chevysupermudder
Newbie
i have a stock 81 k5 what would be the biggest tire i should use without breaking anything like an axle
CK5
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i need help with tire size
- Thread starter chevysupermudder
- Start date
big jimmy 91
1/2 ton status
The skinny pedal regulates breakage
It's all in how you use and abuse the rig
It's all in how you use and abuse the rig
chevysupermudder
Newbie
tire size
my truck is stock.im stuck on whether i should get a 8inch lift or 6 because i would like to get 38 inch but i dont know if they will break cuz they are so big and the axles arent
my truck is stock.im stuck on whether i should get a 8inch lift or 6 because i would like to get 38 inch but i dont know if they will break cuz they are so big and the axles arent
eclipse
1/2 ton status
I always heard that 10bolts on 1/2tons could handle 33s just fine and 35s were pushing. 38's I'd say if you are just gonna drive it and not wheel it or do burn outs. I'm running 33s on my 85 K10 and my axles are fine, just my gears are too high.
nerraw117
1/2 ton status
i am thinking of purchasing a 85 k5 with a 3/4 ton up front and a 14 ff rear, it comes with 4 inch coils and leaf spring flip in rear (about 5 in i believe) and a 1 inch body lift on it right now. whats a good tire i can fit? i was thinking maybe boggers but what size? my friend keeps sayign nothing about 35's, i want 38's or maybe 39's o yea it has mild fender trimming and i mostly wheel in mud
Hossbaby50
3/4 ton status
Like mentioned the throttle, driving style, and wheeling type are the major factors in what tire is max. Traction devices make it harder on axleparts to survive also.
On 1/2 ton gear that gets wheeled the max range that will survive with good maintanence and a good driver is 37" or so. This is just a generalization but you get the picture. When you get to 35" tires you enter the breakage range. Anything above that is just pushing your luck harder. You can break things with less then 35's but you have to be doing something you probably shouldn't be doing or just completely throttle happy.
Harley
On 1/2 ton gear that gets wheeled the max range that will survive with good maintanence and a good driver is 37" or so. This is just a generalization but you get the picture. When you get to 35" tires you enter the breakage range. Anything above that is just pushing your luck harder. You can break things with less then 35's but you have to be doing something you probably shouldn't be doing or just completely throttle happy.
Harley
I ran 10 bolts and 38.5 for about a year the axles were open no problems when i weld the front and put a limited in the rear i broke axle shafts with at 33's but i have a heavy right foot sometimes
81jimmyslt
1/2 ton status
I think the first thing you need to consider is what gears you have in your axles. My 81' had 10/12 bolt w/ 2.73
and when I boriginally bought my truck it had 33's. My truck was so sluggish and undergeared. Go look at a gear ratio charts or calculators on google images or go to http://www.4lo.com/calc/gearratio.htm there are several others.
if you have decent gears the biggest I'd go with your setup is 35's.
Jesse
and when I boriginally bought my truck it had 33's. My truck was so sluggish and undergeared. Go look at a gear ratio charts or calculators on google images or go to http://www.4lo.com/calc/gearratio.htm there are several others.if you have decent gears the biggest I'd go with your setup is 35's.
Jesse
nerraw117
1/2 ton status
well i am looking at getting better gears anyway, right now its 3.73 but i would like to get 4.88
bigyellowjimmy
1/2 ton status
If you replace the front axle u-joints often (at least once/yr) and are easy on the throttle you can get by with 38's for a front 10 bolt....I do. Am I shopping for a D60? Yes. 
nerraw117
1/2 ton status
awesome i was looking at the 38x15.5x15 super swamper tsl radial, sound like a good tire? i see alot of people running them
bigyellowjimmy
1/2 ton status
Very good tire, I like skinny tires myself as I see no mud, only rocks. I run 38X12.50/15
nerraw117
1/2 ton status
you dont think thats a little too much tire for the frive train? once again 10 bolt 3/4 ton front and 14 bolt FF rear with stock 3.73 gears (im wanting 38x15.5x15 tsl radial)
blazd88
1/2 ton status
nerraw117 said:
ive run my ten bolt with 38" tsls and 4.10 gears daily for 3 or 4 months and taken it on 2 or 3 trial run weekends without any probs(knock on wood). my theory is if you dont break it you wont ever have a good excuse to go bigger and better. i have a d60 ready to put in as soon as i can afford srw hubs or someone wants to trade (hint hint). so go big or go home(mainly just have fun with it)
nerraw117
1/2 ton status
awesome iwould like to have 4.88 gears and a rear detroit later on, how much did that D60 run you and what vehicle did you get it from?
