best tires for 4:56 gears

[fla wildman]

Did not know what would be the best over tire size for 4:56 gears.

Try to ask this before with out much luck thought better title would help

[Musclerodz]

what engine, what trans?

[fla wildman]

350 motor little more power than stock 400 turbo trans 203 trans. case in a 83 stepside

[Yukon Jack]

What is your intended use of the truck?

I've got 4.56 gears in my 69 K20 with 35" tires - good combination for keeping in the power band but you're not going to go to fast on the highway.

[vectorit]

Runnin 327, 4spd, T221, 4.57's and 33" tall tires.
I like how it drives on the street and highways, not too rev happy but just right for me.

[blazinzuk]

i say 37s but what do I know I ran 38s with 4.10s and am now running 44s with 4.56s

[special-K]

This looks all backwards.I usually select the gear to suit what I`ve done with tires,motor,auto or manual,and what my goals with the truck are.In the 35" tire range you basically drop a notch in your gearing.So,if that`s what you have you`ll be a about 4.10.

[fla wildman]

Originally Posted by special-K

This looks all backwards.I usually select the gear to suit what I`ve done with tires,motor,auto or manual,and what my goals with the truck are.In the 35" tire range you basically drop a notch in your gearing.So,if that`s what you have you`ll be a about 4.10.

Ya I know; but thats the gears that were in the rear end and Its got a locker in it. Plus the truck was a Gov. truck and the front in is a 4:10 or 4:11 for got witch one and the rear is 4:56's factory so I'm kind of stuck with 4:56's. Do not know of another combo that would work with the trans. case .

[special-K]

Yeah,we always have the ratio in it when we start it off.You can run pretty tall rubber with that ratio.The taller the tire the more hiway friendly,too.

[bigbadchev72]

Ive ran 38s and 35s with mine, I am very happy with the 38s now, great power throughout, and i got 14mpg the last time I took it out on a roadtrip

[fla wildman]

Thanks.

38x15.50 Ground Hawgs are what I want to put on it but did not know if I should run 15" rims or 16.5". I know the 16.5's were the odd ball ones for years plus the 15's only come in 6 ply and 16.5s come in 10 ply.And if your going to run 1ton running gear I would thank go for the 10 ply.

[special-K]

I`d run the 16.5s.Good off road tires are made in that diameter and haven`t fallen prey to the silly dozen different diameters trend that plagues the automotive world these days.

[eric67m]

Not to hyjack...

Will 15" wheels clear the brake calipers on 3/4 or 1 ton axles or is grinding required? I chose 16" wheels for clearance and tire availability. Just curious.

[fla wildman]

Originally Posted by eric67m

Not to hyjack...

Will 15" wheels clear the brake calipers on 3/4 or 1 ton axles or is grinding required? I chose 16" wheels for clearance and tire availability. Just curious.

I thought the same thang about the 15" rims my self. But they do list 15" rims for 8lug on 6.5 space. I thanking 16" my self seams like there tires are cheaper

[orneryolbiker]

Check this page here:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/aux_incl/gear_ratio.html

It will tell you all you need to know....


And 15's will not fit on stock full floater rearend

[edge]

Originally Posted by fla wildman

Ya I know; but thats the gears that were in the rear end and Its got a locker in it. Plus the truck was a Gov. truck and the front in is a 4:10 or 4:11 for got witch one and the rear is 4:56's factory so I'm kind of stuck with 4:56's. Do not know of another combo that would work with the trans. case .

Might count ring gear teeth & pinion teeth...front and rear. 4:10 front and 4:56 rear?????? that dont sound right. they need to be the same ratio.

[fla wildman]

Originally Posted by edge

Might count ring gear teeth & pinion teeth...front and rear. 4:10 front and 4:56 rear?????? that dont sound right. they need to be the same ratio.

I know, I have counted them more time than I can count and it still come out the same. Plus the rear end has a tab on it that has the ring gear number and pinion and 4:56 gears and the front has the same that sed it is 4:10 I thank, not 4:11.But still there not the same gears and they have been in the truck for years and have had the truck on hard ground in 4wd and it works. The truck did come off of the cape so being an old military truck who know why its this way. Plus I have the tranny and t-case in my 1/2 ton now and its gears are the same and if your not in soft dirt the front and rear end fights each other.

[fla wildman]

Originally Posted by orneryolbiker

Check this page here:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/aux_incl/gear_ratio.html

It will tell you all you need to know....


And 15's will not fit on stock full floater rearend

Thanks,
I have there chart at home but on papers one thing and what real people have or have had I trust more.

[silver7]

I agree with special K. Since the tire size will change your 'actual gear ratio' figure out what rpms you want to be pushing when you are driving down the road and select your tire size from that. Orneryolbikers link will give you that information.

Good luck.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by fla wildman

I know, I have counted them more time than I can count and it still come out the same. Plus the rear end has a tab on it that has the ring gear number and pinion and 4:56 gears and the front has the same that sed it is 4:10 I thank, not 4:11.But still there not the same gears and they have been in the truck for years and have had the truck on hard ground in 4wd and it works. The truck did come off of the cape so being an old military truck who know why its this way. Plus I have the tranny and t-case in my 1/2 ton now and its gears are the same and if your not in soft dirt the front and rear end fights each other.

Something fishy is going on here. There is NO WAY that a NP203 transfer case is "built" to be able to handle different gears on the opposite ends of the truck. The internal differential "may" be able to handle it on loose ground for a short time, but it will bind up eventually.....and it certainly wouldn't prefer it. It should never be "locked" on hard pavement anyway.

[orneryolbiker]

I agree 410:1 in one end and 456:1 in the other, Something is going to break


I see a catastrophic failure coming soon..............



The early napco's and jeeps were like that, for example 411:1 in the front and 410:1 in the rear to help in steering, but even that proved undesireable in the long run.....

[72chevyk10]

Originally Posted by orneryolbiker

I agree 410:1 in one end and 456:1 in the other, Something is going to break


I see a catastrophic failure coming soon..............



The early napco's and jeeps were like that, for example 411:1 in the front and 410:1 in the rear to help in steering, but even that proved undesireable in the long run.....

we had a ford that was like that from the factory (lemon truck) one day we were pullin out of the field and broke the transfer case. at that time we didnt realize it had a 4.10 rear and 3.73 front. before that we hadnt drivin it on the pavement in 4wd. that thing snaped on seconds last ford we ever had

[fla wildman]

Could it be this way because of were it came from

[orneryolbiker]

Nope, somebody put that front in it to just get it rolling, that much ratio difference would never be done from the factory, even military mechinics know better... sorry

[fla wildman]

Well I know we did not change it and I know the 4wd work fine. My father used the truck for his work truck for over 15 years. And put in 4wd on and off road. When I start the build I'll have to take some pics of the front and gear end gears.

But the thing that makes me thank it is factory or a military special order is the tranny and t-case are in my k10 now and it has the same gears front and rear it does not like hard ground in 4wd.