1973 Jeep Truck Tire Fitment Guide

1973 Jeep Truck vehicles use four bias-ply sizes: 700-16, F78-15, H78-15, and 750-16. The 700-16 and 750-16 mount on 16-inch wheels, while F78-15 and H78-15 mount on 15-inch wheels. Rim-width guidance appears on several products within those sizes: 700-16 commonly fits 4.50- to 5.50-inch rims, H78-15 fits 5.50- to 7.00-inch rims, and 750-16 fits 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims.

The key takeaway for a 1973 Jeep Truck owner is that year and make alone are not enough if the truck has changed wheels over time. Start by checking the diameter stamped on the wheel or confirming the size already on the truck, then compare rim width if you are near the edge of the recommended range. That will narrow your choice much faster than choosing by appearance alone.

On a 1973 Jeep Truck, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion refers to the tire's nominal section width in the older numeric system, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is a traditional light-truck style size and remains available in both blackwall and wide whitewall forms from several vintage tire brands.

That older code is different from modern metric sizing, so it helps to think of 700-16 as an era-correct format rather than trying to convert it by eye to a current passenger-car size. If your truck is fitted with 16-inch wheels and you want to preserve an authentic period look, 700-16 is one of the correct-style paths to consider. Rim width should still be checked against the specific tire you choose.

On a 1973 Jeep Truck, H78-15 is an alphanumeric bias-ply size. The H78 portion identifies the tire's size class within the older alphanumeric system, and the 15 means it fits a 15-inch wheel. This size is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, with load figures ranging from 1,770 pounds at 32 psi to 1,830 pounds at 45 psi depending on the tire.

H78-15 matters because it places your truck in a different wheel family than the 16-inch numeric sizes. If you are choosing between 15-inch and 16-inch tires, the wheel itself settles that question first. Once wheel diameter is confirmed, H78-15 gives you room to choose either a more dressy whitewall look or a more utilitarian blackwall appearance without leaving the period bias-ply format.

1973 Jeep Truck tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across several of the year's sizes. The 700-16, H78-15, and 750-16 all have blackwall options and wide whitewall options, giving owners a broad visual range while staying within vintage-style bias-ply construction. Blackwall generally fits the Jeep pickup's original work-truck character most naturally, while wide whitewalls create a more custom or dress-restoration look.

Sidewall choice can change the personality of a 1973 Jeep Truck almost as much as wheel finish or hubcap style. Owners building a utilitarian farm, trail, or factory-style truck usually gravitate toward blackwalls, while parade, custom, or more stylized restorations may call for whitewalls. If show authenticity matters, compare your intended look with period photos and consult Jeep marque sources for event-specific judging expectations.

1973 Jeep Truck tire options come from several established vintage tire makers. In 700-16, the available brands are Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. H78-15 is offered by Coker Classic and STA, while 750-16 is available from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. All of those options stay within the bias-ply construction family used on this year and make.

Brand choice for a 1973 Jeep Truck often comes down to the look you want and the exact size you need rather than a single universal answer across the whole year. Some owners prioritize a classic name on the sidewall, while others focus on whether the tire is offered in blackwall or whitewall form. Once size and wheel diameter are confirmed, comparing brand-by-brand sidewall styling is usually the most useful next step.

Within H78-15 for the 1973 Jeep Truck, Coker Classic and STA differ most clearly in appearance and load-pressure specification. Coker Classic H78-15 versions come in wide whitewall form with a 1,770-pound load rating at 32 psi and fit 5.50- to 7.00-inch rims. STA Traxion is a blackwall tire with a 1,830-pound load rating at 45 psi on the same 5.50- to 7.00-inch rim-width range, and it carries a more truck-oriented visual character.

That means the decision is less about basic wheel compatibility and more about the role you want the tire to play on the truck. A whitewall Coker Classic suits a dressed-up restoration or more stylized vintage build, while the STA blackwall points toward a more utilitarian appearance. Checking the truck's intended use and the look you want is more helpful here than comparing by size alone.

Rim-width guidance for 1973 Jeep Truck tires varies by size. 700-16 commonly fits 4.50- to 5.50-inch rims, H78-15 fits 5.50- to 7.00-inch rims, and 750-16 fits 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims. Those ranges show that even when two tires share the same wheel diameter, they may not be ideal on the same wheel width.

Measuring the wheel before replacement is worthwhile on a 1973 Jeep Truck, especially if the truck has had decades of service, restoration work, or aftermarket wheel changes. A correct rim width helps the tire maintain the shape the manufacturer intended, which affects stance, steering feel, and tread behavior. Treat diameter as the first checkpoint and rim width as the second.

Original 1973 Jeep Truck wheels cannot be assumed to work with all four sizes because the year includes both 15-inch and 16-inch tire fitments. A 15-inch wheel can only accept the F78-15 or H78-15 family, while a 16-inch wheel is needed for 700-16 or 750-16. Several of those sizes also carry different rim-width ranges, so wheel width still matters after diameter is confirmed.

That makes the wheel itself the deciding factor before any appearance or brand comparison begins. If your truck still has its original wheels, verify the diameter stamp and measure width if needed. If the truck has been changed over the years, avoid assuming the current tire size reflects factory practice; checking the actual wheel is the fastest way to prevent an expensive mismatch.

A 1973 Jeep Truck should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keeping the truck on clean concrete or on barriers that reduce contact with damp surfaces is also helpful. Because 1973 Jeep Truck tires in these sizes are bias-ply, they can develop flat-spotting more readily during long static periods than many later radial designs.

