Waffling

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DoubleDingo

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Carb'ed Vortec 350
I am going to be buying tires soon for the '81. It currently has the wheels from Crusty Biscuit installed. I do, however, have another set of wheels I can use. Here is my dilemma, stock look, or aftermarket look? I like both. Cost of tires is about the same. I have stock 16.5 rims, and Firestone still makes a highway tread 16.5 tire, and I am okay with highway tread for a street truck. I also have some chrome wagon wheel 16's that opens up more tire options. I like the Outlaws on the '81, but they will never be on there long term. Part of me wants to go stock, but clean, prep and paint the original rims so they look better.

Truck with clapped out Kumho 9.5-16.5 tires.

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I don't have any photos of the truck with the chrome wagon wheels
 

CalSgt

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Honestly Sir, I hate 16.5’s and chrome wagon wheels…

If hard pressed to do tires now I would run the chrome 16’s and keep an eye out for a better set of wheels to swap the tires onto later.
 

78C10BigTen

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Are you talking about the Firestone Transforce tires in 9.50x16.5? I have had a set of those and they were a great truck/towing tire. Got a lot of miles out of them too.
They are a hard tire! Tough to grind in a shredder! Ask me how i know.... lol
Correction: im thinkin of the same tire in a 19.5 size.
 

78C10BigTen

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I am going to be buying tires soon for the '81. It currently has the wheels from Crusty Biscuit installed. I do, however, have another set of wheels I can use. Here is my dilemma, stock look, or aftermarket look? I like both. Cost of tires is about the same. I have stock 16.5 rims, and Firestone still makes a highway tread 16.5 tire, and I am okay with highway tread for a street truck. I also have some chrome wagon wheel 16's that opens up more tire options. I like the Outlaws on the '81, but they will never be on there long term. Part of me wants to go stock, but clean, prep and paint the original rims so they look better.

Truck with clapped out Kumho 9.5-16.5 tires.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


I don't have any photos of the truck with the chrome wagon wheels
Waffles as in the hubcap style? Personally i love chrome wagons! I had the same 10" wide set on my 90' gmt400 and my 94' burban, (i took em off one and onto the other.)
 

mcarlo86

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It's not too hard to find stock 16" 8 lug steel wheels that you could run your hubcaps on. That would open up a lot more tire options and keep the stock look. Salvage yards should have them, at least they seem to have plenty up here.
 

HotWheelsBurban

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It's not too hard to find stock 16" 8 lug steel wheels that you could run your hubcaps on. That would open up a lot more tire options and keep the stock look. Salvage yards should have them, at least they seem to have plenty up here
 

DoubleDingo

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Are you talking about the Firestone Transforce tires in 9.50x16.5? I have had a set of those and they were a great truck/towing tire. Got a lot of miles out of them too.
Yes, the transforce. On tirerack it is the only tire available in 9.5-16.5. Coker tire probably has other options, but most likely bias ply and spendy
 

DoubleDingo

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Honestly Sir, I hate 16.5’s and chrome wagon wheels…

If hard pressed to do tires now I would run the chrome 16’s and keep an eye out for a better set of wheels to swap the tires onto later.
Not hard pressed, yet. The tires on Crusty's wheels are 8 years old. They look fine, just getting to the age I don't trust taking them to the top speed of 60-65.
 

DoubleDingo

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I have always like the way 2WD 3/4 tons look with the stock wheels so that would my vote.

But ...

White wagon wheels would be a good circa look, too. :Big Laugh:
Mean Green looked cool with the chrome wagon wheels, but 65c20 vs 81c20
 

DoubleDingo

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Carb'ed Vortec 350
Waffles as in the hubcap style? Personally i love chrome wagons! I had the same 10" wide set on my 90' gmt400 and my 94' burban, (i took em off one and onto the other.)
No, stock steelies or chrome wagon wheels. I am tempted to have the tire shop remove the tires from both so I can clean and prep all of them, and then buy two sets of tires...lol...
 

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