Dodge Trucks D300 Tires

The Dodge Trucks D300 has four listed tire sizes for 1980: 8.00R16.5, 800-16.5, 9.50R16.5, and 950-16.5. All four use a 16.5-inch rim diameter. The 8.00R16.5 and 9.50R16.5 sizes are radial-format truck sizes, while 800-16.5 and 950-16.5 are numeric bias-ply sizes. That means the D300 does not have one universal tire size across all 1980 examples.

The practical step is to inspect the truck itself rather than rely on year alone. Check the sidewall of the tire already on the truck, verify the wheel diameter, and compare the tire width family before choosing between 8.00-series and 9.50-series options. If the truck is part of a restoration, compare the current setup against period paperwork or a marque specialist’s guidance before changing construction type.

On a Dodge Trucks D300, 800-16.5 is a numeric bias-ply truck tire size. The 800 indicates a nominal section width of about 8.00 inches, with the decimal omitted in the older numbering style, and 16.5 is the wheel diameter in inches. That size differs from 8.00R16.5 because the radial-marked version uses the R to indicate radial construction, while 800-16.5 is bias-ply.

That distinction matters because two tires with similar width markings can differ in construction, profile, and how the truck feels on the road. A Dodge Trucks D300 owner choosing 800-16.5 should confirm that the truck is intended to retain a bias-ply setup and that the existing wheel and clearance match the narrower 8.00-series fitment. For traditional truck service appearance, this is the period-style bias-ply format to look for.

A 1980 Dodge Trucks D300 has four listed tire sizes because the model year includes both narrower and wider fitments, and each width appears in both bias-ply and radial-style sizing. The narrower pair is 8.00R16.5 and 800-16.5, while the wider pair is 9.50R16.5 and 950-16.5. All four sizes fit 16.5-inch rims, so the variation is not a wheel-diameter change but a combination of construction style and fitment choice.

That means year alone is not enough to identify the correct tire for a Dodge Trucks D300. Look at the size marking on the current tire, confirm whether the truck is meant to stay bias-ply or move to a radial-style equivalent, and make sure the wheel width supports the selected size family. If the truck has been altered over time, the current tire may not reflect the original setup.

The bias-ply Dodge Trucks D300 sizes listed here, 800-16.5 and 950-16.5, should be treated as tube-required applications. Those sizes are numeric bias-ply truck tires, and the available products in those sizes are bias-ply construction. The radial-format sizes listed for the Dodge Trucks D300 are separate entries and are not covered by the same tube requirement statement used for the bias-ply products shown.

Tube use matters because it affects both installation parts and long-term service. If a Dodge Trucks D300 owner is replacing an 800-16.5 or 950-16.5 tire, the wheel condition, flap or tube compatibility where applicable, and valve setup should all be checked at the same time. A truck that has changed wheel or tire type over the years deserves a careful inspection before any new tire is fitted.

The correct way to confirm tire size on a 1980 Dodge Trucks D300 is to match three things: the sidewall size marking, the wheel diameter, and the width family. The listed choices are 8.00R16.5, 800-16.5, 9.50R16.5, and 950-16.5, all on 16.5-inch rims. The key distinction is whether the truck uses the narrower 8.00-series or wider 9.50-series tire, and whether it is set up for bias-ply or radial construction.

Start at the truck, not the catalog. Read the current tire sidewall, measure or verify the rim diameter, and check the wheel width if the truck may have been changed over time. A Dodge Trucks D300 used for restoration should also be compared with period paperwork or marque knowledge, while a working truck should be evaluated for clearance and intended service before changing from one construction style to another.

The Dodge Trucks D300 products listed here are from STA. Within the available bias-ply truck sizes, the listed series include STA Super Transport and STA Traxion. Those products cover 800-16.5 and 950-16.5, both in blackwall form and both aimed at truck-type use.

Brand and series matter because they can reflect different tread intent even when the size is the same. A Dodge Trucks D300 owner should first identify the correct size family and construction, then compare series based on the truck’s use, whether that is restoration-oriented presentation, general collector driving, or a more truck-like appearance. Matching size and wheel specification still comes before choosing between tread patterns.

The listed Dodge Trucks D300 bias-ply products appear in two series: STA Super Transport and STA Traxion. Both are offered in truck-oriented numeric sizes, including 800-16.5 and 950-16.5. The series names indicate different tread families within the same general truck tire category rather than a change in rim diameter or a different vehicle application.

For a Dodge Trucks D300 buyer, the main decision still begins with the correct size and construction, since the truck’s 1980 listings already include both bias-ply and radial-style size markings. Once the size is settled, the series choice becomes a matter of the truck’s intended look and use. A restorer may prefer one tread character, while a utilitarian presentation may point toward the other.

A Dodge Trucks D300 stored on its tires should be kept in a cool, dry, dark environment away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Heavy-duty trucks place meaningful static load on their tires, so long periods of unmoving storage can create flat spotting and stress the casing. Clean wheels and tires before storage, and maintain the inflation appropriate to the tire and wheel combination.

If the Dodge Trucks D300 will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Bias-ply truck tires especially benefit from careful storage habits because they can take a set more readily than a frequently driven tire. A collector truck that is exercised periodically generally treats its tires better than one parked for years without attention.

Tires on a Dodge Trucks D300 should be inspected regularly even if the truck sees very limited annual mileage. Look for sidewall cracking, weathering, uneven wear, cuts, impact damage, valve condition, and any change in shape that suggests casing problems. On a heavier truck, inspection matters even more because load and age can reveal weakness before tread appears worn out.

A good routine is to inspect the Dodge Trucks D300 before each drive and more thoroughly at seasonal intervals. If the truck uses older bias-ply construction, also watch for tube-related air loss patterns and signs of wheel or bead-area trouble. Any vibration, pulling, or recurring pressure loss is reason to have the tires and wheels examined by a shop familiar with vintage and specialty truck tires.

A Dodge Trucks D300 tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, casing damage, or structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector trucks often age out their tires long before they wear them out. Tread depth alone is not a reliable measure of serviceability on a low-mileage vintage truck.

That is especially important on a Dodge Trucks D300 because heavy-duty use asks more of the casing than a light passenger car would. Replace tires that show visible age-related decline, irregular shape, repeated leakage, or impact damage, and inspect tubes and wheels at the same time on bias-ply applications. A truck that spends long periods parked deserves extra caution because deterioration can progress quietly between drives.

The Dodge Trucks D300 listings for 1980 include both radial-style and numeric bias-ply sizes: 8.00R16.5, 800-16.5, 9.50R16.5, and 950-16.5. That means more than one period-appropriate tire format appears within the model’s fitment range. The available product family shown here for replacement products is bias-ply truck-oriented, but the size listings themselves indicate that both construction approaches were part of the D300 picture in this model year.

For restoration purposes, the exact original tire on a Dodge Trucks D300 should be confirmed against surviving paperwork, build information, or marque expertise for the truck in question. That is especially important when a single year shows both narrow and wide fitments as well as both bias-ply and radial-style markings. Originality depends on the specific truck, not simply the badge and year.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and the judged authenticity of a Dodge Trucks D300. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and general period appearance all influence whether the truck looks consistent with its era and intended specification. On collector trucks, judges and knowledgeable buyers often notice tire details quickly because they affect stance and visual correctness.

A Dodge Trucks D300 restored for show should have its tire choice checked against the specific truck’s original configuration rather than relying on one generic 1980 answer. The narrower 8.00-series and wider 9.50-series options do not present the same visual effect, and bias-ply versus radial can alter both look and posture. Marque clubs and restoration references are the right standards when authenticity matters.

The listed Dodge Trucks D300 replacement products in the available bias-ply sizes use blackwall sidewalls. That sidewall style suits the truck-oriented character of a one-ton Dodge from 1980 and aligns with the heavy-duty purpose reflected by the available product families. No whitewall-style products are listed here for the D300 sizes with current products.

For a Dodge Trucks D300 restoration, blackwall is the direction indicated by the available replacement offerings, but the exact correct appearance should still be checked against the specific truck’s original configuration and intended level of authenticity. A work-truck restoration and a highly judged restoration may approach details differently. Sidewall style should also be considered alongside the correct width family and construction type.

A properly matched and professionally fitted tire can be suitable for driving a Dodge Trucks D300 on public roads, but safety depends on much more than the sidewall size alone. The truck must have the correct 16.5-inch wheel, the right width family, sound wheels, proper inflation, and tires in serviceable condition. Construction type also matters because bias-ply and radial tires do not behave the same way under load and at speed.

Before road use, make sure the Dodge Trucks D300 is evaluated as a complete vehicle rather than treating tire replacement as an isolated task. Steering, brakes, suspension, wheel condition, and rear load demands all influence safety on a heavy-duty collector truck. A truck restored primarily for display may need a more cautious approach than one maintained for regular collector-road use.

Before driving a Dodge Trucks D300, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel condition, and overall clearance around the tire. On this model, also confirm that the actual fitted tire matches the intended size family, since 1980 listings include both 8.00-series and 9.50-series options as well as bias-ply and radial-style markings. A mismatch between wheel, tire, and intended load can create handling and durability problems quickly.

A Dodge Trucks D300 should also be checked for the basics that affect tire survival on the road: brake drag, alignment issues, steering play, and suspension wear. Heavy trucks can damage a new tire quickly if the chassis is not right. If the truck has been sitting for a long time, treat the first drive as a mechanical recommissioning exercise rather than an ordinary trip.

Appropriate speed for a Dodge Trucks D300 depends on the specific tire fitted, its condition, its construction type, and the overall state of the truck. A collector-era heavy-duty pickup on bias-ply tires should generally be driven more conservatively than the same truck on a modern vehicle tire, especially if the truck is lightly used or recently returned to service. Age and condition matter at least as much as the printed size.

The sensible approach with a Dodge Trucks D300 is to avoid sustained high-speed driving until the entire truck has been evaluated and the tires have proven stable in service. Keep speeds moderate, increase gradually, and remain within the capabilities of the tire, wheel, braking system, and load carried. For many collector trucks, comfortable and controlled operation is a better target than modern highway pace.