For seasonal storage, maintain inflation, move the truck periodically if possible, and consider stands if it will sit for a very long time. Those simple habits reduce stress on the casing and help preserve ride quality when the truck goes back on the road. If the truck carries a spare, store and inspect it with the same care as the four road tires.

Tires on a 1973 Jeep Truck should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because many collector trucks are driven infrequently. A good rule is to begin careful age-based evaluation around five to seven years and to treat ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the best starting point for establishing age.

Bias-ply tires on a vintage truck can look usable long after age has started to harden the rubber or weaken the casing. A Jeep that spends more time parked than driven may actually age its tires out before it wears them out. Regular inspections by a knowledgeable shop and honest attention to age will usually tell you more than tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1973 Jeep Truck deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more thorough check before any long outing. Look for visible cracking, weathering, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss. Vintage truck tires also deserve a close look at valve stems and bead areas, especially on vehicles that sit for long stretches between drives.

That inspection routine matters because a classic Jeep pickup often sees irregular use, mixed road surfaces, and long storage intervals. Small problems can stay hidden until the first highway trip or the first loaded run after months of sitting. Making tire inspection part of your normal walk-around gives you the best chance to catch age or storage issues before they become road issues.

A 1973 Jeep Truck Truck would have been fitted with bias-ply tires in period-correct sizing families such as the numeric and alphanumeric sizes used on this year and make. For this truck, that includes 700-16, F78-15, H78-15, and 750-16 depending on the wheel setup and configuration. Bias-ply construction was still entirely appropriate for a full-size Jeep pickup of this era, and no single original-equipment brand should be assumed without truck-specific factory literature.

That means restoration accuracy begins with confirming the wheel diameter and then narrowing the choice to the size family your truck actually used. If your goal is concours-level correctness, period brochures, factory manuals, and Jeep marque clubs are the best places to verify configuration-specific details. A reproduction tire can look right for the era, but the exact size and sidewall style still need to match the truck's intended presentation.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1973 Jeep Truck because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice tire size, construction type, and sidewall style quickly. A truck restored for factory-style presentation generally looks more convincing on an era-appropriate bias-ply size than on a visibly modern alternative, and a sidewall treatment that clashes with the truck's intended character can stand out just as much as an incorrect wheel finish.

For most show fields, the question is not just whether the tire physically fits, but whether it matches the story the truck is telling. A blackwall usually supports a straightforward working-truck restoration, while a wide whitewall pushes the look in a more stylized direction. If an event has strict judging standards, check with Jeep clubs or event organizers before finalizing the tire choice.

In 750-16 for the 1973 Jeep Truck, BFGoodrich and Firestone differ in both sidewall presentation and load-pressure specification. BFGoodrich offers a wide whitewall 750-16 with a 1,850-pound load rating at 48 psi and a 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range. Firestone offers both blackwall and wide whitewall 750-16 versions, with a 1,660-pound load rating at 40 psi on the same 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range.

That makes this comparison useful for restorers who are balancing visual style with the details of a specific tire's specification. Firestone gives you a choice between a plainer truck look and a dressed whitewall appearance within the same brand family, while BFGoodrich centers on a whitewall presentation in this size. Once wheel fit is confirmed, this becomes a question of visual direction and exact tire spec rather than size compatibility.

1973 Jeep Truck tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and used within their intended limits. Among the sizes with speed-rated markings, the Avon 700-16C carries an L rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. Because these are bias-ply vintage-style truck tires, the truck's own age, suspension condition, steering play, and braking capability are often just as important to real-world highway confidence as the tire itself.

Highway use in a 1973 Jeep Truck should be approached with the habits appropriate to an older full-size pickup. Smooth inputs, conservative speeds, and a close pre-trip inspection are wise even when the tires themselves are properly matched. If your driving will include sustained interstate speeds, focus on the exact tire chosen, its speed marking if present, and the mechanical health of the truck as a complete system.

Inflation pressure on a 1973 Jeep Truck depends on the exact tire size and product, not just the year and make. Examples within these sizes include 700-16 versions rated at 1,800 pounds at 36 psi and 1,900 pounds at 36 psi, H78-15 versions at 1,770 pounds at 32 psi and 1,830 pounds at 45 psi, and 750-16 versions at 1,660 pounds at 40 psi and 1,850 pounds at 48 psi. Those figures are tire-specific maximum load-and-pressure pairings, not blanket settings for every truck.

The right approach is to use factory vehicle recommendations as your starting point, then compare them with the tire manufacturer's guidance for the exact reproduction tire you are using. A lightly driven collector truck may want a different practical pressure than a loaded work truck, but that adjustment still needs to stay within the tire's design limits. Never transfer one size's pressure figure to another just because the truck is the same.

Before a longer drive in a 1973 Jeep Truck, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, irregular wear, and signs of long-term flat-spotting. Check cold inflation pressure, confirm the valve stems are sound, and inspect the spare as carefully as the four road tires. A vintage full-size Jeep also deserves a broader mechanical once-over that includes brakes, steering, fluids, lights, and wheel-bearing or suspension concerns appropriate to an older truck.

That preparation matters because a collector truck often transitions from short local use to a much more demanding drive with little warning. Tire condition is only one part of road readiness, but it is one of the fastest things to verify and one of the most important for safety. Building a pre-drive routine around the tires, spare, and basic chassis checks will make longer trips far more predictable.