The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer sits squarely in the era when full-size 4x4 utility vehicles balanced daily use, trail duty, and unmistakably boxy truck styling. By the mid-1980s, the K5 Blazer had become a familiar choice for owners who wanted removable-top versatility with the stance and capability of a short-wheelbase Chevrolet truck. Tire selection on the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer centers on three 15-inch radial sizes: 215/75R15, 235/75R15, and 31X10.50R15. That opens the door to traditional whitewall radials, raised white letter all-terrain choices, and a larger light-truck-style option. The right pick depends on whether the goal is stock-like road manners, a period-style presentation, or a more aggressive truck look.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer
The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer uses three primary tire sizes, and all of them fit 15-inch wheels. Because Custom and Silverado models can both appear with 215/75R15, 235/75R15, or 31X10.50R15, the first step is confirming the wheel and tire setup currently on the truck rather than assuming trim name alone answers the fitment question. From there, the decision becomes whether you want a more stock-sized metric radial, a wider radial, or a larger flotation-style light truck tire.
215/75R15 is a metric radial size in which 215 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 75 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 15 is the rim diameter in inches. On the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer, this size suits buyers looking for a more moderate overall tire footprint on a 15-inch wheel. Available choices include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, American Classic, Maxxis, Tornel, and Travelstar, with narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and black sidewall treatments. It is a useful size to evaluate when road use, traditional styling, and wheel compatibility are higher priorities than a taller truck stance.
235/75R15 follows the same metric radial system, with a 235-millimeter nominal width, a 75-series profile, radial construction, and a 15-inch rim diameter. For the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer, it represents a wider 15-inch radial option that still keeps a familiar period truck fitment style. Product choices include BFGoodrich, American Classic, Coker Classic, Maxxis, Tornel, and Travelstar, with raised white letter, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions across several tire series. This size is worth considering when the truck already wears wider 15-inch wheels or when the goal is a fuller wheelwell look without moving to a flotation-size tire.
31X10.50R15 is a flotation-style truck radial size, where 31 refers to approximate overall diameter in inches, 10.50 refers to nominal section width, R indicates radial construction, and 15 is the wheel diameter. On a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer, this size points toward a taller, more off-road-oriented presentation than the metric sizes. The available option here is a BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 with raised white letters, giving this fitment a distinctly truck-focused character. It should be evaluated carefully against actual wheel width, ride height, and clearance at steering lock and suspension movement.
Tire fitment is straightforward in one sense because both covered sub-models use the same three 15-inch radial size options. What matters most is confirming which wheel-and-tire package is actually on the truck, since trim name alone does not narrow the choice to a single size.
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1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer Custom
The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer Custom can use any of the three primary 15-inch radial sizes associated with this model range. That means selection usually comes down to confirming the current wheel setup and deciding between a stock-sized metric tire, a wider metric radial, or a taller flotation-style truck tire.
The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer Silverado shares the same three 15-inch radial fitment paths as the Custom. Tire choice is less about the Silverado name itself and more about whether the truck is wearing narrower wheels, wider 15-inch wheels, or a setup intended for 31-inch light-truck-style tires.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer Tires for Sale
Available 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer tire choices span BFGoodrich all-terrain options plus period-style radial lines from Coker Classic, American Classic, Maxxis, Tornel, and Travelstar. Across 215/75R15 and 235/75R15, buyers can compare wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, raised white letter, and black sidewall styles in several distinct tire series.
Owners usually want to sort out which of the three 15-inch radial sizes belongs on their K5 Blazer, how trim levels relate to fitment, and how to choose between whitewall, all-terrain, and larger truck-style tire options.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer?
The 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer uses one of three primary radial tire sizes: 215/75R15, 235/75R15, or 31X10.50R15. All three fitments use a 15-inch rim, but they represent different overall tire dimensions and different visual and functional directions for the truck.
The practical question is not just whether the vehicle is a Custom or Silverado, because both sub-models can appear with all three sizes. The better starting point is checking the wheel diameter, wheel width, and the tire size already on the truck so the replacement matches the actual setup and intended use.
What size rim does a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer use?
Each primary tire size used on the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer mounts on a 15-inch wheel. That applies whether the truck is using 215/75R15, 235/75R15, or the larger 31X10.50R15 light-truck-style radial.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, so it is still important to confirm wheel width before choosing a tire. The available products show that narrower metric sizes and the 31-inch flotation size do not share the same rim-width ranges, which can affect both safe mounting and how the tire sits on the truck.
Do all 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer sub-models use the same tire size?
Custom and Silverado versions of the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer share the same three primary tire-size options: 215/75R15, 235/75R15, and 31X10.50R15. In other words, trim level alone does not narrow the fitment to one single tire size.
That makes the actual wheel-and-tire package more important than the badge on the truck. A K5 Blazer that has been kept near stock may wear one metric radial size, while another truck with different wheels or a more off-road-oriented setup may use the 31-inch option, so a quick inspection prevents ordering the wrong size.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer tire?
Start with the correct primary size for the truck as it sits today: 215/75R15, 235/75R15, or 31X10.50R15. After that, compare the tire’s intended character, whether that means a traditional whitewall radial for a more period-style look or an all-terrain raised white letter tire for a stronger truck presentation.
Wheel width matters just as much as the sidewall style, especially when moving between the smaller metric sizes and the 31-inch flotation option. It also helps to think about how the K5 Blazer is used, since a mostly road-driven truck may call for a different choice than one built around off-road stance and utility.
What sidewall styles are available for 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer tires?
Sidewall choices for the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer include narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, raised white letter, and black sidewall treatments. Those styles are spread across the 215/75R15 and 235/75R15 sizes, while 31X10.50R15 is represented by a raised white letter all-terrain tire.
That variety lets the same truck lean in very different visual directions. Whitewalls create a more restoration-oriented or street-focused presentation, while raised white letters and black sidewalls give the Blazer a more utilitarian 4x4 look, so appearance goals should be decided before comparing tread type and rim-width requirements.
What brands offer tires for the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer?
Tire choices for the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, American Classic, Maxxis, Tornel, and Travelstar. Brand variety is strongest in 215/75R15 and 235/75R15, while 31X10.50R15 is represented by a BFGoodrich all-terrain offering.
Brand name alone does not answer the fitment question, because each line also differs by sidewall treatment, tire series, and rim-width range. A better comparison looks at the exact size, the look you want on the truck, and whether the tire is meant to support classic styling or a more aggressive truck-oriented stance.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer?
A period-style 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer usually starts with one of the metric radial sizes, either 215/75R15 or 235/75R15, rather than the taller 31X10.50R15 flotation-style option. Those metric sizes are available in several classic-style radial lines with whitewall treatments that suit a more street-oriented and era-appropriate visual presentation.
The final choice depends on how the truck is being restored or preserved, since sidewall width and tire series can change the look significantly. Buyers chasing exact historical detail should compare the truck against photos, original literature, or marque-specific restoration references before settling on a particular whitewall width or brand.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer?
All three primary tire sizes for the 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer are radial, so the appearance decision is shaped more by size and sidewall treatment than by choosing between bias-ply and radial construction. In practice, the visual split is between classic-style whitewall radials and truck-oriented raised white letter all-terrain radials.
That matters because a restored K5 Blazer can read very differently depending on the tire chosen. A whitewall metric radial tends to support a cleaner, more road-focused presentation, while a 31-inch raised white letter all-terrain gives the truck a bolder utility look that may suit modified or recreational builds better than stock-style restorations.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer?
Yes, modifications can change tire fitment on a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer even when the wheel remains 15 inches in diameter. Aftermarket wheels, different rim widths, suspension lifts, worn springs, or body and steering changes can all affect whether 215/75R15, 235/75R15, or 31X10.50R15 is the most appropriate choice.
The larger 31-inch size deserves especially careful checking because overall tire height and width can influence clearance more noticeably than the smaller metric options. A quick review of wheel width, turning clearance, suspension travel, and fender space helps prevent rubbing issues and keeps the replacement aligned with the truck’s actual configuration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer on new tires?
Before putting a 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer back into regular road use on new tires, inspect wheel condition, lug hardware, valve stems, and inflation pressure. It also makes sense to look over steering and suspension components so the new tires are not being asked to work with worn parts that can affect tracking and tire wear.
Road-test clearance is equally important, especially if the truck uses 235/75R15 or 31X10.50R15 tires. Turn the wheels lock to lock, watch for fender or suspension contact, and keep an eye on air loss during the first several drives so any mounting or setup issue is caught early.
How should tires on a collector 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1986 Chevrolet Trucks K5 Blazer should be checked regularly for pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and signs of slow air loss. Low-use trucks often age out their tires before they wear them out, so condition and age deserve as much attention as remaining tread depth.
Storage habits also matter because long periods of sitting can flatten tires temporarily and accelerate deterioration if the truck is kept around heat, sunlight, or ozone sources. Regular visual inspections, proper inflation, and occasional movement of the vehicle help preserve both whitewall and truck-style radial tires between drives.
