15" tire sizes & brands for GMC 1000 panel Big Block v6?

[Chuck78]

I was looking for a little guidance / opinions on tire selection for the front of my 1962 GMC 1000 Panel Truck. 2 wheel drive, half ton.

It's got an 800 lb GMC big block truck V6 , heavy beasts compared to a 650 lb 454 v8 or 500 lb sbc, so I have been looking considerably at the load ratings of tires when considering them.

My favorite classic road gripper Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is no longer available in 15"

I still have four 50% tread 275/60r15 Firestone Indy 500's on 15x8 5 lug Torque Thrusts for the rear. For now, front is 6 lug still, late 70's blazer aluminum 15x7's with ancient G60-15's (i.e. 245/60-15). Sporty profile but slightly too small diameter (26"-ish) for big wheel wells. I had to drop the torsion bar ride height a good bit for cosmetic reasons.


Sizes:
*245/60-15
Great fit on 15x7, higher load ratings than 255/60-15, sporty tread profile, slightly small cosmetically on diameter (imo)

*255/60/16
Acceptable fit on 15x7, great fit when I swap to the 15x8 5 lug disc front, not as high of load rating as 245/60-15 though

*235/70-15
Great fit on 15x7, minimum width posdible for 15x8 5 lug conversion. Big plus - same height as the rear 28" 275/60r15's.


Opinions on best size for looks/handling/load ratings?

[Chuck78]

The bigger comparison is this - since the Firehawk Indy 500's were discontinued in 15", the tire choices left in 15" aren't as great anymore. BF Goodrich Radial T/A's are the classic look, but performance was just average for the price, unlike the phenomenal Indy 500's & their SS20 predacessor.

Are Cooper Cobra Radial GT any better than the BFG's? Mickey Thompson's?

Should I be looking more at truck specific tires than high performance musclecar tires?it is supporting a monstrously heavy big block truck engine...

[MusicMan70]

Check this link out Chuck...

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...light=yokohama

[Chuck78]

General Grabber LTS 235/70-15
**on clearance at $77, run this cheapo light truck tire - good fit on 15x7 until I swap to 5 lug 15x8 & 255/60/15??? Can also get Michelin in this size @ junkyard $17/ea until I swap to 15x8 5 lug disc front
Reviews say 90,000 mile treadwear (sounds like not a sporty grip, i.e. it's a long distance "highway tire") & often never can be balanced properly.
640AB treadwear/traction rating - higher # = harder rubber. A is 2nd best wet stopping rating (AA, A, B, C, D). The B is 2nd best heat dissipation (A, B, C, D)
1,926lbs is highest load rating of ange in this size
(Most of this size are in the 1600lb range)




Cooper Cobra Radial GT's any good? Better than BFG Radial T/A?
255/60/15
27.1" tall - sporty & better than current size, closer to the 28" rears to fill bigger front wheel wells better
1,885lb load rating - best I've seen in this size
235/70-15
28" tall same as rears, fills ft wheel wells better
1,896lb load rating - not much more than 255/60
440AB tread rating, a bit softer, should be a better gripper
*the classic look! Get this in the taller / higher load rating 235/70-15 & swap it to the 15x8 5 5 lugs when I convert? or run slightly less load rating in 255/60-15 now & / or later on the 15x8 5 lug swap? (better fit on 8" than 235/70)
$100



Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T Radials
255/60-15
1,885lb load rating
$130
*quite possibly the best gripper of the bunch I'd guess, also very high load rating for this size, should I bother mounting this on the 15x7 now with it likely being softer rubber/wear more squeezed on this size? Wait & run this on the 15x8?
*not available in the truck oriented 235/70-15





Maxxis Marauder MA1 235/70-15
Has better flat tread profile, semi-directional tread
Also 1,926lbs, highest load rating in this size
Reviews say semi-noisy to really noisy for an all season tire. 30,000mi to 40k treadlife, big plus, I want most grip possible not longevity. All season very grippy looking street tread. $110 ea
255/60-15 rated at 1,874lbs

[Chuck78]

Thank you MusicMan, I'll check that out in a minute.
I guess it comes down to the's options/questions:

*since I'm swapping the 15x7 6 lugs late summer for 5 lug15x8's & discs, should I just throw on some $17 junkyard Michelin tires for now as they are the best fit for the 15x7 & temporary? Then upgrade to a high quality 255/60-15 later?

*forget the cheapo new or beat up junkyard crap on this heavy front end, buy a new set of quality tires that I'll swap to the 15x8 rims after disc swap?

*Do I run a 235/70-15 with its slightly higher load rating since I have monstrously heavy big block V6's over the front tires? vs the 255/60-15 or even eventually (after 5 lug disc swap) running all 4 15x8 275/60-15 for highest load rating @ ~2149lbs iirc - junkyard michelin on 15x7 for now?

*run good quality 255/60-15 on the 15x7 now, swap to 15x8 when doing 5 lug disc conversion, will have 2 spare rear 275/60-15's to dismount off the 2 spare 15x8's if I get the good tires now

***Is a 275/60-15 on front going to be an absolute burden to steer/parallel park with manual steering & tiny 14" Indy woodgrain steering wheel? 255/60 for that matter?
I am a stickler for simplicity, and although I realize it will handle much better with power steering, these giant GMC truck engines are gas logs and a power steering pump is going to detract a tiny bit from my fuel economy! I want to be able to do long road trips and get over 20 MPG as I previously have on this with the smaller engine without Overdrive. Bigger 351C v6 & overdrive coming soon

*Are Cooper Cobra Radial GT's any better than BFG TA Radials??? They cost slightly less

[TJ's Chevy]

I have a 3/4 ton so I have 10 ply load rang D tires all around. lol I'd go no less than 8 ply for the front. Keep in mind that 795 pounds was a Dry rating...add the oil and water and I believe your looking into almost 900. Buddy of mine recalls weighing a 305 v6 and saying it was 915 pounds! By the way, I'm TJ's GMC on the 6066 GMC forum. lol! Hi Chuck!

[Chuck78]

Thanks for the feedback TJ. In all of my researching this weekend for the GMC, actually found that even though some tires are still rated in a way that would indicate the number of plies, even a 10 ply tire probably only has 3 plies nowadays, but they are rating them 10 ply equivalent on the old antiquated standards.

Since I am only looking to replace my front two tires currently, as one is dry rotted and has a bad valve stem, I'm trying to keep them matched up to the rear tire without exceeding it, and just about any 75 series tire will exceed that diameter of 28" that I thought looked nearly perfect on this truck.

In a 235/70R15, there just are not many options available. In searching for a tire in that size with an XL rating, the only things I could find where a Hankook Tire and this other Maxxis Tire.


MAXXIS HT-770 BRAVO SERIES 235/70R15-XL
1,929lbs Load Rating
Increased casing stiffness XL rated truck tire
640AB treadwear/wet braking rating (high mileage tire)
https://youtu.be/0k0xMklkvlE


I did note however that this tire has basically the same weight load rating as the others that I was considering. It is specifically advertises stiffer casing. It will fit my 15x8 rims, but ideally a 15x7 would be best. I'll give this some careful consideration, but I wonder if the 255/60R15 would corner just as good as the thicker casing taller profile tire? Or is it just as thick as the other ones with a similar load rating?

[Sik5chevy]

Im a cooper fan..