what tires to buy

[dmurphy68]

Ok here is the deal I had a blow out and started looking at my other tires. damn dry rott. So I took a tire and rim to a guy to put it on because i did not have a spare and he said he would not run this tire on that truck.
Tire specs: old tire: 31x10.5x15
tire i was going to put on : 245x70xr15

now he put it on for me and said i would not drive this far just enough to get home. I said ok put the tire on and drove home. when i let it down off the jack the tire bulged out like it did not have enough air in it. So i checked and it was at 32 psi. my question is why do i have to buy a 31x10.5x15 why caint i run a different tire . is my truck to hevy not enough traction etc...?
It is just a 68 custom longbed.
Some help please. does this guy know what he is talking about?
thanks in advance
Darren

[Palf70Step]

The 245x70 tire should beenough for your truck. By looking at the way you typed it and your description, I would say your tires are currently bias ply and the extra tire was a radial. That is why the sidewall bulged. It is not recommended to mix radial and non-radial tires because of the differences in handling. Will it work...yes...I did it way to many times...But I have done other unsmart things in my life too.

Far as buying tires. You could probably run anything from a 235x15 up to you 31x10.50 in radial or non radial type tires. All would work depending on what you want to spend and do. I like larger tires. My 70 has 275/60x15s all the way around, while the other truck(my 96) will go to a radial 31x10.50x15R later this summer. My personal opinion is I wouldn't run anything less than a 255/70x15 on any full size truck. Just my $.02.