Dodge Pickup Tires

Dodge Pickup applications from 1971 to 1979 use 12 sizes across three wheel diameters. The 15-inch sizes are G78-15, H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, and 700-15. The 16-inch size is 750-16. The 16.5-inch sizes are 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, 8.00R16.5, 8.75R16.5, and 9.50R16.5, with some appearing through the full run and others only from 1973 forward.

The practical point is that year alone is not enough on a Dodge Pickup from this period. Two trucks from the same model year can be on very different wheel diameters and tire constructions, so the correct approach is to match the size on the truck, then confirm the wheel diameter and the intended use before choosing between passenger-style, highway truck, traction, or radial-style offerings.

A 1973 Dodge Pickup shows 12 tire sizes because that year includes several different equipment paths rather than a single universal tire. The split covers 15-inch, 16-inch, and 16.5-inch wheels, and it also includes both bias-ply sizes such as G78-15, H78-15, L78-15, 700-15, 750-16, 800-16.5, 875-16.5, and 950-16.5, plus radial-style sizes such as LR78-15, 8.00R16.5, 8.75R16.5, and 9.50R16.5.

That means a 1973 Dodge Pickup owner needs to identify the actual wheel diameter and configuration on the truck, not just the model year on the title. Check the existing tire size, measure the wheel if needed, and compare the truck's purpose and stance before choosing among the listed options, because a 16-inch setup and a 16.5-inch setup are not interchangeable.

Dodge Pickup fitments in this range use three rim diameters: 15 inches, 16 inches, and 16.5 inches. The 15-inch group includes G78-15, H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, and 700-15. The 16-inch group is 750-16. The 16.5-inch group includes 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, 8.00R16.5, 8.75R16.5, and 9.50R16.5.

This is one of the most important checks on a Dodge Pickup because 16-inch and 16.5-inch wheels are close in name but different in actual fitment. If the truck's history is unclear, verify the wheel stamping or measure carefully before selecting a tire, especially on working trucks that may have had wheels changed during their service life.

Most Dodge Pickup sizes listed here are bias-ply formats, including the alphanumeric bias-ply sizes G78-15, H78-15, and L78-15, along with the numeric sizes 700-15, 750-16, 800-16.5, 875-16.5, and 950-16.5. Those bias-ply formats are tube-type in the available fitments, so a tube is required. The radial-style sizes such as LR78-15, 8.00R16.5, 8.75R16.5, and 9.50R16.5 are the exception and should be matched to the wheel and tire design used on the truck.

Tube choice matters because using the wrong tube or omitting one where required can create mounting and service problems even when the tire size itself is correct. If your Dodge Pickup is being restored, keep the wheel style, valve stem arrangement, and intended use in mind so the full tire-and-wheel assembly matches the period and the job the truck is expected to do.

A 1975 Dodge Pickup can use multiple sizes, including 15-inch, 16-inch, and 16.5-inch fitments, so the correct size starts with the wheel actually on the truck. In that year, the listed range includes G78-15, H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, 700-15, 750-16, 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, 8.00R16.5, 8.75R16.5, and 9.50R16.5. The sidewall code then tells you whether you are dealing with a bias-ply or radial-style application.

A sound way to confirm fitment is to compare the existing tire size, measure the wheel diameter, and check whether the truck is set up as a lighter-duty pickup, a heavier-duty truck application, or a restoration with period styling in mind. Matching the wheel diameter first prevents the most common mistake, especially where 16-inch and 16.5-inch truck wheels are concerned.

Dodge Pickup tire offerings in these sizes include blackwall, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, and dual-white-stripe sidewall styles. Blackwall is common across the truck-oriented sizes and traction or highway service tires, while wide whitewall and narrow whitewall appear on several 15-inch and 16-inch passenger-style bias-ply options. A dual-white-stripe option is also available in L78-15.

Sidewall style should follow the character of the truck you are building. A working or utility-oriented Dodge Pickup usually looks most natural on blackwalls, while a custom, restored, or more personalized period presentation may call for whitewall treatment. The key is to match the sidewall style to both the correct size and the era you want the truck to represent.

Dodge Pickup tires in these sizes are available from Coker Classic, STA, Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. Brand coverage varies by size, with some sizes represented by only one maker and others offering a wider spread of styling and service types. Several of the 15-inch and 16-inch sizes have the broadest choice, while some 16.5-inch sizes are centered on STA truck applications.

Brand matters less than matching the size, wheel diameter, construction, and intended use of the truck. Once those points are settled, you can compare whether you want a traditional blackwall truck look, a passenger-style whitewall presentation, or a more aggressive traction-oriented tread within the correct fitment for your Dodge Pickup.

Dodge Pickup fitments here include several distinct series: Coker Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Military, Wide Oval Radial, Super Traxion, Traxion, Super Transport, and Transport Highway. Some are passenger-style bias-ply lines with whitewall or blackwall presentation, some are military or truck-service bias-ply designs, and the Wide Oval Radial entry represents a radial-style option in LR78-15.

Those differences matter because the correct tire for a restored show truck is not always the right tire for a working pickup or a truck meant to keep a period utility look. Start by deciding whether your Dodge Pickup needs passenger-style appearance, truck-duty service character, or radial-style road manners, then narrow the choice within the exact size your wheel requires.

