83

Ok. I want new tires for my 78 Chinook. And new rear rims. I won't go into all the stupid details, but it's been a serious pain.

The stock size Chinook calls for in the back are wider tires than the front. I'm told this is because that's what was available for heavy loads back then, but now, with D rated tires, I don't need something so wide.

And anyways, the ONLY tires they now make in this day and age in that wide size are muscle car tires, and they aren't enough ply for a heavy camper.

Ok. So I figured I'd go 185 R14 all around, and just buy new rims for the back, since I was planning on that anyways, and the rims back there now are too wide for a D rated, LT or van tire.

Well...they do not make 14 or 15" rims in the bolt pattern for these trucks. They just aren't out there.

I'm going to start looking around for pre-79 2wd pickups to see if I can buy the rims off them.

But I wonder if the tire guy just doesn't know how to use his imagination...

What could my options be? What could I do to my truck, short of replacing the axle, to put a size rim on there which is still available, and opens up more tires sizes?

Some people have fit 235/75 R15 tires on their Chinooks, but not without re-arcing and adding leaf springs. I just want new tires...

Has anyone with a 2wd earlier than '79 gone through the process of buying new rims? What did you come up with??

Thanks!!

UPS

I know the Toyota motor home I saw at the junk yard has a really wide spaced 6 bolt pattern but I didn't notice the tire size.
What size tires does it call for and what bolt pattern does the wheel have.

There is also a place http://stocktonwheel.com/ that may be able to build you wheels.

83

Building wheels sounds expensive...

The Chinooks don't have any special wheels/axles. The ones like mine did have a wider rim, which does me no good now. But all the Chinooks except the 1978 Newport/Omega models just use regular 2wd Toyota rims.

Depending on the motorhome you saw, it might have a 1 ton, full floating axle.

My wheels are 5 bolt.

UPS

The bolt pattern on my 89 2wd was the same as Chevy 5 lug wheels. You might check the size there. If the pattern is the same you could find 14" and 15"

Toyota~Boy

iTrader: (2)

Wrong........ The bolt pattern of a 89 2wd is 5 lug by 4.5 Chevrolet is 5 lug by 4.75 big difference ole buddy. Ford is the ones that match not chevy. All ford rangers/bronco 2's have interchangeable wheels with 2wd toys

UPS

Thanks for the correction.

Toyota~Boy

iTrader: (2)

No problem ole buddy. That's what we're here for. Help each other and learn

83

Thanks!

It's looking like more than anything, the tire shop I've been going to just has no idea how to use their imagination. The guy first told me there are no tires that can replace what I've got. When we moved on from that, there was then no wheel that could replace what I've got, stock or otherwise.

I've since learned he was way off on both accounts. I've found a couple sources for rims, and I ordered the tires yesterday.

Thanks!