1980 c20 Tires

[44SAA]

Fellas- it’s time for new tires. Short version i currently am running 245/75R16. This truck will remain stock with no alteration to suspension or drop/lift. Most driving done on paved road. I have some interest in going an 1” or 2” higher.

Questions:
1) can anyone confirm if I can bump up to 265 without anything rubbin’
2) can anyone recommend a white letter tire fittin’ this criteria

Take care

PS- there is nothing that little helper likes more than turnin’ wrenches w his daddy. Doesn’t lose his interest and can do it all day...

[rpmerf]

Your tires are 30.5".

235/85R16 are 31.7". This is the stock tire size on my 70 C20 and an 83 C20 I had.

265/75R16 are also 31.7", but about an inch wider than the 235s.

I do all my tire shopping at https://www.tirerack.com. Lots of different tires, easy to sort and compare.

EDIT: Be aware of how wide your rims are. On 6" wide rims, you want a widest of 235. On a 7" rim, you can go to 265, possibly wider.

[44SAA]

Interesting- so my current 245s are actually too large for 6” rims. In other news- when did tires get so expensive...looks like for new tires are gonna cost more than the truck

[peabobble]

rpmerf is on target - need wider wheels and Tire Rack is a great place to see what is available and get all the specs. 265-75's work great with wider wheels. I didn't like the look of the 85s and wanted to stay with Load Range E because I really use the truck to pull heavy stuff, so I just went with later model wheels.

[44SAA]

Thanks for the insight. I’m gonna keep the OEM wheels so guess I’m limited. If you see a guy around DFW in a 80 with pizza cutters- it’ll be me

[peabobble]

Sounds good. I like the OEM look too. Your truck links good and it's great to see dad working with his son. My dad spent a lot of time with me working on cars and those are some of my best memories of him. I thought about trying to find some wider Dodge wheels but that just seemed wrong. I will probably at Good Guys at TMS in March, if you go look me up and say hello.

[cadillac_al]

Originally Posted by 44SAA

Thanks for the insight. I’m gonna keep the OEM wheels so guess I’m limited. If you see a guy around DFW in a 80 with pizza cutters- it’ll be me

I always liked the 235/85r16's on stock wheels on 3/4 ton trucks. I liked them on other people's trucks so I put them on my truck.

[SCOTI]

Factory appearing wider steelies are available if someone wanted to run wider tires on period correct wheels.

[68post]

True .., rim width should fit tread width within +/- 1/4" to be perfect - according to the tire industry. Not everything's perfect tho' !
I'd say "wish you were closer" because I have some real nice very low mileage Kelley 265's that I'd like to sell and they're on too wide 10" rims...buutt.. I wish I was back in DFW because it was 2* here this morning and headed for colder weather next week !!!!! I need some aggressive 305's instead. (bought the truck this way with the "nubs" still on tires)

I had 235's on 7" rims and they were great on my C20 , 265's are perfect on an 8" rim, if you're shooting for "perfect". $.02

[44SAA]

Thank y’all for the coaching, it’s really helping. 68- if you were back here I’d buy ‘em. Casually pricing these on the web is makin’ my belly flop

[tucsonjwt]

My 83 C20 takes 235/85/16 stock tires and I have been seeing a lot of new tire takeoffs advertised on CL in the $320-$360 price range, which is a good price for 4 nearly new tires. The tire stores will usually mount and balance these used tires for free. I bought a never used single tire and rim off CL a few years ago for $35, and I use it as my spare.

If you check CL and any local DIY junkyards you can find some excellent tires for low $$, which often include wheels - so they will be already mounted and balanced. 235/85/16 is more difficult to find, but I saw two excellent tires of that size mounted on different wheels for $20 each at the local PullaPart last week.

Unless you are traveling a lot at high speeds on the highway I would consider used tires. You need to check the DOT date to make sure that they are not too old and also inspect for weather checking and cracks, but I have had good luck with used tires.

[68post]

Originally Posted by 44SAA

Thank y’all for the coaching, it’s really helping. 68- if you were back here I’d buy ‘em. Casually pricing these on the web is makin’ my belly flop

Yep, too bad shipping sucks. I love the DFW area. Spent five yrs there from my mid to late 20's, that was 30+ yrs ago !

I have also bought good/used tires. Bought ten 10 ply a cpl yrs ago for cheap enough, four looked new with nubs still. Craigslist can be great at times.

My worktruck was eating fronts and I have to put on some miles sometimes and I drive it hard N fast, it's heavy too.

Buying new had been costing me a ton. I finally got enough frontend parts replaced to stop the wear.

[44SAA]

So forgive my ignorance, but would 265/75/16 fit my factory wheels? Any issue with rubbing on the fender? I found a used set local at a fantastic price.

[SCOTI]

Physically fit? They would but I would not run them as they really need a wider rim.
16x6's need something like a 215/85-16. A 235 is about the limit on 6's & even then look 'pinched' @ the bead. But everyone knows the saying about opinions....

[rpmerf]

I would say 265 is too wide for 6" wide rims. Looking around online, 235 is the widest you want to go. 265 should be on a minimum 7" rim. The 265s looks a lot better IMO, as the proportions are close to square. 285's are tall and skinny.

[LT7A]

I've run 265s on a 1981 C20 with no problems. I can't say how wide the wheels were, truck is long ago sold, but they were stock. I don't think you will have clearance issues. I've seen 285s run on 6.5" wheels. I don't think you will have any problem with 265s on 6 inch wheels. I don't think I would go any wider though.

[Joesjunk]

I run 265/75/16’s on the factory 16 x 6 1/2” wheels on 3 of my trucks and they fit and look perfect.

[cadillac_al]

^^^^^Agreed^^^^^