A Dodge Pickup stored on fitted tires should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Maintain inflation appropriate to the tire and the truck's load condition, and keep the truck on a clean surface rather than bare earth. Long static periods can create flat spotting, especially with bias-ply construction.

If the truck will sit for months, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Collector trucks with whitewalls also benefit from regular gentle cleaning, since embedded grime and chemical dressing residue can stain the sidewall and make an otherwise correct restoration look tired before the tire itself has aged out.

Tires on a Dodge Pickup should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times during the season. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, irregular wear, valve stem issues, and pressure loss. On older bias-ply truck tires, also watch for changes in ride feel or tracking that can suggest internal deterioration or a wheel-and-tire mismatch.

Regular inspection is especially important on trucks from this era because many live low-mileage collector lives and problems can develop from age rather than use. A Dodge Pickup that only goes to shows or occasional cruises may still need attention sooner than its tread depth suggests, so visual checks and pressure checks should become part of the routine each time the truck comes out.

Tires on a Dodge Pickup should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, repeated air loss, or visible structural change appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-vehicle tires often age out before they wear out. The decision should be driven by condition and age rather than mileage alone, especially on bias-ply truck tires that may spend long periods parked between uses.

A tread pattern that still looks deep can create false confidence on an older truck. If the Dodge Pickup is used on the road, replacement should happen before deterioration progresses to the point where the tire's structure is in doubt. Any tire of significant age deserves close evaluation, and that standard is even more important on heavier-duty truck sizes that may carry substantial load.

Dodge Pickup fitments in this 1971 to 1979 range include several period-appropriate size families rather than one universal original tire. The available sizes span alphanumeric bias-ply, numeric truck bias-ply, and later radial-style formats, with series including Coker Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, truck-service lines, and a radial-style LR78-15 offering. That variety reflects the fact that different Dodge Pickup configurations used different wheel and tire combinations.

For restoration work, the right answer usually comes from matching the truck's exact year, wheel diameter, trim character, and original purpose. A base working pickup, a heavier-duty truck, and a more customized presentation may all point in different directions, so original manuals, sales literature, and marque-specific knowledge remain the best references when authenticity matters.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Dodge Pickup is judged and how convincing the restoration appears. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the wheel diameter, size family, sidewall style, and general tire character fit the truck's year and purpose. A 15-inch whitewall presentation sends a different message than a blackwall truck tire on a 16-inch or 16.5-inch wheel.

The practical issue is consistency. A Dodge Pickup restored as a work truck should not wear a dressy passenger-style tire that changes the truck's visual stance, and a customized or highly trimmed build may look incomplete on severe utility rubber. Matching tire style to the truck's intended story often matters as much as choosing the technically correct dimensions.

Dodge Pickup restoration choices here include blackwall, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, and dual-white-stripe options, but the most appropriate look depends on the truck's intended presentation. Blackwalls are the natural fit for work-oriented and truck-service applications, especially in the 16-inch and 16.5-inch sizes. Whitewall and stripe treatments appear mainly in 15-inch and some 16-inch passenger-style bias-ply offerings and suit a more dressed or personalized restoration.

Choose the sidewall style that matches the wheel size and the visual era you want the Dodge Pickup to represent. If the truck is being restored for judging, compare period photos, brochures, and marque examples to see whether your particular configuration leaned toward plain blackwalls or a more decorative whitewall treatment.

A Dodge Pickup can be driven on public roads with the correct size, proper condition, and a tire type suited to the truck's wheel and intended use. The key variables here are wheel diameter, construction, and age. A sound LR78-15 radial-style tire will behave differently from a tube-type 750-16 or 950-16.5 bias-ply truck tire, and each must be used within its proper application.

Road safety starts with the whole package rather than the size code alone. Before driving, make sure the Dodge Pickup has matching tires side to side, correct inflation, sound wheels, and no signs of age-related breakdown. Trucks that have sat for long periods should be recommissioned carefully, because dormant tires and old mechanical systems can create risk even when they still look serviceable.

Before driving a Dodge Pickup, check the tire size against the wheel diameter, inspect inflation pressure, and look for cracking, bulges, cuts, exposed cords, or uneven wear. Also confirm that all tires on the truck match in construction where they should, especially if the truck has seen wheel changes over the years. A 16-inch wheel, a 16.5-inch wheel, and a 15-inch wheel each require their own correct tire.

That inspection should be paired with a quick look at the spare, valve stems, lug torque, and steering feel on the first few miles. Older pickups often carry mixed parts from decades of service, so a Dodge Pickup that appears correct at a glance can still hide one mismatched wheel or aging tire that deserves attention before regular road use.

Appropriate speed for a Dodge Pickup depends on the exact tire fitted, its construction, condition, and the truck's overall mechanical state. Bias-ply truck tires generally ask for a more conservative driving style than later radial-type designs, and collector-use tires should never be treated like modern high-speed light-truck rubber simply because the tread looks strong. Age and service condition matter as much as the size itself.

The sensible approach is to drive a Dodge Pickup at moderate speeds that suit the tire design and the road conditions, then reassess how the truck feels in steering, braking, and heat buildup. If the truck is on older-style bias-ply or heavier truck-service tires, smooth inputs and conservative cruising are the right habit even when the fitment is fully correct.