Need ideas to help me choose wheels

[SirRobyn0]

So I'm looking at getting new wheels for my C20 Silverado. I am not 100% sure of what style I want yet, but I know I'd like to lower it a bit (not slammed), and I'd like it the tires to be good in snow. My current Firestone transforce HT's (8.75x16.5) suck in even rainy weather.

Anyway I've been looking at pictures and came across a really cool square that happens to be from an article on squarebodysyndicate. I really dig the no hubcap look with the OEM styled steelies. The wider back wheel and narrow front wheel looks awesome. It looks like a drag truck. It also seems practical for my needs as a daily driver.

Anyways I have a few questions. Does the different size front and rear put me at a disadvantage when rotating the tires since there is only one other place each tire can go?

Are the Radial A/T's good in snow?

Is having no hubcap or cover an issue at all?

And finally has anyone purchased steelies from stockton wheel? If so are they under 150$ a wheel? SBS ordered the back set custom from them with powder coat I believe. These are the sizes:
Front: 15×8″ needs to be custom ordered with a 4″ backspace.
Rear: 15×10″ needs to be ordered with a 5″ backspace

Thanks -Dawson

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Dawson, I'm going to preface this by saying I did not read though all of the responses but I hope that some of what I say will be of use.

I worked for Firestone at one time, and I can tell you that the transforce tire was designed to haul weight, last a long time and be a little lower in cost than other tires in it's class. It's primarily aimed for fleet vehicles such as contractors that might have multiple rigs and all they really care about is a low cost tire that lasts. I completely agree traction is terrible.

If you decide to run different size tires front to back you will not be rotating them. The good news is rotations aren't really needed. The idea of rotating tires was pretty much thought up by tire manufactures for two reasons #1. To get you to come in a regular basis for a rotation and possible other work while your there. #2. Make tires warrenteeable. What I mean is a tire with a 50,000 mile warranty they'd have to set a different mileage front and rear, and it would be to easy for a car owner to fudge it to there advantage. If you keep the front end in good alignment, you'll do fine with the front tires and the rears will last an exceptionally long time without rotating them

Hubcaps are 99% esthetic, though they will help protect the ends of the wheel studs and the lug nuts from rust to some degree. If you like the no hubcap look I see no reason to run without.

Are A/T's good in the snow? that depends on the A/T. And the rubber composition. The BFG all terrain A/T is not great in the snow, but the General grabber A/T is great. Near identical tread pattern, but the General has a softer rubber compound allowing better traction in snow and ice, but of course a softer compound tire will wear faster.

Hopefully some of this helps.

 

[thecantaloupeman]

There’s many options for steelies like you’re wanting.
If you stick to 16s (don’t do 15s on a 3/4 ton for a multitude of reasons), options are reasonable price and plentiful.
Stockton, wheel vintiques, us wheel, and Detroit steel wheels are the ones off the top of my head.
Tires? No BFg radial TAs are not good snow tires. No performance car tires really are. And I don’t think they even make 16s.
If you want decent/ok in snow and fat car tires, sipe them, tread depth must be 3/4 of new or more and lower pressures to min safe and weight in the back. What you’re asking is having your cake and eating it too.

lugs, regardless of open, closed nuts hubcaps, no hubcaps, one should grease or preferably anti seize the threads anyway.

staggered white 16” steelies with low pro tires would look bad ass though. Imo you’re on the right track.

If I'm being honest, I just need something that doesn't suck in the snow. As long as it is better than what I have it should be fine. I'm also open to having two sets of tires, maybe one for winter, and one for summer.

I definitely want to lower the truck though. I like the height on the SBS truck and that doesn't seem too low that it would be impractical. I think they said they lowered it 2.5 inches.

Problem is once I lower it, It might look weird to have some chunky ass all terrain tires on it for snow.

I just want it to look a bit "faster" because I plan to give it some more hrsprs soon.

 

[thecantaloupeman]

Dawson, I'm going to preface this by saying I did not read though all of the responses but I hope that some of what I say will be of use.

I worked for Firestone at one time, and I can tell you that the transforce tire was designed to haul weight, last a long time and be a little lower in cost than other tires in it's class. It's primarily aimed for fleet vehicles such as contractors that might have multiple rigs and all they really care about is a low cost tire that lasts. I completely agree traction is terrible.

If you decide to run different size tires front to back you will not be rotating them. The good news is rotations aren't really needed. The idea of rotating tires was pretty much thought up by tire manufactures for two reasons #1. To get you to come in a regular basis for a rotation and possible other work while your there. #2. Make tires warrenteeable. What I mean is a tire with a 50,000 mile warranty they'd have to set a different mileage front and rear, and it would be to easy for a car owner to fudge it to there advantage. If you keep the front end in good alignment, you'll do fine with the front tires and the rears will last an exceptionally long time without rotating them

Hubcaps are 99% esthetic, though they will help protect the ends of the wheel studs and the lug nuts from rust to some degree. If you like the no hubcap look I see no reason to run without.

Are A/T's good in the snow? that depends on the A/T. And the rubber composition. The BFG all terrain A/T is not great in the snow, but the General grabber A/T is great. Near identical tread pattern, but the General has a softer rubber compound allowing better traction in snow and ice, but of course a softer compound tire will wear faster.

Hopefully some of this helps.

This post was very helpful thanks! The reason I went with those transforce tires was that is the only tire that is offered in a 16.5". I literally signed the title at the tire shop because the old tires were so badly rotted. Looking back I should've also bought 16" rims, but that's what I'm attempting to do now.

