Tire confusion

[Mgryder1 16]

I hope you guys can clear up some confusion I have about replacement tires. I'm restoring a Charger 12 that currently has 16x6.5-12 turf savers on the front. I'd like to replace them with tri-rib tires. I've seen threads about the Firestone tires that miller tire sells on eBay but I don't want to pay $180 for 2 front tires. Is there another size tri-rib that will fit my rims? Can I use a smaller size tire with tubes?

[slammer302 2,156]

i've been using the tri ribs that greater cleveland tire has they are narrower but have worked for me on my 857 and suburban and they are cheap but the firestones are a better looking tire 

[tbarnhart 240]

If you have the narrow 3.75 in. front rims, you can use the 4.00 x 8 deestone tri-ribs. I've got them on my 160 and I think they look great. Make sure you are searching 8 in. instead of 12 as you mentioned above.

[slammer302 2,156]

You will need tubes too

[Mgryder1 16]

So I don't have the narrow rims if I have 16x6.5-8 tires on there correct? These are the original wheel horse tires, btw. Sorry if I seem thick headed about this, I just want to be sure what I buy will fit and will look decent. Sucks that miller wants $90 per tire. I'll put lug tires on before I pay that.

Edited March 30, 2015 by Mgryder1

[slammer302 2,156]

My 857 had 16×5.50-8 and the narrow tires fit good

[Mgryder1 16]

You had 5.5 or 6.5's originally?

[Mgryder1 16]

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=181700241673

Is this what you guys are trying to tell me?

[tbarnhart 240]

My C-160 had 16x6.50x8 tires originally, but they were mounted on a 3.75 in wide rim. The original turf savers really squeezed down to go on the rim. The 4.00x8 deestones really work well with that width rim. Probably better than the Firestone 6.50s. Like was mentioned, they are rated tube type. I'm guessing that your charger has the same 3.75 in. rim, but they are a bit difficult to measure with the tires mounted.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=181700241673

Is this what you guys are trying to tell me?

Yep, those are the ones.

[Mgryder1 16]

Thanks guys, I'll go ahead and buy these and if they don't work I'll buy the lug tires and still come out cheaper than if I bought the Firestones. I bought dreestone lugs for the rear earlier this evening. Thanks again for your time.

[slammer302 2,156]

Yes that's them here's a pic of my original tire I had if urs are the same the the 4.00×8 should fit fine

[Mgryder1 16]

Awesome...that's what mine look like. Do you have an after pic? I'd love to see what they look like in the rims.

[tbarnhart 240]

I hope you ordered the 23x10.50x12 deestone rears. The deestone ags tend to run small for there size listing. The 8.50 deestones will be a good bit shorter and narrower than the original carlisle turfs. I put 10.50s on mine and I think they are a great replacement for the originals. About the same height, and a bit wider. They look great with the front tri-ribs.

[tbarnhart 240]

Awesome...that's what mine look like. Do you have an after pic? I'd love to see what they look like in the rims.

Here's a link to my restore thread with picts of the 4.00x8s and the 10.50x12s.

 

[Mgryder1 16]

This is my rust bucket that I literally saved from the scrap yard for $50...I've got it torn completly down, sandblasted, primed and painted. I need to sandblast the rims and put the new tires on so I can start putting her back together. The hood picture is all I have to represent how the restor is going.

[slammer302 2,156]

Pic

[tbarnhart 240]

Looking at your pic, I would certainly say you have the norrow rim. See how the original 6.50s squeeze down narrow at the bead. They look just the same as the old rotten tires I replaced on mine.

[Mgryder1 16]

Those both look great, guys. This has been my first resto with anything that has tires/engine/transmission. Up until now it's been all machine tools. I've really enjoyed it so far. This web site makes it a heck of a lot easier, that's for sure.

[slammer302 2,156]

Good luck with ur horse

[Mgryder1 16]

I think the turf saver make it look like just another old "lawn mower" the tires you guys put on make it look 10x better. I bought the 23x8.5-12 btw.

Edited March 30, 2015 by Mgryder1

[squonk 43,799]

What size Deestones would you use with the wider front rim? 

[Mgryder1 16]

From what I gathered, if you have the wider front rim and you want tri rib tires, your only option is the $180 Firestone tires from miller tire on eBay. Hopefully one of these guys can confirm this.

[tbarnhart 240]

I haven't found any nice aggressive rib tires in 16x6.50x8 except for the Firestone tri-ribs, and the Vredenstein V61 five-ribs. There are some other rib tires out there, but they are a smooth rib style like what came on some of the later Work Horse models. There have been people who have mounted the 4.00x8 deestones on the wider rims, but I don't think they look right. Personally, I like the V61s the best for that size.

[music100 10]

Glad I ran across this, was going to ask the same thing. Guess I'll go with the turf tires. John

[Mgryder1 16]

Got the wheels restored and new tires mounted. I was going to replace the tires myself but discount tire removed the old tires, installed new valve stems, and installed the new tires for $40...it would have taken me forever to do it. Money well spent IMO.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Mgryder1