The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 sits squarely in the era of heavy-duty GM pickups built for real work, four-wheel-drive use, and long service life. Buyers looking after one today are often balancing practical road use with the rugged stance that made these one-ton trucks so distinctive. Tire fitment on the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 centers on 16-inch radial tires, with 245/75R16 used on single-rear-wheel models and 225/75R16 used on DRW versions. That makes the key decision less about vintage bias-ply versus radial construction and more about matching the correct size to the truck’s wheel setup, load needs, and intended use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 uses two primary tire sizes, and the right one depends on the truck’s exact sub-model and rear-wheel configuration. Both are radial tires for 16-inch rims, but single-rear-wheel trucks use 245/75R16 while dually models use 225/75R16. Before choosing a tire, the first step is confirming whether the truck is SRW or DRW so the size matches the wheel and load-carrying setup.
Fit(s): Cheyenne (DRW), Scottsdale (DRW), and Silverado (DRW)
Construction: Radial|Rim: 16 in
A 225/75R16 size uses a 225-millimeter nominal section width, a 75-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 16-inch rim diameter. On the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500, this size applies to DRW versions of the Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado, so it is tied specifically to dually fitment rather than the standard single-rear-wheel trucks. The available product in this size is also a BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 with raised white letter sidewalls. It is the size to evaluate when the truck retains its dually wheel setup and needs a tire that matches that narrower heavy-duty application.
Fitment on the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 is straightforward once the sub-model’s rear-wheel configuration is confirmed. Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado single-rear-wheel trucks share one size, while the DRW versions use a different one, so identifying the truck correctly matters before comparing tires.
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1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Cheyenne
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Cheyenne uses the single-rear-wheel fitment, which centers on a 245/75R16 radial tire. Tire selection here comes down to choosing a product that matches the truck’s 16-inch wheel setup and intended work or road use.
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Cheyenne (DRW) uses the dually fitment with a 225/75R16 radial tire. That makes wheel confirmation especially important, since DRW trucks need the size that suits their narrower dual-wheel arrangement.
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Scottsdale follows the single-rear-wheel setup and uses 245/75R16 radial tires. The practical decision is choosing a tire that keeps the truck matched to its 16-inch SRW wheels and the kind of service the truck still sees.
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Scottsdale (DRW) uses 225/75R16 radial tires for its dually configuration. Tire selection should stay focused on DRW-compatible sizing and on confirming that the current wheel setup has not been changed over time.
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Silverado uses the 245/75R16 radial size on its single-rear-wheel configuration. That gives the buyer a clear path: verify the truck is still on the proper 16-inch SRW wheels, then compare tires within that size.
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Silverado (DRW) uses a 225/75R16 radial tire as part of its dually setup. The main selection point is making sure the tire matches the truck’s dual rear wheel configuration rather than assuming the SRW size applies.
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 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 Tires for Sale
Available 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 tires center on BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 products in both primary sizes. The key comparisons are the correct SRW or DRW size, raised white letter sidewall appearance, and rim-width and load-capacity specifications that differ between the two fitments.
Common questions for the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 usually come down to identifying the correct SRW or DRW tire size, understanding 16-inch rim fitment, comparing available tire choices, and checking the truck carefully before regular road or work use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500?
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 uses two tire sizes, both in radial construction: 245/75R16 and 225/75R16. The 245/75R16 size applies to Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado single-rear-wheel models, while 225/75R16 is used on the DRW versions of those same sub-models.
The practical step is confirming whether the truck is a standard single-rear-wheel setup or a dually before choosing a tire. Even though both sizes fit 16-inch rims, the truck’s wheel arrangement determines which one belongs on it, and any aftermarket wheel or axle changes should be checked before replacement.
What size rim does a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 use?
The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 uses 16-inch rims with both of its primary tire sizes. The 245/75R16 and 225/75R16 fitments both share that same 16-inch rim diameter, even though they serve different rear-wheel configurations across the K3500 range.
Rim diameter is only one part of the fitment picture on a heavy-duty truck like this. Wheel width also matters, especially when comparing the SRW 245/75R16 fitment with the DRW 225/75R16 fitment, so checking the actual wheels on the truck is smart before mounting replacement tires.
Do all 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 sub-models use the same tire size?
No. The 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 uses different tire sizes depending on whether the truck is single-rear-wheel or dual-rear-wheel. Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado SRW models use 245/75R16, while Cheyenne (DRW), Scottsdale (DRW), and Silverado (DRW) use 225/75R16.
