Recommended tires for everyday street driving? '86 C10

[mcintyrederek]

I have an '86 C10 with what looks to have 1988 C1500 wheels on it..  As you can see in the photo, I had Michelin LTX M/S on there and it was satisfactory.  They were P235/75/R15.  The glove box data calls for P195/75/R15.  That seems sort of small. 

I bought some serious piece of crap tires made in China (they're basically no-name brands) they have "Good-Ride" stamped on them.  They are A/T radials that are obviously meant for light off-road use.  They're 31" x 10.5"  They sling rocks for 5 miles and sound like bowling balls rolling around in the bed of my truck.  I changed all wheel bearings thinking I had a bearing problem but it HAS to be the crappy tires.

What are your suggestions for a good quality, quiet tire (and size) that would be suitable for normal driving/highway use?

And, do these wheels in the photo look like C1500 wheels to you?  The glove box says "options, Rally wheels" but these don't look like everyone else's with Rally wheels on them.

Thanks.

[zieg85]

Those rims appear to be the stock standard steel wheels of the 88 on up rims.  Stay away from China made stuff, some of it is real junk.  The stock size or maybe the next size would be fine if looks were not important.  If your speedo is off, going to the correct size will fix that.  Anything name brand AS (all season) tread is good.  I have had great luck with Kelly Springfield in the past.  If you don't drive a lot get the lesser mileage tires as they all dry rot eventually.  If you drive a bunch look into Michelin tires.  If you regularly carry a load LT tires in the back will give you better service.

[mcintyrederek]

The speedo was slightly off when running 235/75..  As you can imagine, it's even more off (reads lower than what I'm going) with the crappy tires I just bought    I have a pretty good assortment of speedo gears for TH400 so that's no big deal.  I'm just surprised the glove box data for this truck calls for 195/75..  That seems TINY for that particular vehicle at stock height..  235/75's (like shown in photo) even looked small for the truck..  The 31's I am running to me look normal..  Then again, I'm not worried about appearance.  I don't haul a lot of stuff, and I don't put tons of miles on it, and don't tow heavy trailers.  That all being said, I'll probably go with Michelin LTX MS2.. 

Thanks.

[zieg85]

I hear you, the intended size looks dinky.  With a 2.73 or 2.56 the 195's make the trucks peppier, we fill up the wheel wells, and have to change the gearing because they are dogs with the old school transmissions.

[mcintyrederek]

I probably won't go any smaller than 225/75...  The setup is a 350 RV engine with a TH400 and 2.73 rear.  I'm not out here burning up the strip or anything, just a cruising daily driver.  I have a 200-4R and a 3.73 both in excellent shape.  That would give me better take-off obviously but top end RPM would be about the same with that setup.  Again, if its' not broke, don't fix it.

Michelin LTX MS2's here for about $120, I guess that's normal.

Thanks.

[zieg85]

quiet decent looking tires are Goodyear Wrangler AT, only about a 35-40K mile tire but they have good road manners.  I had a set on my 85 that I sold

[VileZambonie]

Here's some nice wheels and tires http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/cart/addToCart.do?productTypeId=1&v=022758%7C1986&productId=19697

[mcintyrederek]

Nice..  Thanks for the advice.  Luckily the shop that I bought the Chinese garbage from has agreed to trade them out no charge for a set of Michelin LTX MS2's..  They have some sort of rebate thing going on after April 14th..  No complaints here.
They said they would have no trouble re-selling the A/T tires to a young buck with a Jeep.

[mcintyrederek]

I went with Goodyear Wranglers P235/75/R15.  My friend who owns the tire shop says that the Michelin LTX MS2 was probably a better overall tire as far as wear and tread, but no more than I drive the truck, they would dry rot before I wore all the tread off them.

The Goodyears I bought have more of a street tread on them which rides fantastic and is extremely quiet. 

[78 Chevyrado]

My goto for these old trucks have always been one of two tires.   either michelin ltx/ms  or bfg all terrain.  both ride smooth and quiet, and lasted me and other people ive met in my travels over 100,000 miles.  they cost a little more, but last a lot longer and are comfortable.