What is the correct OEM tire size for a 65' F100?

[RedStarr1000]

I am currently restoring my 65' to original stock condition. Right now I'm have a set of 15x5.5 steel stock wheels powder coated. I have a brand new set of repop stainless steel dog dish hub caps. The only thing Im missing is the tires. I'm planning on installing original style tubeless bias type tires. But the problem I'm running into is that all my Ford manuals and sales books say that the correct size tire is 775x15. I went to a tire warehouse near my home (Lucas Automotive) that specializes in classic/vintage tires. The only tires in that size they had were Firestone and BF Goodrich that had an overall diameter of 27.5". The sale person told me that these name brand tires were the stock size for corvettes and other passenger size cars of the late 60's. The tire looked very short in height compared to light truck tires. The only bias type light truck tires he had close to the OEM Ford size were 700x15 with and overall diameter of 29.6". The tires look like the correct height for a truck but I'm worried that they might be too narrow compared to 775x15. Does anybody still have bias type tires on their slick? I want to know if it's ok to run 700x15 instead of 775x15. Thanks guys, Ryan.

[cdherman]

The pic in my sig of my truck has 7.00 x 15 bias sized tires.

It is my understanding that this was a correct size for stock -- various tires were available, I am not sure that all trucks got the same size.

I do not think that 7.00x 15 is too narrow. They do look narrower than we are used too these days, but narrow tires steer more easily and were more common then.

My tires are radials, but bias sized. Only Yokahama makes such a beast and, yes, it bugs me a little to have Japanese tires on there. But they handle very nice. If you go with bias ply tires, beware all the usual caveats, like not mixing with radials EVER, as well as memory -- if you let them set for a long time in one position, they'll get out of round.

[dotcentral]

cdherman, what size tires are those yokohamas?

[fmartin_gila]

Prior to radial tires, most all the 1/2 ton pickups ran 700X15 tires. Keep in mind that these were full actual 6 ply tires and were somewhat larger than the 700X15 tires used on cars, as these were 4 ply. All this is referring to bias ply tires before there were radials. Hope this helps some.
Fred

[fmartin_gila]

Just happened to remember, I still have some 700X15 tires out in back, not any good, but they are still mounted on rims. If you want, I can get an actual inch measure for you.
Fred

[BackyardRest]

I am currently restoring my 65' to original stock condition. Right now I'm have a set of 15x5.5 steel stock wheels powder coated. I have a brand new set of repop stainless steel dog dish hub caps. The only thing Im missing is the tires. I'm planning on installing original style tubeless bias type tires. But the problem I'm running into is that all my Ford manuals and sales books say that the correct size tire is 775x15. I went to a tire warehouse near my home (Lucas Automotive) that specializes in classic/vintage tires. The only tires in that size they had were Firestone and BF Goodrich that had an overall diameter of 27.5". The sale person told me that these name brand tires were the stock size for corvettes and other passenger size cars of the late 60's. The tire looked very short in height compared to light truck tires. The only bias type light truck tires he had close to the OEM Ford size were 700x15 with and overall diameter of 29.6". The tires look like the correct height for a truck but I'm worried that they might be too narrow compared to 775x15. Does anybody still have bias type tires on their slick? I want to know if it's ok to run 700x15 instead of 775x15. Thanks guys, Ryan.

7.75-15 4PR was stock tire on a 66 F100 and would assume the 65 was the same but do not know for sure. the 66 f250 came with 6.50-15 6PR's

If you call pretty much any tire store or even go online you can convert the tire sizes

[dotcentral]

I was just wondering if the Yokohamas had a metric designation as well.

right now I have 21575s on the front, and 23575s on the rear. It is easier to park with the 215s than when I had 235s on the front.

[cdherman]

Here's a couple links for you all:

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires_commercial/ry215.aspx

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... es&place=0

These are radials, but sized in bias ply numbers. They are 8 ply, truck tires and if you inflate them to 55 or 60 psi, they will look like a true truck tire, as opposed to a squatty radial.

In terms of metric sizing, no Yokohama does not give that, but at their web site, exact specs can be had, including diameter and revolutions per mile.

Its been a long time since I researched this in detail, but as my memory serves me, they are a touch taller than 235R15 tires. These are tall, narrow tires.

Also, Yokohama makes them in a mud grip style tire as well. Both tires look classic in my opinion, except for the name on the side......

[fmartin_gila]

Ryan,

I sent you a PM in response to your question, but I don't think it went out for some reason.

I did get a measurement of 28 1/4 on the 700X15 that I still had mounted up. It was a mud and snow that was totally worn smooth and had no air in it.

I run 235X75R15 tires on mine and measure 29 1/2 inch.

Do you need an "innie" type rim? I do have one here. I have a friend who has Any number of the "outie" type later generation wheels in both the 5 1/2 and 6 inch width. He may also have some of the "innie" type wheels, I will check if you are interested.

I have to run the later "outie" type wheels on my 62 because the "innie" type wheels will not clear the calipers on the disk brakes. Something to think about if you are ever going to install disk brakes.

Fred

[Garbz]

Fred

PM dont leave till the outbox till the next time member logs in.

I run 265 75 R16 Yokohama geolanders on my crew cab, good tire and seems to hold up in this arizona heat.

Did you ever see a set of 16 inch five lug innies? came on F100 four wheel drives. An the New Wheel Vintques wheels with the innie center will clear the discs and allow the stock caps.

Garbz

[66Gobbler]

I have the original invoice/bill of sale for my 66 F100. It lists 700x15 as the tire the truck was equipped with when sold. Therefore, I'm sure you would be safe running that size tire on your truck. I still have the original split rims for mine.

[cdherman]

I have the original invoice/bill of sale for my 66 F100. It lists 700x15 as the tire the truck was equipped with when sold. Therefore, I'm sure you would be safe running that size tire on your truck. I still have the original split rims for mine.

So, are you saying that some 66 F100 trucks came with 7.00 x 15 tire on a split rim?

Wow.....

In my post above I had a brain drain as well -- I meant to say that the 7.00 x 15 bias ply tires are about the same height as a 235x75R15 tire.

[66Gobbler]

The invoice looks like the 700 x 15 were stock but the buyer upgraded to 775 x 15 white sidewall. It shows a charge of $42.00 for this. (42 year old hand written paperwork) The rims now have 700 6 ply on them.

[fmartin_gila]

The 16 inch "innie" wheels would clear the calipers as it is the drop center which interferes. I didn't know that 15 inch wheels of the "innie" type were made to clear the calipers.

I also didn't know about the outbox thing.

Just add these items to the constantly growing list of things that I didn't know about.

Back in the day, there were a lot of vehicles that came with split rims, had to be tube type tires and usually 6 full ply or more cause they had very stiff sidewalls and the beads could not be warped around to mount them.

Guess it doesn't make a lot of difference in my case. All I have left here is the one "innie" wheel. I have settled on using the later type wheels with dog dish caps and it doesn't look too bad. I don't get overly concerned with looks anyway, as I drive it everyday and it shows it.

Fred

[Jarrod]

I sill have my 5 lug split rims with a set of bias ply 7.00x15 tires in storage. Kinda a cool.