Tire size for c20 silverado

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bucket

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Yeah, I think they are a little taller. I'd measure them, but I'm not home. They are the same model of tire too.
 

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As good as they are, for heavy towing, a wider tire/rim combo works better on the rear. Much more stable.
 

thecantaloupeman

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The 8.75's used the same rims as the 9.50's. I think that's why most of the 70's 16.5 rims had safety beads, much like a 16".
What is the difference between a safety bead and a normal bead?
 

thecantaloupeman

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Here's a pic I still have on my phone. The fronts are the 9.5's on the stock rims.

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Do your tires on that suburban fit right on the rims? Do the rims stick out still like mine do?
 

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Do your tires on that suburban fit right on the rims? Do the rims stick out still like mine do?

9.5's.
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thecantaloupeman

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9.5's.
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I guess more specifically I meant the Firestone Transforce 9.5s on stock wheels. But those do look like they stick out a bit. Maybe it is just the rim thats odd.
 

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That's all I got. Not everyone is running new 16.5 tires. Mine are very old, but I don't need new tires at the moment, and when I do it'll either be Transforce or switch to 16 inch wheels and get whatever tire I choose.

If you're not happy with the tires you have, go exchange them for the 9.5 since that's an option.
 

DoubleDingo

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Here's the specs for the transforce from tire rack....

As you can see the section width is about 7/8" wider on the 9.5, and the 9.5 is a little over an inch taller than the 8.75. What it boils down to is, 8.75 will allow a little more torque but you apparently don't like how it looks. So get the 9.5 and get a tiny bit better mileage.

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Craig 85

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What is the difference between a safety bead and a normal bead?

Safety wheels have a square shoulder and these ribs on the inside of the bead. The second picture is a 16.5" wheel. You can see the outer bead has a taper to it. Although it has the safety beads, due to the taper, when pressures are lowered or when you get a flat, it can dislodge easier.

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thecantaloupeman

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Here's the specs for the transforce from tire rack....

As you can see the section width is about 7/8" wider on the 9.5, and the 9.5 is a little over an inch taller than the 8.75. What it boils down to is, 8.75 will allow a little more torque but you apparently don't like how it looks. So get the 9.5 and get a tiny bit better mileage.

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Thank you for that chart. Also by better mileage did you mean gas mileage or tire mileage? And the only reason I dont like the 8.75 look is because they dont look like they fit even though they do. I dont know if that will change with the 9.5s but its worth a shot and the truck originally had 9.5s so I'm gonna try to keep it as stock as possible.
 

thecantaloupeman

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That's all I got. Not everyone is running new 16.5 tires. Mine are very old, but I don't need new tires at the moment, and when I do it'll either be Transforce or switch to 16 inch wheels and get whatever tire I choose.

If you're not happy with the tires you have, go exchange them for the 9.5 since that's an option.
Well actually I discovered that Walmart sells a tire caled the powerking and is a 16.5 inch. It looks like a vintage tire and its pretty cool. Its only 100 bucks too and is a highway tire. Idk so that and the Transforce are the only 16.5 inch Tires I know of in production. Correct me if Im wrong because I'd like to know if there's more.
 

DoubleDingo

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Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Thank you for that chart. Also by better mileage did you mean gas mileage or tire mileage? And the only reason I dont like the 8.75 look is because they dont look like they fit even though they do. I dont know if that will change with the 9.5s but its worth a shot and the truck originally had 9.5s so I'm gonna try to keep it as stock as possible.

When the term mileage is said, it's referring to mpg's. If it's referring to a tire, it would be like what @Frankenchevy said in a previous post in this thread. Sounds like you're getting some 9.5's in your near future.
 

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