The GMC CCKW

I have an opportunity to get some new 825x20 tires



The price is $400 for 6 including tubes and flaps. Are these ok to run on a CCKW?

International M5H6s ran 8.25X20 tires

John

If I remember correctly the standard Wehrmacht tire size for trucks like the Opel Blitz was 7.25 x 20, a size that is no longer made. For that reason I used 7.50 x 20s on my Opel when I was restoring it in the 1980's overseas. Since you are converting your CCKW to a reinactment vehicle I would assume these tires would be alright. What CCKW parts are you discarding in your conversion?

I bought 4 brand new 8.25x20 mud and snow tires for my 42 Chev 4x4 plow truck this spring and found that I could not compress them enough to get the ring onto the CCKW wheels!

I even went so far as to take them to work and place my ~4,000 lb S10 Blazer on a 4 post lift and set it on the tire. Nope still not enough.

So beware.....

I finally bought some M35 wheels. No problem except the M35 tires are not as easy to dismount (though newer) off of an M35 wheel then an older 7.50 tire on a CCKW wheel due to the M35 wheel design.

I think I am going to hold out for a set of Norwegians.

I am keeping the dash and cab floor. Everything else is going. I have to lengthen the cab 8" so even the back of the cab is not of much use.

The German truck had a bench seat so when I can find a bench seat I will sell the individual seats as well. For now the two seats are fine.

Neil

SpookyDad wrote:I have an opportunity to get some new 825x20 tires



The price is $400 for 6 including tubes and flaps. Are these ok to run on a CCKW?

i have the same size on my gmc 353 and it goes ok mitchelins

A few months ago i put new tiers on my CCKW - what came on the truck was 7.50x20 tires on 7inch solid ring BUDD wheel rims. Since it would be over $2000 to get the correct 7.50x20 tires I opted for a set of take-offs from M-35 trucks. These are 9.00x20 tires on 9inch split ring BUDD wheel rims.

The 9.00x20s on the 9inch rims DO NOT work in the rear…they run into the springs before the wheel is even up to the hub. In the front they run into the springs and drag link (steering arm) when you turn about half way.

I was able to dismount all the tires and mount the 9.00x20 tires on the original 7inch rims – the sidewalls of the 8 ply military tread tires are soft enough to get them mounted by hand. On the front they work great clearing the springs by a good inch and even the drag link by about a quarter inch – I torched out the center of some of the M-35 9inch rims and them use as spacers in the front to give me a little more clearance.

In the back the inside tire clears the springs fine, but a spacer is necessary between the duels to keep them far enough apart. Also running a 9inch rim on the outside gives you more space between the duels.

That is what i did - hope this helps!
Daniel

Did the new tires change the look of the truck much?

Do you have before and after pics of the truck?

Neil

Yes, the truck looks tougher id say hehe I have some video footage i captured from our recent event. i'll be posting that very soon Lord willing

Daniel

MotorpoolMac wrote: I was able to dismount all the tires and mount the 9.00x20 tires on the original 7inch rims – the sidewalls of the 8 ply military tread tires are soft enough to get them mounted by hand. On the front they work great clearing the springs by a good inch and even the drag link by about a quarter inch – I torched out the center of some of the M-35 9inch rims and them use as spacers in the front to give me a little more clearance.

In the back the inside tire clears the springs fine, but a spacer is necessary between the duels to keep them far enough apart. Also running a 9inch rim on the outside gives you more space between the duels.

That is what i did - hope this helps!
Daniel

I have these tires on my truck also. They look much more beefy and are a cheap replacement. They do re-gear the truck and it is a little slower although it theoretically has a higher top speed (if the motor could pull it at 5000ft altitude)

My rear duals are close, but I was able to get stock wheels on the inner and outer. Is there such a thing as too close (if they don't rub)? It keeps the rocks that get stuck in the duals to a smaller size...

I think there are laws in some states as to how close you can let your duals be - I have heard 1 inch. Realistically id say that if they dont rub, your ok.