K30 dually tire options. Anyone running humvee tires?

[dragn91]

Just picked up a old beat to hell crew cab k30. I want to install a more aggressive tire on the truck before the dry rotted ones on it explode on me. I'm torn between buying a set of 255 85 16s for the truck or getting a set of humvee 37 inch tires. I have a set of 16.5 dodge steel wheels off a old camper, Would those work for that? If I run the military tires I think I can leave the drive train alone i think it's got 4.56s in it. If I run the 255 85 16s I think I will swap out the trans with an overdrive nv3500 or 4500 if I can find one to help on the highway a little maybe. If anyone is running a k30 with a more aggressive tire please post up some pics and info. . Google has failed me on the info part.

[andrewmp6]

The military 37s ride rough they are designed to handle the huge weight of a armored h1.

[JIMs70GMC]

So I watch a guy on you tube with 37" hummer tires on a wrecker. search recovery solutions. he has a video of how he runs the set-up in the rear.

I don't think the dodge rims will work on the chevy axles. (I tried my son's 99 dodge steelies on a chevy dana60 and they rubbed the caliper)

The 37s on my 1983 are military tires, they ride ok.

[dragn91]

Ok I'll look it up. There mid 70s dodge wheels so maybe they will fit. I'd probally run the humvee wheels up front anyway. I know they won't ride that great but the ride on a k30 isn't great anyway. I'd just run 255 85 16s if I could find them at a decent price. Is there a more common 16 inch tire that comes out around 33 -35 inches tall?

[JIMs70GMC]

285/75r16 is about 33" and I have a set of 315/70r16s that were on my k5 and measure around 35".

[83GMCK2500]

I run a 255/86-16 on my dually and I needed a 1.5" spacer in the rear for comfortable clearance, just something to keep in mind. I've found the Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX to be an awesome tire and the 255 fits the (narrow) dually rim quite well. For your trans hunt don't even entertain the NV3500, it won't be nearly robust enough for a K30.

It's not a square, but check my build thread for my '96, page two will have some shots of the Coopers.

EDIT: 1.5" spacer.

[dragn91]

Damn I read that I could run the 255 85 16s without a spacer. If I have to run a spacer I'll prob just go with a little bigger slightly wider tire only because the seem to be a little cheaper. Is there any decent wheel spacers for less than 300 bucks? If I have to buy tires and spacers to get what I want maybe i'll just wait a bit and get the 20 inch monstir mayhems that I want. Those cooper's do look like an awsome tire I found some other 255 85 16s on tire rack I think it was like 1200 for all 6. And great job on that flatbed build was entirely expecting a complete cab swap.

[andrewmp6]

Originally Posted by JIMs70GMC

So I watch a guy on you tube with 37" hummer tires on a wrecker. search recovery solutions. he has a video of how he runs the set-up in the rear.

I don't think the dodge rims will work on the chevy axles. (I tried my son's 99 dodge steelies on a chevy dana60 and they rubbed the caliper)

The 37s on my 1983 are military tires, they ride ok.

https://www.youtube.com/user/recoveryteam

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by dragn91

Damn I read that I could run the 255 85 16s without a spacer. If I have to run a spacer I'll prob just go with a little bigger slightly wider tire only because the seem to be a little cheaper. Is there any decent wheel spacers for less than 300 bucks? If I have to buy tires and spacers to get what I want maybe i'll just wait a bit and get the 20 inch monstir mayhems that I want. Those cooper's do look like an awsome tire I found some other 255 85 16s on tire rack I think it was like 1200 for all 6. And great job on that flatbed build was entirely expecting a complete cab swap.

Thank you, it's been a fun truck to own/drive/work on. I need to update my thread, last winter I warranty-exchanged the flatbed because the coating failed so thoroughly (side note: Bradford Built out of Washington, Kansas has fantastic customer service...I exchanged the entire bed for a new one at a local dealer) and last week I rolled over 300,000 miles.

What monster mayhems are you looking at? I've never heard of the brand before. I don't know what it was but before the 255 Coopers the Michelins I had on there were 235/85-16 and with anything less than 75psi THEY RUBBED! I guess there is a reason duallys have icky little 215s from the factory.

Spacers, I bought mine from Motorsport Tech (link), $275 w/shipping to me. They are awesome, solid steel and machined very well. A friend of mine pointed me in their direction after he got a set for his dually. He's running an old school set of Weld Aluma-dual IIs with a larger hub bore than GM, with his measurements Motorsport-tech was able to match that bore and now the old wheels are mounted in a hub centric fashion, he rolls down the road smooth as silk. He tows and hauls a camper on them regularly, no issues.

Wheel spacer porn: