The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 comes from an era when GMC’s three-quarter-ton pickups were expected to handle real work while still serving as everyday transportation. Square-body GM trucks remain popular because they balance classic truck character with practical usability, and tire choice plays a major role in preserving that balance. For this C2500, the primary fitments are 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 radial tires on 16-inch wheels, with size selection tied closely to sub-model and GVWR. Available choices stay focused and functional, including raised white letter all-terrain styling. The key is confirming the exact truck configuration before choosing the size and load capacity that matches its intended use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 uses two primary tire sizes, and both are radial tires built for 16-inch rims. The first step is confirming the exact sub-model and GVWR, because some configurations can use either size while others use only 245/75R16. Once that is settled, the decision shifts to matching the truck’s wheel setup, load needs, and intended appearance.
Fit(s): Sierra (GVWR 7200), Sierra SLE (GVWR 7200), and Sierra SLX (GVWR 7200)
Construction: Radial|Rim: 16 in
225/75R16 is a metric radial size in which 225 identifies the section width in millimeters, 75 is the aspect ratio, R denotes radial construction, and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500, this size applies to selected Sierra, Sierra SLE, and Sierra SLX models with 7200 GVWR rather than to every configuration. The available option uses BFGoodrich’s All-Terrain T/A KO2 series with raised white letter sidewalls. This size is worth considering when the truck is set up for the narrower original fitment range and the wheel width matches its requirements.
Fit(s): Sierra (GVWR 7200), Sierra (GVWR 8600), Sierra SLE (GVWR 7200), Sierra SLE (GVWR 8600), Sierra SLX (GVWR 7200), and Sierra SLX (GVWR 8600)
Construction: Radial|Rim: 16 in
245/75R16 is also a metric radial size, with a 245-millimeter nominal section width, a 75-series profile, and 16-inch rim diameter. For the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500, it appears across more configurations, including all 8600 GVWR Sierra, Sierra SLE, and Sierra SLX versions as well as certain 7200 GVWR trucks. BFGoodrich offers this size in the All-Terrain T/A KO2 line with raised white letter styling. It is the size to evaluate when the truck requires the broader heavy-duty fitment and the wheels are appropriate for its wider section width.
Sub-model fitment matters on the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 because tire size changes with GVWR and, in some versions, more than one size may apply. Checking the exact Sierra, Sierra SLE, or Sierra SLX configuration helps narrow the choice before comparing wheel width and load-capacity details.
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1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra (GVWR 7200)
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra (GVWR 7200) can use either 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 radial tires. That makes wheel width and the truck’s actual setup especially important before choosing between the narrower and wider primary fitments.
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra (GVWR 8600) uses 245/75R16 radial tires. Tire selection is more straightforward here, but the buyer should still confirm the truck remains on the correct 16-inch wheel setup and has not been altered from its intended fitment.
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra SLE (GVWR 7200) can be fitted with either 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 radial tires. That leaves the real choice centered on wheel compatibility, load needs, and whether the truck still carries its original-style wheel and suspension arrangement.
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra SLE (GVWR 8600) uses 245/75R16 radials. Buyers can focus less on size comparison and more on confirming the truck’s wheel width, tire condition standards, and the type of road or light off-pavement use it will see.
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra SLX (GVWR 7200) accepts both 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 radial tires. Choosing between them calls for a careful look at the installed wheel width and whether the truck is being kept close to a stock-style working setup.
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 Sierra SLX (GVWR 8600) uses 245/75R16 radial tires. With only one primary size in play, the emphasis shifts to selecting the right tire within that fitment and confirming the truck’s current wheel and suspension configuration.
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 GMC Trucks C2500 Tires for Sale
Available choices for the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 stay focused on practical truck use, with BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires offered in both 225/75R16 and 245/75R16. The product grid lets you compare the two sizes by raised white letter appearance, radial construction, rim-width compatibility, weight, and load capacity.
Owners of a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 usually need to sort out the correct tire size by sub-model and GVWR, then compare wheel fitment, radial construction, sidewall style, and real-world truck-use considerations before putting miles on it.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500?
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 uses 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 radial tires, both on 16-inch rims. The correct size depends on the truck’s exact Sierra, Sierra SLE, or Sierra SLX configuration and its GVWR, since some 7200 GVWR versions can use either size while 8600 GVWR versions use 245/75R16.
That means the first job is identifying the exact sub-model and confirming the truck’s wheel setup before choosing a tire. A C2500 that has changed wheels over the years may no longer match its original-style fitment, so wheel width, clearance, and load-capacity needs should all be checked alongside the size.
What size rim does a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 use?
The primary tire fitments for the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 are built around a 16-inch rim diameter. Both 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 use that same 16-inch wheel diameter, so the rim diameter itself stays consistent even though the section width and overall tire dimensions differ.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture on a three-quarter-ton truck. The buyer should also verify actual wheel width, because the available 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 products do not share the same width range, and that can affect whether the chosen tire suits the truck’s current wheels.
Why does the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 have more than one tire size?
The 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 has more than one tire size because fitment varies by sub-model and GVWR. Some Sierra, Sierra SLE, and Sierra SLX trucks with 7200 GVWR can use either 225/75R16 or 245/75R16, while the 8600 GVWR versions use 245/75R16.
That variation reflects the need to match the tire to the truck’s intended configuration rather than treating every C2500 the same. Before selecting a tire, confirm the exact badging and capacity rating on the truck, then compare those details with the installed wheel width and the kind of hauling or driving the truck actually does.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500?
Start with the correct primary size for the exact 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 sub-model, then verify that the tire matches the truck’s 16-inch wheel setup. Since this truck uses 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 depending on configuration, the right choice is tied to GVWR, wheel width, and the load capacity needed for actual use.
Beyond size, compare the construction and product details that affect how the truck presents and performs in service. The available choices here stay within radial all-terrain truck fitment, so the real comparison is whether the narrower or wider size matches the wheels, the stance, and the work the C2500 is expected to handle.
What sidewall styles are available for 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 tires?
The available tires for the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 use RWL sidewalls, which means raised white letters. That sidewall treatment gives the truck a more traditional light-truck and all-terrain appearance than a plain blackwall, while still staying within the correct size family for this application.
Sidewall style matters mostly as an appearance decision once the correct size and wheel compatibility are settled. Raised white letters can suit a square-body GMC well, especially on a truck with period-style wheels, but the more important checks remain the proper 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 fitment and the load rating needed for the truck.
What brands offer tires for the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500?
BFGoodrich is the brand available for the 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 in these fitments. Both 225/75R16 and 245/75R16 are offered in the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 series, giving the truck a consistent radial light-truck option across the primary sizes used on the covered sub-models.
Since the brand selection is focused, the comparison shifts to choosing the correct size and reviewing each tire’s wheel-width range, weight, and load capacity. On a C2500, those practical details matter more than brand variety, especially if the truck is still doing truck duty rather than serving only as a display vehicle.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1989 GMC Trucks C2500?
A period-style 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 starts with using the correct primary size for the exact sub-model and GVWR, which means 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 on a 16-inch wheel. Because this truck’s fitment is already radial, the main appearance decision is less about construction type and more about staying within the proper truck-oriented size and profile.
Raised white letter all-terrain styling can complement the late-1980s GMC truck look, but exact restoration goals vary from one build to another. Buyers pursuing a highly original presentation should verify wheel style, trim level, and historical references for their specific truck before choosing between the two primary sizes or sidewall treatments.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters on a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 restoration because tire size strongly affects the truck’s stance, working character, and overall visual balance. Using the proper 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 fitment for the exact sub-model helps the finished truck look appropriate for its three-quarter-ton role.
Fitment also affects how believable the restoration feels when viewed up close. A truck with the wrong width tire or a wheel that falls outside the intended range can look subtly off even before driving impressions enter the picture, so confirming sub-model, GVWR, wheel width, and load-capacity alignment is worthwhile.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 even when the tire size itself is correct for the model family. Aftermarket wheels, suspension changes, altered ride height, or body modifications can change the available clearance and the wheel width relationship for 225/75R16 or 245/75R16 tires.
A truck that has been changed from stock should be measured rather than assumed to match original-style fitment. Check wheel diameter and width first, then look at steering clearance, fender clearance, and any signs that the truck’s current setup favors one primary size over the other before mounting new tires.
What should I inspect before driving a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 on new tires?
Before driving a 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 on new tires, inspect the wheels for the correct 16-inch diameter and suitable width, and confirm the chosen size matches the truck’s sub-model and GVWR. Lug hardware, valve stems, inflation pressure, and overall wheel condition also deserve attention before the truck returns to regular road use.
A quick visual check should also include clearance at full steering lock and under suspension movement, especially if the truck wears wider tires or non-original wheels. After the first miles, recheck pressure and look for rubbing, uneven contact, or any sign that the wheel-and-tire combination needs further adjustment.
How should tires on a collector 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1989 GMC Trucks C2500 should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly, and protected from long periods of sun, moisture, and ozone exposure. Even a truck that sees limited mileage can develop age-related issues, so sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, tread condition, and slow air loss should be checked routinely.
Storage habits matter almost as much as mileage on an older collector truck. Rolling the truck occasionally, keeping it on a clean surface, and inspecting the tires before longer drives helps catch condition problems early, especially on a three-quarter-ton pickup where load-carrying expectations can be higher than on a lighter hobby vehicle.