That distinction matters more than trim name alone. Two trucks may both be K3500s with 16-inch wheels, but the dually setup changes the proper tire size, so the buyer should verify the exact sub-model and current wheel configuration before selecting a replacement tire.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 tire?
Start with the correct size for the truck’s configuration: 245/75R16 for single-rear-wheel models or 225/75R16 for DRW models. From there, look at construction, rim-width compatibility, load capacity, and how the truck is actually used, whether that means road driving, hauling, towing, or mixed work-truck duty.
The available tires for this K3500 are radial BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 products, so the decision is less about broad style variety and more about matching the truck’s setup correctly. A careful check of wheel width, rear-wheel arrangement, and current vehicle condition helps avoid choosing the right size for the wrong truck.
What sidewall styles are available for 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 tires?
The available products for the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 use an RWL sidewall style, meaning raised white letters. That gives these heavy-duty truck tires a more traditional all-terrain appearance than a plain blackwall and suits the late-1980s pickup look many owners want to preserve.
Sidewall style does not change the required tire size, but it can change the truck’s overall presentation. If appearance matters, the buyer should make sure the chosen sidewall treatment still comes in the correct SRW or DRW size and matches the truck’s intended mix of work use and period-style character.
What brands offer tires for the 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500?
BFGoodrich is the brand represented in the available 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 tire options. Both primary sizes are offered in the All-Terrain T/A KO2 series, giving the truck a consistent all-terrain radial option whether it uses the 245/75R16 SRW fitment or the 225/75R16 DRW fitment.
Since brand choice is limited here, the real comparison point becomes the correct size and specification for the truck’s wheel arrangement. It still makes sense to compare rim-width range, load capacity, and the truck’s actual use so the selected tire matches both the hardware and the job.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500?
A period-style choice for a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 starts with the correct original-type fitment format: a 16-inch metric radial in either 245/75R16 for SRW trucks or 225/75R16 for DRW trucks. Staying with the proper size and rear-wheel configuration does more for the truck’s stance and overall look than chasing an incorrect tire style.
Appearance should be balanced with how the truck is used today. An all-terrain radial with raised white letters can suit the era well, but restoration-minded owners should still confirm the truck’s exact wheel setup and consult model-specific historical references if exact visual authenticity matters.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500?
On a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500, radial construction is already the primary fitment style, so the appearance question is more about tread character and sidewall presentation than bias-ply versus radial shape. A tire like the available All-Terrain T/A KO2 with raised white letters gives the truck a distinctly late-1980s heavy-duty pickup presence.
Construction still affects how the truck sits visually because the correct size must match the intended wheel arrangement. A restored SRW truck wearing 245/75R16s will present differently from a DRW truck on 225/75R16s, so restoring the right stance begins with matching the tire to the truck’s actual configuration.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500?
Yes. Modifications such as aftermarket wheels, suspension lifts, lowering, axle changes, or conversions between single and dual rear wheels can all affect tire fitment on a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500. Even though the primary sizes are 245/75R16 and 225/75R16, changes to the truck can alter what actually works on it now.
A truck that has been updated over the years should be measured and inspected before replacement tires are chosen. Wheel width, wheel offset, rear-wheel configuration, and clearance at the fenders and steering components all matter, especially on a heavy-duty four-wheel-drive platform that may have seen hard service.
What should I inspect before driving a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 on new tires?
Before putting a 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 back into regular use on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and the truck’s suspension and steering condition. Tire pressure should be set correctly, and the tires themselves should be checked for any shipping damage, mounting issues, or early air loss.
A heavy-duty truck places real demands on its tires, so it also helps to verify alignment condition, brake operation, and clearance at full steering lock. On DRW models, the spacing and condition of the dual-wheel setup deserve extra attention so the tires operate cleanly under load and at highway speed.
How should 245/75R16 and 225/75R16 tires on a collector 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1989 Chevrolet Trucks K3500 should be inspected regularly for pressure loss, uneven wear, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and age-related hardening. That applies whether the truck uses 245/75R16 on a single-rear-wheel setup or 225/75R16 on a dually, since low-use trucks can age tires out before wearing them out.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as mileage on an older truck. Keeping the K3500 away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, while occasional movement prevents long-term flat spotting and gives the owner a chance to catch wheel, suspension, or air-retention problems early.
