'll never look back at those bfgs

[mitch1965]

I bit the bullet today, and put new tires on my '87. The tires I was planning on getting turned out to not be in stock, and were about $80 more per tire. So I installed Cooper discoverer ATP's, size 285/75 R16 for $155 per, plus tax and misc. Rides a lot better and quieter.

[swissarmychainsaw]

I just bought tires from "tirerack.com" and I learned a good lesson.

I shopped for a long time for a good deal on a tire, I went to several shops and got price quotes.

I found the tire I wanted (BFgoodrich Made in USA) and ordered them from TireRack because they only charged 16$ per tire delivered. All the other vendors charged at least double that. Crazy right? Order me in!

Then the delivery happens. at 10:15 no one was home, so he had to come back. When he does he tells me his life story!

And here's the deal. The delivery guy (onTrac) tells me that he only gets 1.25 (I assume per tire) delivered. So when he missed the delivery he just eats the gas he spent driving this way. These guy are independent contractors and have to pay for their vehicle, gas, everything including the scanning devices they use to track packages.

I have to say it made me really think about the whole "amazon.com" world we live in. If we are not paying Americans enough, who work full time, to earn a decent living, then what the hell are we doing? We are already exploiting cheap labor in China, but man to hear this guys struggles was too much.

When I was a kid everyone had an *awesome living building cars. Now what? we force American workers to compete with Chinese labor?

I bought BFGs because they are made in America, but that (to me) implies that people are paid a living wage to make, and deliver them too. What happens when they stop paying me enough to live!

Ok rant off, but be mindful of the supply chain that brings you your goods!

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by swissarmychainsaw

And here's the deal. The delivery guy (onTrac) tells me that he only gets 1.25 (I assume per tire) delivered. So when he missed the delivery he just eats the gas he spent driving this way. These guy are independent contractors and have to pay for their vehicle, gas, everything including the scanning devices they use to track packages.

That's weird. I buy several sets of tires per year from The Tire Rack. They come via UPS delivery in Texas.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

That's weird. I buy several sets of tires per year from The Tire Rack. They come via UPS delivery in Texas.

same with ky

[Billett]

Mine come UPS as well. Did you do a 2-day delivery or something?

[swissarmychainsaw]

Originally Posted by Billett

Mine come UPS as well. Did you do a 2-day delivery or something?

Yes I did, it defaulted to "deliver in 2 days"; $16 per tire delivered is crazy cheap!
Everyone else wanted $45 per tire! Just got them put on yesterday!