RIMS AND TIRES??? HELP!

[crazyace99million]

anyone know where i can get 8 lug rims for racing. i like the style where you have the small rim/tire in the front, and the fat ones in the back( i'm planning on tubbing the rear)

any suggestions?, usually to find the small rims for the front you have to go with a 5 lug pattern.

[zakt]

Usually the 8-lug is for the heavy trucks 3/4, 1 ton trucks and they need the bigger rim to clear the brake calipers so probably like a 16" rim is minimum 8 lug size in diameter. Then of course they are made to hold more weight of the 3/4, 1 ton trucks ...

Todd

[crazyace99million]

alright, thanks.

[Jerry1256]

I've a question about tires. I recently purchased a set of American Eagle 16 inch rims for my 1968 mercury camper Special. Now I have to buy the tires.They tell me a size 225/75/16 to a 265/75/16
will fit these rims. What Im wondering about is the clearance in the front wheel wells. Can anyone help me out with this?
Ok...I'm really going to look foolish now....what do these numbers mean anyhow????

[zakt]

check this out...

http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

[Jerry1256]

Excellent!!
Thanks zakt
Now I can check my clearances...hmmm How far could I push it?
I have 225/75/16 on the truck now and I have a lot of room in the rear and not so much in the fron,but my shocks are shot in the fron...would replacing the shocks offer more clearance?
I like the looks of the wider tire. Could a guy go say 235/75/16 in the front and 265/75/16 in the rear?

[crazyace99million]

if you get taller tires, you should be fine, its the width you have to worry about. you can go as wide as you want in the rear, if you dont mind having it tubbed.

[Jerry1256]

Hey crazy
I'm not familiar with the term tubbed?
You nean I would have to flare the fenders?

[crazyace99million]

Hey crazy
I'm not familiar with the term tubbed?
You nean I would have to flare the fenders?

flare? just expand the width of the wheel wells(on the inside of the bed). if you go too wide, you have to shorten the length of your rear axle as well.

[Jerry1256]

Hi again
One more question.Does anyone here own a 68 3/4 ton? Im wondering what size tires you are running on the front.
Has anyone had any problems running 265/75/16s
on the front without having to do any modifications?
Im purchasing a set sight unseen and I am worried about the clearance. I might add I have disc brakes on the front (if that matters)
Thanks guys
waiting patiently before I dole out my hard earned dollars

[crazyace99million]

i have a 68 3/4 ton. i used to run 16.5, now i run 16. i'm sure those will work. why not cut a pice of rope the diameter of the tires you want to use. and see if the tire will hit the wheel well or not... you see what i'm saying? pretend the string is the tire, and hold one end to your hub, and see if the other end is going to hit the fender well

[thebttmline]

Now I have to buy the tires.They tell me a size 225/75/16 to a 265/75/16 will fit these rims.....what do these numbers mean anyhow????

The first number is a size in millimeters. It is the width of the tire, from one side to the other. In other words, the 265 would have more tread on the road than the 225, since it is 40 millimeters wider. To convert to inches, you can divide by 25.4. So, the 225 is 8.6 inches wide. The 265 is 10.4 inches wide.

The second number is a ratio (or percentage) that tells the size (height) of the sidewall. 75 means 75%. So, a 225/75 means the tire is 225 millimeters wide and the sidewall height is 75% of 225, or about 169 millimeters high. Converting to inches, that would be about 6.6 inches high.

The last number is the rim size (i.e. the diameter of your wheel.) If they are saying you need a 16 - that means your rim are 16 inch rims.

If you mounted the 225/75 on those rims, the tires would be arounc 29.2 inches tall. This is 16 + 6.6 + 6.6. Or in other words, the rim ht plus the sidewall ht twice.

Going with the 265/75, your tires would be 31.6 inches tall - almost 2.5 inches taller than the others.

Steve

[Drednme]

I have a 68 3/4 ton, mine is a highboy you didn't say if yours was or not. I have 265/75's all the way round and the driver front hits the steering linkage just before lock. Hasn't really been an issue though, even off roading. I would suspect they might hit fenders or something else on a two-by though. Looks really good on a highboy, check out my album : http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... &pos=-1096

[Jerry1256]

Hey thanks for all the responses > My old Merc is finally going to get its facelift this winter,Ive been putting it off for 15 years!
My truck is a 2 wheel drive. I'll try the trick with the string crazy (sounds crazy enough to work)
But im kind of worried about the tires rubbing during turning. I really dont want to lift it.
I like the way it looks now.
Anyways thanks again. Ive been trying to find someone in town sporting a set of tires on their old ford but no luck yet

[thebttmline]

I have a 68 3/4 ton, mine is a highboy.... I have 265/75's all the way round

I'm running 285/75's on my highboy. That is about a 33 inch tire - which makes it a big step up into the thing. My kids like having to climb in.
I'm not having any problems with rubbing.

Steve