Posted by Jesse Ybarra on 5/7/2008, 9:32:38, in reply to "Tires"
207.200.116.136
Some of my trucks run excessive larger tires, I have modified everything on these trucks to allow the use of these larger tires, they may look good on FCs, but plan to do a few things before buying larger tires, start with the brakes, the stock FC-170 has the largest drum, wheel bearings size that you can put on it, with 11"x2" shoes, on those axles, at 50 mph these trucks with perfect condition brakes are doing the best they can at the distance it takes to stop them, if your truck is not stopping fast enough for your needs, remember the brakes will require more distance to stop with the larger diameter tires, For sure rebuild the steering, it can handle larger tires if it is in good condition, plan on buying brakes and clutch discs sooner, one more consideration is acceleration, if you are not happy with your performance, get ready to go slower.
Radials, tubless, they work good but compared to bias belted 6 or 8 ply truck tires, radials with less than 6 ply sidewalls do put additional strain on the original equipment wheels, the 235x85x16R is as large of a tire for use on the stock size wheels, do not exceed the tire PSI. These wheels will sometimes be cracked at the welds, with even the original size bias tires, you should always be looking for rust dust at the seam, this is the first signs of the wheel cracking. Although the radials take the bumps in the road better these do require the truck to be rolling to turn the steering wheel, when at standing still, larger tires are more effort. The springs are usually sagging or cracked (after 50 years) but should always be, with and including the spring bushings and shocks, put in good condition anyway, more arc if you plan on larger tires, putting larger tires can additionally magnify or cause fear, if your truck has death wobble or alignment problems.
This all seems so elementary, but I have had calls from people that saw pictures of one my FCs, then went out and bought 37" tires.
--Previous Message--
: I have a '60 FC-170 that I am currently
: restoring. I would like to put larger tires
: on the original rims. How large can I go?
: Can I use tubeless? Will I need more
: clearance and if so what is the best way to
: gain 2"-3"? As with most FCs it
: looks like the front springs a sagging.
: Thanks for any input.
:
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