Tire size?

[JB4020]

I have a '71 f100 2x4 longbed that i'm restoring and im trying to find the tire size that will look good and work the best. Right now i plan on using the stock steel wheels but any sugestions on wheels would be good also. I wante to have a taller tire to let the truck sit a little higher because the stock tires just look way to small. I wanted 215 85 r15 but i dont think they are available. I also have manual steering so i dont want anything to wide. thanks in advace

[67heavystepside]

go 235-75r15 on the rear and 235-70r15 on the front. both sizes will fit on your stock rims or on rims 6"-8" wide. what size do you have on there now.

[71 LONG BED]

Don't go to big. I have 275/65-15's on my '71 and the rub when wheel is at full lock. I can't wait to get ride of them!

[JB4020]

The truck had p225 75r15 on the front and 31x10.5 on the back when i got it a few months ago. it looked okay but the 225s looked to short on the front. I was thinking of puting these on the front http://www.coopertire.com/html/products ... ad_service. And these on the back http://www.coopertire.com/html/products ... raction_lt.

[67heavystepside]

the tires you refered to are discontinued. if you want to keep the 31's on the rear BF goodrich makes a long trail, it is a outlined white letter excellent all season and great tire all around. they also make it in a 235-75r15 for the front . the 235 is about 1/2- 1" taller and about 1/2" wider.
here is the info on it - http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/bfgapp/c ... railta.jsp
check it out and let me know
the 31's cost about $100-$115 each.
the 235's cost about $95-$100 each. far better than cooper.

[JB4020]

The long trails are nice but i was looking for that older look that those coopers gave. Also i wanted something taller than a 235 75 but not wide. The coopers were about 30in tall and 8.?? wide which i thought would looke great. I think the 31x10.5 were to big on the truck. I really wish some company made a 215 or 225 85 in a 15 in wheel size

[67heavystepside]

now since your looking for the classic look check out these.
it is in adobe reader format,
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/assets/pdf/radial_ta.pdf

they are the radial ta they are the classic white letter, they have been using the same basic style for about 20 years. you can go with the 255-70r15 rear and 235-70r15 front
the 255 are wider and taller than the 235's , but shorter than the 31's.

[JB4020]

I like those tire alot. The only problem is that with the 255 in the back i would probably have to get wider rims and i was trying to stay with the stock steels. The other thing is i need something a little more agressive in the back because this will be a daily driver and will be used for work. I found the first pic and i think it is of one of the members trucks and it has the look i want with the tire size. The second pic has the wheels the way i want them and the type size rear tires i'd like. Thanks for all the help

[JB4020]

does anyone know if a 215,225, or 235 is made in a 85r15 instead of 75r15? I know they are available for 16 inch wheels but i want to use the stock steel wheels. Also has anyone used a 30x9.50 r15 on a truck without power steering and if so how does it look and work. Im trying to get that tall skinny look.

[two-bit]

You could try, P265/75/R15. I have a pair on the back of my '69 F-100.
Tires are approx. 30" in dia. and about 8" wide. I believe the load range on mine are near 2400lbs.
I have no idea how they would be in the front, I always used 7.00X15", 8 ply bias tires up front. Approx 30' dia, 2000lbs+ load range, and only 6 inches wide at the tread face.
Remeber if you run both tire styles (bias and radial), do them in pairs. Front and back, not side to side.
I took a very wild ride one day in a E-350 that had a P235/85/16 on one side and a 7.50X16 on the other. Absoulutely no fun steering that thing!
Good luck.
Two-bit

[DuckRyder]

You aren't going to find 85'sa in those sizes. if there is no aspect ration it is for all practical purposes an 80, but again I don't think you are going to find them.

There has been a lot of discussion about this, so run the search, but 215/75/15 is arguably the closest conversion to the original G78-15. 225/75/15 is also a good choice, and 235/75/15 is a popular choice because they are easier to find than the others. 235'sa look too baloonish IMO.

Mine has 215/75/15 Wranglers, longtrails are still available and would look very similar.

If you really want to go old school, Coker Tire can hook you up for a price.

[BigRedTruck]

are there any differences between construction methods that may make them last longer? The last set was on it since...well I can't remember changing them, so it must have been when I was a kid and thats been a bit. They have plenty of tread left, but the other day as I was making a run to the store, the front left tire detreaded. It looked like a torn cuticle almost. The inner tire must now have a small hole, because its flat, but after I noticed the flapping noise, I was able to drive it home. I use my truck once a week at most. It is not my primary ride. I need some tires on it that will not be so prone to crack. and I had just mastered belt changing too.