I am definitely leaning towards steelies in some way shape or form because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot 8 lug wheels that would look good on a lowered "street truck". Right now I like the look of the BFGs but not sure if they would be practical. These are the BFGS I was referring to:. Even if they aren't this tire in particular, maybe there is a tire that looks like a street tire similar to this one with white lettering, but is also decent in snow. I know it is a bit "have your cake and eat it too" but I don't really need great snow tires, just something that will be average or a bit above average.

I was watching a Vicegripgarage video recently and he said these Cooper Cobra tires were pretty good in the snow and had pretty good snow pattern. They look pretty similar to those BFGS as well.

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[SirRobyn0]

This post was very helpful thanks! The reason I went with those transforce tires was that is the only tire that is offered in a 16.5". I literally signed the title at the tire shop because the old tires were so badly rotted. Looking back I should've also bought 16" rims, but that's what I'm attempting to do now.

I am definitely leaning towards steelies in some way shape or form because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot 8 lug wheels that would look good on a lowered "street truck". Right now I like the look of the BFGs but not sure if they would be practical. These are the BFGS I was referring to:. Even if they aren't this tire in particular, maybe there is a tire that looks like a street tire similar to this one with white lettering, but is also decent in snow. I know it is a bit "have your cake and eat it too" but I don't really need great snow tires, just something that will be average or a bit above average.

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Yes, The transforce tire is also an older design and the only major manufacture still making a 16.5 tire. I had them on my old motorhome I sold a couple years ago that still had 16.5 wheels, because it was what I could get. And they are a good tire from a durability prospective.

The T/A will do better than the transforce. One thing you can do is go to tirerack.com look up a tire and scroll down about half way and see traction ratings. These ratings are gathered from people not from tests, so do keep that in mind. Even if you don't by from tire rack the info there can really be helpful.

 

[Grit dog]

When it comes to snow, it’s all relative.
Pretty much anything with decent tread on it and some weight in the back will get you around. Bald tires and high speed rated summer tires excepted.
Need to figger out what you want for wheels first anyways.

 

[thecantaloupeman]

Yes, The transforce tire is also an older design and the only major manufacture still making a 16.5 tire. I had them on my old motorhome I sold a couple years ago that still had 16.5 wheels, because it was what I could get. And they are a good tire from a durability prospective.

The T/A will do better than the transforce. One thing you can do is go to tirerack.com look up a tire and scroll down about half way and see traction ratings. These ratings are gathered from people not from tests, so do keep that in mind. Even if you don't by from tire rack the info there can really be helpful.

Just took a look at tirerack and seems a few people have noted how bad the transforce is for snow and light moisture haha. Cooper cobras and BFGS seem to get pretty decent ratings for snow. Only issue is they are both only offered in 15. Someone mentioned before not putting 15s on a 3/4 ton. Might I ask why? They look great on that C10 from squarebody syndicate, but obviously looks arent everything.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Just took a look at tirerack and seems a few people have noted how bad the transforce is for snow and light moisture haha. Cooper cobras and BFGS seem to get pretty decent ratings for snow. Only issue is they are both only offered in 15. Someone mentioned before not putting 15s on a 3/4 ton. Might I ask why? They look great on that C10 from squarebody syndicate, but obviously looks arent everything.

I honestly don't know. The older generation 67 - 72 ran 15" on 3/4 ton and 1 ton. Unless there is a clearance issue between the caliper or drum and the slightly smaller wheel I can't see why it wouldn't work. Hopefully whoever that was will let us know.

 

[idahovette]

Boy @SirRobyn0 , I don't remember seeing any 15" wheels on 20 or 30 series pickups unless someone went to a lot of trouble finding the 8 hole 15" wheels? But then I am in a "farm" type town, so most was for clearance and weight carrying.

 

[Grit dog]

Someone mentioned before not putting 15s on a 3/4 ton. Might I ask why? They look great on that C10 from squarebody syndicate, but obviously looks arent everything.

I did. For a couple reasons. First, from what I’ve read, pretty much only steelies fit, so that’s good, and that may still require a little grinding on the front. Dependent on width and backspacing.
Second, you have a 3/4ton which sits higher and you said you’re not totally slamming it. So even a couple inch lowering makes it not that low and you want low profile tires for the look, right? Low pro 15s I think will look way too small.
Bigger the rim, the better IMO. Personally, I think it would look the best with bigger rims. 18” or even 20” with low profile.
Or think about it this way. IMO you want overall diameter Close to original. Original tires on the 3/4 tons is about 31” diameter.
Anything close to that on a 15” wheel will look like a pizza cutter or balloon.
You could slam it more and make smaller diameter look good, but consider your gearing. If it’s low geared and small diameter tires, it will not be good for highway driving.

JMO

 

[Ricko1966]

Tons of choices in 16 inch tires and 16 inch 8 lug should be easy to come by.

 

[Rusty Nail]

because I plan to give it some more hrsprs soon.

LoL..wassat?

 

[Catbox]

My truck came to me on a set of the Ford 16 inch steelies in black as seen here.

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My son kept his eye on the local Craigslist and found these American Racing "Centerline" style wheels for $100, so we snapped them up.
Much better than the other 3 options I have tried on our truck.

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I want to lower my 3/4 ton a few inches as well and when that happens it will be a modest 2/3 drop.
Just something to hunker it down a bit while still having the load capacity to carry all it was meant too from the factory.
These are the tires that I am looking at putting on it...

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[Catbox]

I am also looking at these tires in the 235/70/16 size.
The same tire height and just 1/2 inch or so narrower.

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[Dutch Rutter]

Hell if your close enough to Oregon. And don't mind 16.5s I have a set of American racing ar62 outlaw 2 wheels I'd about give to you.

They are more of an offroad look though.

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[Donald]

I picked to old style Halabrand wheel .

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