VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Wheel and tire upgrade

I just bought a 1952 Chevy 1 ton pick-up. It has the original wheels on it that are the old "3 piece" design. They use 7.00 X 17" bias ply tube tires. Does anyone have information on a modern 7X17 8 lug wheel that I could use in their place with modern tires? Modern Chevy 8 hole 16" wheels from 3/4 ton pickups fit but they rub on the tie rod ends.


Anyone have information on the best way to move forward?

Thanks in advance.

You could put a 1/8" or 1/4" spacer between the wheel rim and hub with the later wheels, this will put extra loading on the wheel studs/nuts though.
Tony

You might want to check with the experts in the Stovebolt forum. That group is heavily focused on Chevy and GMC trucks as well as lots of experiences with modifications.

Keep checking back here also because someone might be able to help.

The 3 piece wheel can be tricky when changing tires. It gets a bad reputation because there can be issues when inflating a new tire. Other than that they are a safe and reliable wheel.

The primary challenge you will have with modern tires is finding a profile that will fit your truck. Tires like a 6.00-16 and 7.00-17 would labeled at least a 90 series if not higher tire today. This means they are very narrow in relation to their diameter. Likewise the wheels themselves were much narrower.

It will be difficult to find a modern radial tire with the diameter you need that is not so wide that it will rub somewhere. I assume that the newer wheel will be wider also. Backspacing will be a factor. That is why Tony’s suggestion to use a spacer might be a solution. That might then require longer wheel studs.