New member, tire size question after reading threads for 2 days

[Macdaddy11]

Hey guys finally put my 85 c10 2wd in my headlights for my next project, as it sits now completely restored with a brand new built 383. Now its otherwise stock and im looking at lowering it and doing new tires and rims.

I like the 4/6 drop and think that's where I am aiming, found the mcgaughys 4.5/6 drop kit and I haven't read anything bad about it unless I missed it somewhere so can we conclude if this is a good starting point?

I would like to stay in a 15 with a torq thruster wheel but think I will have lower control arm clearance issues from what I have read. Is there any way around this? also does the kit come with new shocks or are they separate?

I was thinking a 235/60/15 should fit with that drop with no issues?

Thanks for any help guys, first time lowering a vehicle so trying to figure it out here.

 

[Tank6x2]

Well...

Hey guys finally put my 85 c10 2wd in my headlights for my next project, as it sits now completely restored with a brand new built 383. Now its otherwise stock and im looking at lowering it and doing new tires and rims.

I like the 4/6 drop and think that's where I am aiming, found the mcgaughys 4.5/6 drop kit and I haven't read anything bad about it unless I missed it somewhere so can we conclude if this is a good starting point?

I would like to stay in a 15 with a torq thruster wheel but think I will have lower control arm clearance issues from what I have read. Is there any way around this? also does the kit come with new shocks or are they separate?

I was thinking a 235/60/15 should fit with that drop with no issues?

Thanks for any help guys, first time lowering a vehicle so trying to figure it out here.

Depends on what look your going for, you want the wheel size proportional to the tire, do you want the tire to help in the lowering just a little bit more, do you want a little more rideability for going down gravel or pot holes. Tires are sized as follows, if you didn't know already, 235 are the millimetres (mm)across the tread width, if you have a 8" wide rim that essentially comes down to about 200mm which mean you'll have about 17mm (11/16") sticking out past each side of the rim, you could bump this up to a 245 give yourself a little more curb protection for the rim but if you've got a 10" width rim your going to be in the 265/275 range. 60 is reference to a series, more so a percentage; 60 % of the tires width, so the width is 250mm x .6 = 150mm( 6" total tire height ) (3") from the edge of the outward, ie: 245 x .6 = 147mm (5.88" total tire heigth) (2.94") from the edge outward...R15 is in reference to the diameter of the wheel but I definitely know that you knew that. Changing the overall diameter you will have to spend maybe 40-80$ on a new worm gear for the speedometer to accommodate the difference in overall tire diameter. Hope this helps!!

 

[SkinnyG]

Dropped spindles and a mild spring can still use stock shocks in the front.

You should have shock extenders for the rear - then you can still use stock shocks.

A 3" dropped spindle will place the control arm below the rim - dangerous if a tire blows. I'm not sure about the 2-1/2" spindles. A 3" BellTech will for sure need the control arm edges ground back to clear. Not a big issue - just only grind what you need to to make it clear, it's not that much.

I have 235/70R15 up front, and I am always conscious of how little room there is under the control arm - a 2x4 cannot stand on edge under them (so, 3" ground clearance?)

And welcome, fellow Canadian!

 

[Macdaddy11]

Depends on what look your going for, you want the wheel size proportional to the tire, do you want the tire to help in the lowering just a little bit more, do you want a little more rideability for going down gravel or pot holes. Tires are sized as follows, if you didn't know already, 235 are the millimetres (mm)across the tread width, if you have a 8" wide rim that essentially comes down to about 200mm which mean you'll have about 17mm (11/16") sticking out past each side of the rim, you could bump this up to a 245 give yourself a little more curb protection for the rim but if you've got a 10" width rim your going to be in the 265/275 range. 60 is reference to a series, more so a percentage; 60 % of the tires width, so the width is 250mm x .6 = 150mm( 6" total tire height ) (3") from the edge of the outward, ie: 245 x .6 = 147mm (5.88" total tire heigth) (2.94") from the edge outward...R15 is in reference to the diameter of the wheel but I definitely know that you knew that. Changing the overall diameter you will have to spend maybe 40-80$ on a new worm gear for the speedometer to accommodate the difference in overall tire diameter. Hope this helps!!

Yea the metric tires sizes always throw me for a loop. I put them into an online conversion that spits it into standard for me. But this vehicle would be strictly on road. No gravel anymore. Thank you for the fast replies though guys. I honestly think I'm gonna have to get new rums anyways as in going to want a little wider tire on the back end to hook up. Do you guys think with a 6 inch rear drop and 10 wide rim and say 12.5 wide rear tire I would clear the fender well?

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Tank6x2]

Measure your wheel well

Check the rear wheel well and then check out the offset when your ordering, KAL tire would be able to help out in the retrospect, Fountain Tire too...

 

[Tank6x2]

We need pictures though!

Pics pics pics!

 

[Macdaddy11]

Pics pics pics!

I'm trying to figure out how to do that currently, me and my grandfather restored this truck frame up when I was 16. I'm currently 24 and still have the truck and for the most part its been parked in my garage the last 4 years from a bad motor and got into the jeeps so been putting my money into those. He just finished rebuilding an 87 to almost identical my truck. So kind of kicked my ass into gear to drop a new motor in this one.

Thank you guys for the insight I'm going to do a bit more digging I think I really need to make my mind up on how my rim selection as I know I want to drop it 4/6. Almost leaning towards 17 or 20 inch after seeing some pictures but I do really like the old school 15 rally rim look, just too bad they didn't have 10 wides in those.

 

[SkinnyG]

I have 15x8 and 15x10 'Vette rally's on mine.

Wheel Vintiques makes OEM-style truck rally in 15x10.

 

[Macdaddy11]

I have 15x8 and 15x10 'Vette rally's on mine.

Wheel Vintiques makes OEM-style truck rally in 15x10.

I was unaware of that, ill look into them. Might be pricy being I'm in Canada.

 

[Tank6x2]

There are 15"x10

Rallies, I think LMC has them, if not dig around they do exist!

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I do believe Chevy big car ie. Impala and Caprice have the same bolt pattern and there were rally's on them too. I'm a fan of widened steelys with poverty caps. Rims painted body color of course. The Copo look and base model too kinda funny how that worked out.

 

[SkinnyG]

I was unaware of that, ill look into them. Might be pricey being I'm in Canada.

As am I.

You could also find a local hotrod/fab shop and see if you can get yours widened.

I've widened wheels before; it's not altogether hard if you are careful and can weld really good.

 

[wamullins]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wheel-Vintiques-42-O-E-Style-Pickup-Rallye-Silver-Wheel-15x10-5x5-BC-42500505-/191886426615?hash=item2cad5281f7%3Ag%3Awu0AAOSwepJXTvl4&_trkparms=pageci%253A8908a01e-446c-11e7-a9a7-74dbd180453f%257Cparentrq%253A543c5a1b15c0aa12ed5c3664fffe1cb6%257Ciid%253A4

I am running a 275/60-15 which is 10.8" wide. A lot of people run a 295/50-15 which is 11.6" wide tire. In the front I run a 6.5"x 15" wide rally wheel with a 225/70-15. Even with a 6.5" wide wheel in front, the wheel well rub the LCA when turned lock to lock. You will need to use suck on wheel weights, not the ones that clip on the loo of the wheel. Front: 2.5" spindle & 1" drop spring. Rear: 5" flip kit