Author Topic: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?  (Read 1965 times)

Offline Dave78

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7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« on: September 26, 2021, 08:17:36 PM »
I'm going to be needing some new tires for an 81 k20 soon because of dryrot and I'd like to go with the deestone d503 or similar skinny military type tires. I however live in North Idaho and occasionally venture in the mountains and might be buying a house off of maintained roadways before the tires wear out.

The question is would I have clearance issues running chains on that size tire? I currently have 31's on it and would like to go to 35's because it's geared 4.10 but I know I'll need a lift. With the sagging front end I'll probably need a lift for 33's if I go off road any amount and possibly spacers with chains. I'm thinking of cheaping out on a taller skinny tire and calling it good and still be able to chain. Just curious if anyone has tried this. I'm also eating off the outside of my front tires, I just rotated them and as you can see in the picture, it's eating them up pretty bad. I'm thinking too much to toe in.

« Last Edit: September 26, 2021, 08:25:19 PM by Dave78 »

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2021, 07:04:47 PM »
Yes alignment is needed badly!

Have you thought of using taller shackles on your front leaf springs? I haven't heard of anyone doing that but I just looked at my K10 and they're pretty short. Stout but short.

I don't think any geometry would change radically in the angle of the drive shaft and drag link. Although that entirely depends on the height you take it to.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2021, 07:05:56 PM »
BTW I moved to "33 from my "31. No clearance issues.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Dave78

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2021, 10:03:37 PM »
BTW I moved to "33 from my "31. No clearance issues.

Is that with chains or no?

Offline Dave78

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2021, 10:06:52 PM »
Have you thought of using taller shackles on your front leaf springs? I haven't heard of anyone doing that but I just looked at my K10 and they're pretty short. Stout but short.

A guy was using it as a plow truck so the front end sags pretty bad, if I went through the trouble of messing with shackles I'd just get me new and heavier duty front leafs. I'll end up putting a plow on it if I move out to the mountains anyways. Haven't lived over that way but I hear priest river/nordman get way more snow because of inversions and mountain shadows etc.

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2021, 12:47:11 PM »
I don't think chains would be a problem, looked closely at the clearance when putting them on. Now if you're talking about gunther chains instead of the plastic girly ones, it might rabbit, it might...

If you do the upgrade on the springs, (which it seems you need) why not elongate the shackles? You get a two-fer!
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Dave78

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2021, 10:39:54 PM »
I don't think chains would be a problem, looked closely at the clearance when putting them on. Now if you're talking about gunther chains instead of the plastic girly ones, it might rabbit, it might...

If you do the upgrade on the springs, (which it seems you need) why not elongate the shackles? You get a two-fer!

I could get longer shackles but I don't like spending money lol. I'll probably go in with the heaviest springs I can get. I've got 7 or 8 on the rear end on each side and it takes about 1k lbs to even make it ride nice and that still doesn't level it out even with all the weight at the back of the bed.

What are Gunther chains? I also don't know of any plastic chains for tires. I'd only trust real trucker style chains with cam locks so that's what I'd be using but not v bar style just regular ladder.

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 7.50 x 16 "military" tires on k20 with chains?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2021, 11:06:57 PM »
You perfectly describe Gunther-Trucker Chains with cams!  8)

What less money and less labor? Shackle or leaf?

They sell squishy girly plastico "chains" for passenger cars.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction