Tires

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
Last edited:

hirschdalechevy

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Posts
726
Reaction score
513
Location
norcal
First Name
rich
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
k-30
Engine Size
454
I have the bfg's on my duramax and so far they have been great but now they are down to 1/4 tread they are a little loud. My buddy has the nitto's and they are way louder but they look cool . I personally like they look of a wider tire and wheel on the old square's , (I put wide wheels on all mine).

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
the downsides to the nittos are the price, and they are blackwall and not whitelettered.
and i have bfg's on it now but was thinking about trying something diferent
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,191
Reaction score
24,281
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
What's wrong with a bias ply? I thought you don't spend much time on the highway? Bias ply tires really don't change the handling characteristics of an old straight axle truck much at all. It's not like comparing radial to bias on a car.
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
What's wrong with a bias ply? I thought you don't spend much time on the highway? Bias ply tires really don't change the handling characteristics of an old straight axle truck much at all. It's not like comparing radial to bias on a car.

Im not much of a highway commuter, but i do spend 6 miles on the highway to get to town. Ive heard alot about bias vs. radials on a car, so mabey that has biased my opinion on them.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,191
Reaction score
24,281
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
The drawbacks to bias truck tires is more rolling resistance (less mpg), usually not as long wearing (but some wear like iron), and some are not smooth riding. Swampers are bad for shaking and being very out of round, but others (like my Power Kings) are very nice riding. Bias tires are also a strong tire, less chance of hurting a sidewall, and when they get older and dry rotted they are still safe to run on the road IMHO.

6 miles on the highway ain't really anything at all. If that's all I had to drive on the highway, I'm not sure I would even own a radial on a truck, lol. And I would probably DD the crew cab.
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
The drawbacks to bias truck tires is more rolling resistance (less mpg), usually not as long wearing (but some wear like iron), and some are not smooth riding. Swampers are bad for shaking and being very out of round, but others (like my Power Kings) are very nice riding. Bias tires are also a strong tire, less chance of hurting a sidewall, and when they get older and dry rotted they are still safe to run on the road IMHO.

6 miles on the highway ain't really anything at all. If that's all I had to drive on the highway, I'm not sure I would even own a radial on a truck, lol. And I would probably DD the crew cab.

Im getting 6 atm, and am hoping to get atleast 12-14 after the rebuild and everything. So if bias's are gonna be more of a drag, i think i better go with radials. And if i get better gas milage, i think i might make the occasional trip to Lincoln(40 mi away). Thats 80 around, how much do you think that would heat up a set of those nitto's?
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,191
Reaction score
24,281
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
You're still in a category where bias is just fine. My crew cab gets 10mpg with bias 36's, I'm not afraid to drive it on the freeway because it does just fine. I've driven it to southeast Ohio to go camping.

Now my Burb on the other hand will probably always have radials, it's always on the road and it's not uncommon to drive it on vacation 1000 miles away.

I'm not telling you you should only be looking at bias tires, I'm just saying not to overlook them if they fit the type of driving you do. Just pick a tire based on usage, price, and even looks if you want... if it ends up being bias, so be it.
 

nvrenuf

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
1,745
Reaction score
1,993
Location
Mobile, Al.
First Name
John
Truck Year
1991
Truck Model
K5
Engine Size
454
I have the bfg's on my duramax and so far they have been great but now they are down to 1/4 tread they are a little loud. My buddy has the nitto's and they are way louder but they look cool . I personally like they look of a wider tire and wheel on the old square's , (I put wide wheels on all mine).

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach

Man, Gumbo Monster Mudders! What a way back! Those pics should be in black & white. :D
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
Man, Gumbo Monster Mudders! What a way back! Those pics should be in black & white. :D

He actually pulled those out of his parts bin and mounted them recently.
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
You're still in a category where bias is just fine. My crew cab gets 10mpg with bias 36's, I'm not afraid to drive it on the freeway because it does just fine. I've driven it to southeast Ohio to go camping.

Now my Burb on the other hand will probably always have radials, it's always on the road and it's not uncommon to drive it on vacation 1000 miles away.

I'm not telling you you should only be looking at bias tires, I'm just saying not to overlook them if they fit the type of driving you do. Just pick a tire based on usage, price, and even looks if you want... if it ends up being bias, so be it.

Ok, ill keep an open mind.
Im too picky, but a few features im looking for:
White letters(preffer solid)
Cool looking tread(not old ribs)
Howl going down the road, and make a clomping sound in town.
And will last awile.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,078
Reaction score
3,056
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
I've had 3 sets of the BFG ATs. I've had really good luck with them. But they clog up when in deep mud, and they throw rocks. A lot of them. I didn't run mud flaps on my old Blazer and in one summer had rock chipped most of the paint off of the bottom rockers.

Maybe not a concern for you...

And you want white letters? I'm getting a set of BFG KM2s this week. I was thinking of mounting the white letters in- as they get ratty looking after using them hard off road... but can't decide.
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
right now rocks arnt a concern, but im wanting to fox the body all up and paint it. Then she will be a nice looking pavement pounder, cause i cant afford to burn 1/2 tank to go down a 1 mile road. Im running 32x11.5-15's now and yea, they throw rocks lol. I dont pull many people cause of it. but when i get it painted and everything, im gonna have the biggest mud flaps on the front that still look good, and semi flaps trimmed on the back.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,297
Posts
913,233
Members
33,795
Latest member
black_85c10
Top