For all you big truck guys, where do you find the 8.25X20 tires for the rear of your trucks. I have found the 7.00X20's for the front but no luck on the rear.

Also is the rear wheels hard to come by? I need at least one maybe more.

Thanks,
Case1950

1947 Ford 1.5 ton dump truck, 239 V8, 2 spd rear.

 

On our trucks back on the farm, which would have been '48 F6, '58 F600, a '51 IH, we used the same size tire front and rear, 8.25 x 20s in all cases as I recall. If 7.00s work up front, can you make them work on the rear duals? Too big a tire back there is trouble also.

I googled "truck tires 8.25 x 20" and this is the 3rd hit:

http://www.nebraskatire.com/truck/overstocks.htm

 

I'm sure you may have checked already, but have you tried a place that deals in tires for big trucks (Internationals, Freightliners, etc)? They may have them, can get them, or point you in the direction.

 

Wow, 8.25/20's brings back some old memories We used them on all our trucks in the 70's (Old Ford/Chevy's)

No idea where to fnd them now.

Hmmn...maybe Coker?

 

It's still a common size from any of the major truck tire dealers.

 

If you can't find locally, try Universal Tire (www.universaltire.com). Denman also sells them (www.denmantire.com). Stu

 

Thanks guys, those are some pretty good websites. I have a local big truck tire shop near me, I don't know why I didn't think of him. He does all my tractor tires for me. I will ask him in the next few days.

What size tires were on the trucks new? I heard they were 7.00-20 on the front and 8.25-20 on the rear, is this right?

Thanks,

Case1950

1947 Ford 1.5 ton, V8, 2 speed rear.

 

All my information will have been put out by Budd rather than Ford for this era. Budd shows that there were several optional equipment wheel/tire combinations in your 5 lug x 8" circle pattern. To simplify my answer I'm gonna leave out reference to Ford part numbers since your wheels won't have the Ford numbers on them. If they are true Budd wheels, as opposed to K-H or Motor Wheel Corporation, they should have the Budd numbers stamped into the concave side's rim lip, generally opposite the valve stem. If you have 5" wide rims they list these as Budd #s 48730 or 42920. These used either 6.50 or 7.00 tires. These are both "lock ring" design wheels that should still be serviceable. If you have 6" rims they list them as #48840. These used either 7.50 or 8.25 tires. The problem with this rim is that it's one of the killer split rims, known as a Firestone RH-5°. I'd get rid of them. Other wheels were available in this 20" size and bolt pattern that had the lock ring system, both narrower and wider, but they aren't shown as original equipment. If you find some other Budd numbers, come back and I'll see what I can find. As so often happens on trucks, wheels get damaged and changed over time. So it's hard to know what you've got without checking the numbers. I'll also include here a cross section pic of the RH-5°. If you have the RH-5°s or need replacement wheels because your current wheels are damaged, rusted, etc, generally these can be found at old wrecking yards. Also, some guys have had luck finding reconditioned wheels at Stockton Wheel in California. Stu

 

I went to Les Schwab http://www.lesschwab.com/

I didn't get 8.25-20's though. I got 9.00-20 radial recaps on the back and Toyo 9.00-20 radials for the front.

They're B I G. But they look pretty good. (See my gallery)


Cheers,

Rick

 

Shop manual for '48 says a 1 1/2 ton truck had 7.50 x 20's all the way around. With a load capacity increase of 600 lbs per tire, it makes sense that most farmers would have opted to upgrade the rear tires to 8.25's when they had to change a set. So many old trucks could be running narrow tires up front and wider ones aft.




HT32BSX115 Rick, where did you find the wheels for your truck after Les Schwab vetoed the old ones? They look great. I'm working to gather a set for my 48 F6. Think I've got them sorted out, but lots of guys in the 48-60 forum seem to be hunting them. Thanks!

 

The 2 ton truck was equipped with 7.50 x 20 8 ply tires up front, and 8.25 x 20 10 ply on the rear. This is from the '46 Heavy Duty Truck Operator's Manual, and confirmed on a sales order I have here from a '47 2 ton truck, purchased Apr 9, 1947.

Some of the things that made a 2 ton rated truck different from the 1.5 ton was the bigger rear tires, 2 speed rear, power brakes, and double channel frame.

But to make it even more interesting, the 2 speed was available as a seperate option on the 1.5 ton truck, but with the 2 speed you automatically got the 8.25 x 20 on the rears.

 

Wow you guys have some great info. When I get to the point of taking the wheels off I will have to check the numbers.

What is the VIN number difference from a 1.5 ton and 2 ton trucks? I have not found any VIN info for 2 ton trucks. I don't think mine is because I don't have the vacuum brakes.

Thanks,

Case1950

 

There is no difference in the VIN, the 2 ton was just a 1.5 ton with the extra option package that made it a 2 ton.

 

I purchased tires ffor my 1.5 ton truck, 7.00x20 from Nebraska Tire. They were good to deal with. See the link to their website on another message.

 

I think they(Schwab) got them from a company in Pasco WA that rebuilds old wheels. They evidently take old wheels and replace the 5 lug BUDD centers etc.

They were something like $195 + another $25 each for sand blasting and powder coating.

I wish I had gotten 1956 or later 6 lug hubs for it so my wheel choices would have been better. but this works well.