17.5" wheel option? For 1000, 1500, or 2500? Mainly 4WD?

[Ledslinger]

Was there any purpose for the 17.5" wheel option other than load capacity? What models was it available on? I'll guess that many trucks that were ordered with this option didn't maintain them due to lack of availability and price. How many trucks have you personally seen that still are wearing this option that originally came with them?

[Ed Snyder]

Was there any purpose for the 17.5" wheel option other than load capacity? What models was it available on? I'll guess that many trucks that were ordered with this option didn't maintain them due to lack of availability and price. How many trucks have you personally seen that still are wearing this option that originally came with them?

When Dad ordered the one ton Suburban back in 1965, he opted for the biggest tires available at the time -- 8.00 x 17.5. He had a lot of trouble with blowouts though, towing our travel trailer. When the 12 x 16.5s became available a few years later, he upgraded to a set of four of those. No more tire problems! Those 17.5 wheels have been in a backyard shed in Wichita ever since.

[Ledslinger]

Any idea when the last year they were available as an option?

[Ed Snyder]

Any idea when the last year they were available as an option?

No idea, but a quick internet search shows that 17.5" truck tires are still available.

[gmccollector]

The last year of the 17.5 wheel was 1968 . For GMC 1/2 ton the wheel was more common on 4x4 trucks. Still quite rare but was available on all model 1000 2 wheel drive trucks and 1500 and 2500 series trucks. I recently purchased a set off an original 1966 short bed stepside that had the wheels on the spid sheet. The 17.5 wheels are 1955-1959 then the center hub profile changed 1960-1968 for both 6 lug and 8 lug .

[Ledslinger]

There's a ton of information regarding Chevrolets on the GM Heritage website. It looks like 17.5" wheels were an option on all 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. I'll assume the same for GMC.

https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/vehicle-information-kits

[Jim A]

Ed Snyder: I have not found a source for 17.5's for a long time.
Where have you? Thanks

[Ed Snyder]

Ed Snyder: I have not found a source for 17.5's for a long time.
Where have you? Thanks

You should try Coker. They specialize in tires for older vehicles. See https://www.cokertire.com/tires.html?tire_rim_diameter=4402. Not cheap, but then nothing is any more!

[Jim A]

Thanks, I somehow missed that place.
Boy, wouldn't I love a couple of those mud grips. They are just short of what I paid for the truck 52 years back. Each.
I had a chance 5 or 10 years ago at about $200.
I didn't get as far as tubes, S&H and local mounting.
At 65 PSI, seems a kidney belt and something to hold your teeth should be added into the cost.

[Jim A]

I went ahead and bought a pair of 17.5 mudgrips from Coker and got them this week; they are good looking, heavy duty fellas.
They are tubeless but i bought tubes in case the beads are too worn to trust.
Anybody have any ideas about this plan.
Thanks.

[Jim A]

Follow-up:
Got them mounted yesterday, kind of a wrestling match, but they look good.
The tubes that Coker sent wouldn't fit, but the beads cleaned up OK, so we went tubeless. Time will tell.

[lizziemeister'sV6]

Was the valve stem in the wrong place on the Coker tube? What placement do the rims require? For future reference. Thanks :ok:

[Jim A]

The tubes they sent are Firestone drag racing tubes with tractor-type valves designed for 29" wheels.
I know tubes are flexible, so to speak, but we just couldn't figure out how to get them in the tire and rim.
I hope Coker has a decent return policy. Thet are a little vague on other things.
They sent a survey about my experience on the day of my order. I have told them to wait for it.

[Jim A]

I finally got a chance to put some miles on my new rear 8x17.5 mudgrips last weekend.
I'd been running re-caps for 40+ years, got new fronts 6 or 7 years ago.
With the new back ones, the old '60 drives like a new truck.
Or at least what I imagine a new truck would drive like.

PS: Coker refunded the tubes.