15" wheel fitment on 3/4 ton?

[Russ72C10]

Fair warning - this may be a silly question!

My '84 K20 has what appears to be 16x7 (doesn't look like 8") wheels... 8 lug. Here's the thing. I would almost rather have 15x10 wheels instead - as tires (which I've yet to buy, but want 35x12.50s) seem to be easier to find and cheaper for the 15s. Are there any issues with running a 15" on a 3/4 truck? Anything that needs to be done to slip 'em on? I remember hearing something that's a PITA, but not sure what.... Darn old age! (whew, almost 26!)

[1FaastC10]

grind the calipers a little, it wont effect the performance of the brakes, just makes them clear the wheels. im going to have to do the same to my Dana 60, which has bigger brakes yet. took my buddy 4 hours to do one side of his 60, it wont take nearly as long for yours.

[MylilBowTie]

Where can you get 8lug 15in rims? I just need two for my 14FF rear.

[1FaastC10]

4wheelparts, Summit, Discount Tire. just a matter of getting ahold of someone who is willing to look.

[Grim Reaper]

If they are factory they are 16 x 6.5. Stock tire should be a 235 85 16.

Rim choice is VERY limited on 15 inch 8 lug. 16 inch 8 lug is much better choices and it's a pretty common tire size now. Most of GM trucks are running 16's.

www.rim-zone.com has some deals.

[Russ72C10]

Well, I hope there's there's not much grinding involved! I just went ahead and ordered a set of 15x10's from Summit. Hell of a price, too. $240 delivered via 2-day! Now time to see if there's a deal on tires floating around. So far I'm looking at the Dunlop Mud Rovers in 35x12.50 which are $518 shipped from Tirerack. Can't wait to get some meat under this beastly old truck!

[MylilBowTie]

Do you have the part number to the rims you ordered?

[Russ72C10]

They were part # USW-75-5080... $57.95/each. A decent looking 8 spoke design which will be perfect for me to tear up off road.

[1FaastC10]

hate to break it to you, but you could have got them for 40.00 ea, and probably free shipping for 4wheelparts.com. and with 4.25" BS, you've got some grinding ahead of you.

it was mentioned that there is more wheel availability in 16x8, this may be true, however the tire selection for 15" tires, and the ability to find said sizes far outweigh the different rim availability.

[1972C10]

My friend runs 15 inch wheels on his blazer with 14bff rear and D60 front he had to grind a little bit but wasnt too bad I imagine if you had small 4 inch grinder it would suck but if you have a 5 or 7 peice of cake.

[Russ72C10]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

hate to break it to you, but you could have got them for 40.00 ea, and probably free shipping for 4wheelparts.com. and with 4.25" BS, you've got some grinding ahead of you.

it was mentioned that there is more wheel availability in 16x8, this may be true, however the tire selection for 15" tires, and the ability to find said sizes far outweigh the different rim availability.

I just checked out 4wheelparts.com and didn't see anything similar for $40, let alone even $60. There were some 6 lug 15x8s for cheap, but not 8 lug? Got a link? (I'm curious now.) Although at any rate, it's already a done deal at this point. :p

The availability of tires for 15" wheels is why I am going that route. That's also why I don't mind having to grind.. because in the long run it will be worth it. Actually, I bought those 15x10s AND 35x12.50 Pro Comp M/T's for $100 less than the same tires alone for a 16" wheel (and my wheels are 6.5" wide so even that wouldn't have worked). I can't wait til Friday when I get the wheels in my hand and can start hackin!

[1FaastC10]

i dont have a link, but the 40.00 wheels are very common on CK5.com rigs, actually, that's what i plan on running. they are 15x10, and are available in 4.25 and 2.5" BS.

in regards to your 6.5" wheels "not working" with 12.50s, actually they'd work very well. the narrower wheel would hold a bead better, and allow you to run lower pressures when offroad. lower pressures = more traction.

[MylilBowTie]

So with just regard to the 14FF there wouldn't be anything to modify to run 15s? What about back space options, what would be better? I would like to run 15s all around the truck it being a c10 with soon to be 14ff swap in rear. So it would be 5x5 fronts and 8x6.5 rears it the same style rim. I know I can get 17s but there isn't that much I have found for a tire selection in a 17.

[1972C10]

As far as i know 15s will go on the back without any problems Ive seen some older duallys come factory with 15s My friend jason put 15s on his blazer and they fit on the back and he had to grind the calipers on the front but im sure it all depends on what backspacing you get.

[Russ72C10]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

in regards to your 6.5" wheels "not working" with 12.50s, actually they'd work very well. the narrower wheel would hold a bead better, and allow you to run lower pressures when offroad. lower pressures = more traction.

Good point! I'll have to put that one in the ol' information bank. I'm just from the school of an 8-10" wheel for 12.00's. Had it that way on my '72 C10, run it that way on my Kawasaki four wheeler, etc. Old habits die hard.