NEW bias ply tires

[sodly]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

I am putting brand new bias ply tires on my '55 GMC 150 project.

Yeah, what they said. What size.... and can we see some more pics of them in profile and from stright on (standing up)? Thanks!

[factorystock]

If you do not drive often and not long distances, I would stick with the bias ply7.50-16 8 or 10 ply. Bias tires generally have a stronger side wall and they don't have the common belt separation radials seem to have. However if the truck will be used more often, I would go with the high quality Yokahama LT, radial, the type 60-66 showed on previous post with the chrome GMC hubcap. It looks like a nice trade off, smoother ride but still has a nice old school tread design. Try to find out the outside diameter measurement before you buy, some manufactures have different diameters for the same size tire. A 7.50-16 or 7.50R-16 should measure approx. 31"-32". IMO, the 235-85-16 metric seems a little too wide for my taste.

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by sodly

Yeah, what they said. What size.... and can we see some more pics of them in profile and from stright on (standing up)? Thanks!

My '55 GMC is in a paint shop about 2 1/2 hours north of my house. I have a cabin up north and keep the truck up there so I used a local shop to do the work. The tires are at the shop with the truck. I also bought new wheels for it (16" one piece steel rims), which were painted to match the truck. Then the tires were mounted but left off the truck until it is done. I will post more pics when I get it back in a couple of months. Since it is a 3/4 ton truck I wanted to put load range E tires on it.

Meanwhile, Here is the sizing from the etrailer.com website:

Kenda Tires and Wheels - AM10423

•Size: 7.50-16 LT
•Ply: E
•S.W: 8.4
•O.D: 31.8
•Capacity: 2926
•Max psi: 75
•Rim: 16 x 6
•Load Range E

[maxwoof]

I put Cooper SRM II 7.50-16 radials on my 62 k20 from tires-easy.com. They look pretty authentic, ride well, and were reasonably priced.

[MusicMan70]

Those look Awesome!

[RANDY COX]

Oh now your gonna have to wash them as I just DROOLED all over them.. No wait it's on my screen.. man those are SWEET that's what I would like to put on mine and I see those are tubeless too... can't wait to see them on the truck.....

[sodly]

I'm on the bandwagon... I can't wait to see all these mounted up on your trucks, Jon and TW Dustin. Gonna be real neat.

[TJ's Chevy]

Still scary...but I can't wait to see them on. LOL!

[60-66]

Get it done professionally , I used my own OLD machine and scratched the edges but I'm planning on painting the faces.

[pimpston65]

yeah i am, theres an "old school" tire shop the does it right, and they will pay the get it repaired if they jack it up

[junkyard junky]

Back in October I bought a set of bias ply coker classics. They were over $100 each less than radial tires. Mine were for my 56 Cadillac which is not a truck but weighs just as much as one, 4700 lbs if I remember correctly. Live close enough to Coker that I just took my wheels down to their main office and had them mount and balance them. When I finally got the car back together, have a vibration problem at a certain speed. Plan on pulling the front wheels off since they are the easiest and check the balancing. I've seen on other websites that cokes has problems with their tires having out of round problems along with vibration problems. The 10% off helps too.

[stormking]

Thanks for the measurement 60-66. I'm going to buy a set for some 8 lug wheels to go on my 1955 Napco. The three rounder faced wheels I have are dated 1956. The 6 lug 17.5's seem harder to find than the 19.5's.

[benwah]

Wish I could find 17's for my 62 all I can find is 17.5's. I ran bias 7.50-16s on my 85 Dodge 250, I cant find them anymore either! Had to go to radials. The ride is a lot smoother and quieter. But doesn't perform as good plowing snow or traveling in $hitty New England weather.

[sodly]

After doing more research on this I've come to the conclusion that IF I go radial, the closest size (besides 7.50R16) would be 215 85R16. My head says go radial... but my heart loves the pie crusts on the bias. Aaaaaaaargh!

[T.W.Dustin]

Here are the new Kenda bias ply tires mounted on my freshly painted 1955 GMC 150





Tire specs:
Purchased at etrailer.com
Kenda Tires
•Size: 7.50-16 LT
•Ply: E
•S.W: 8.4
•O.D: 31.8
•Capacity: 2926
•Max psi: 75
•Rim: 16 x 6
•Load Range E

[pimpston65]

love love love that white painted bumper, cow tippin any one!!!! ps the bias tires look great also

[60-66]

Great looking truck ! Whats your driving opinion of the tires ?

[Gumby]

I love bia-ply tires, they do not explode like a bomb like a radial does when it lets lose. They just fall apart n lose air.

[thetattedrat]

JMR5 - Love the pic! 8.15-15 Firestone Deluxe Champions = 8inch rim, 15inch, what is the other 15? Also, I crave a "wider" Coker type WW.. Doe Firestone make one like that better than Coker?

[Old Truck Man]

I have Bias ply,s on my zombie truck. I prefer a aged bias to a new radial. Ive had almost new radials fail on semi trucks at 60 MPH. Tears the heck out of everything before you can get stopped. Go look at the junk tire piles at a truck stop. there will be lots of radials with plenty of tread and almost all the bias will be worn smooth. a bias ply on a trailer pulls better and last longer than a radial.

[lowslow64]

Had my Coker tires for a year or so now. Only driven maybe once a week. I never drive over the speed limit, they do wander, but not bad on the highway, but alot on a two lane blacktop. If I had to drive everyday, I would swap to radial.

[1963chevyc20]

I have a 51 year old ply tire on a rim. Holds air and I have drove on it once. It is the original tire off my 63 c20.