1987 Chevrolet Trucks Tire Fitment Guide

1987 Chevrolet Trucks use 13 sizes across the model range: 195/75R14, 205/75R14, 195/75R15, 205/75R15, 215/65R15, 215/75R15, 225/75R15, 235/75R15, 31X10.50R15, LR60-15, 215/85R16, 235/85R16, and 750-16. The 14-inch sizes appear on El Camino and some S10 applications, most half-ton and SUV fitments center on 15-inch wheels, and the heavier R20, R30, V20, and V30 trucks move into 16-inch sizes. Rim width ranges vary by size, from about 5.0 to 7.5 inches on smaller metric fitments to 7.0 to 9.0 inches on 31X10.50R15 and 5.0 to 6.0 inches on 750-16 bias-ply tires.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly. Start with the exact model, then confirm whether your truck or SUV uses a 14-inch, 15-inch, or 16-inch wheel before comparing whitewall, blackwall, all-terrain, or specialty sidewall treatments.

On 1987 Chevrolet Trucks, 750-16 is a numeric bias-ply truck size. The 7.50 figure is the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a metric radial code, it does not use a millimeter width or a stated aspect ratio, and the dash format is associated with traditional bias-ply construction in this application. It appears on the R30 and V30 one-ton trucks.

That matters because 750-16 belongs to a different visual and driving character than a modern radial truck size. If you are restoring a one-ton truck for a more vintage commercial appearance, it can be the right direction, but you should still verify wheel diameter and rim-width compatibility before choosing it over a 16-inch radial alternative.

No, 1987 Chevrolet Trucks do not share one universal tire size. Compact models such as the S10 use several 14-inch and 15-inch metric radials, full-size half-ton trucks and SUVs commonly use 15-inch sizes such as 235/75R15, and the heavier R20, R30, V20, and V30 trucks use 16-inch sizes including 215/85R16, 235/85R16, and 750-16. A few sizes are model-specific, including 31X10.50R15 for the Blazer, 215/65R15 for the S10, and LR60-15 for the V10.

The practical takeaway is simple: identify the exact model before you choose a tire. Within Chevrolet's 1987 truck lineup, body style and duty rating change the correct wheel diameter and the tire families that make sense for restoration, utility use, or a more specialized late-1980s look.

For 1987 Chevrolet Trucks R30 and V30 models, the choice between 235/85R16 and 750-16 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 235/85R16 is a modern metric radial truck size with a 16-inch rim and an S speed rating up to 112 mph in the BFGoodrich option shown, while 750-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size offered in blackwall and wide whitewall forms. Both fit 16-inch wheels, but they represent very different eras of tire design.

Choose 750-16 when vintage commercial appearance and traditional construction matter most, especially on a show-oriented or period-styled one-ton truck. Choose 235/85R16 when you want a more contemporary radial truck fitment for regular use, but confirm the actual wheel width and application before moving from one construction type to the other.

1987 Chevrolet Trucks cover a wide range of sidewall styles depending on size. Whitewall choices appear across many 14-inch and 15-inch metric radials, with both narrow and wide whitewalls available in sizes such as 195/75R15, 205/75R15, 225/75R15, and 235/75R15. Specialty sidewalls also appear, including goldline on 205/75R15, redline on 215/65R15, OWL and RWL on selected 15-inch radials, and blackwall or wide whitewall on 750-16 bias-ply truck tires.

That variety lets the tire support the truck's personality as much as its fitment. A whitewall can suit El Camino, compact-truck, or custom-oriented builds, while RWL, OWL, and all-terrain styling feel more natural on SUV and truck applications. Match the sidewall style to the vehicle's intended era impression rather than treating every available sidewall as equally authentic.

Tires for 1987 Chevrolet Trucks are available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Tornel, American Classic, Maxxis, Firestone, Lester, Goodyear, and Cooper, depending on size. BFGoodrich appears across several truck and performance-oriented sizes, Coker Classic and American Classic cover many whitewall radial applications, Firestone and Lester appear in 750-16 bias-ply form, and Goodyear and Cooper show up in the 215/65R15 performance-style size. Brand availability changes noticeably from one size to another.

That means brand choice starts with size choice, not the other way around. Once the correct size is confirmed for your specific 1987 Chevrolet truck model, you can compare whether you want an all-terrain look, a classic whitewall treatment, or a more specialized redline, goldline, or outlined-letter sidewall.

Rim width depends on the size used on your 1987 Chevrolet Trucks model. Examples include 205/75R14 at roughly 5.0 to 7.5 inches, 195/75R15 at 5.0 to 7.0 inches, 235/75R15 at about 6.0 to 8.5 inches, 31X10.50R15 at 7.0 to 9.0 inches, 235/85R16 at 6.0 to 7.5 inches, and 750-16 at 5.0 to 6.0 inches. Some sizes also show tighter single-width or near-single-width recommendations depending on the tire series.

Use the actual wheel on the truck as the final check, especially if the vehicle has been changed from stock. A tire can share the correct diameter but still want a different rim width range, and that becomes especially important when comparing narrow metric sizes, flotation sizes, and heavy-duty 16-inch truck fitments.

The available 1987 Chevrolet Trucks products shown here are radial or bias-ply tires without tube-type markings in the size descriptions, so tube use should not be assumed from size alone. The 14-inch and 15-inch metric radials, the 31X10.50R15 radial, the 235/85R16 radial, and the 750-16 bias-ply products all need to be matched to the wheel you are using rather than treated as automatically tube-type or tubeless by category. Wheel design is part of the decision.

Check the exact tire sidewall marking and confirm whether the wheel itself is intended for tubeless service before installation. That step matters most on older replacement wheels, restored split-era hardware, or trucks that have been modified over the years, because the wheel can determine tube requirements even when the tire size feels familiar.

A stored 1987 Chevrolet Trucks should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors or welders, and clear of standing moisture. Maintain normal inflation, keep the truck clean and dry, and move it periodically so one section of the tire does not carry the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 750-16 tend to flat-spot more readily during long static storage than radial tires.

If the truck will sit for an extended period, rolling it occasionally or supporting it appropriately can reduce casing stress. Storage habits matter just as much on low-mile collector trucks as they do on regularly used vehicles, because time, heat, and environment age tires even when tread wear stays minimal.

On a collector or lightly used 1987 Chevrolet Trucks model, tire age usually matters more than mileage. A good rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of service and to treat around ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the sidewall gives the manufacturing week and year.

That approach is especially important on vehicles that see occasional use, because an older-looking sidewall can hide internal aging. If the truck is driven infrequently, inspect the date code, sidewall condition, and pressure retention regularly instead of assuming low mileage means the tires are still serviceable.

Tires on a 1987 Chevrolet Trucks model should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended trip. Look for cracking, bulges, cuts, embedded objects, irregular tread wear, and signs that pressure has dropped since the last outing. Heavy-duty truck sizes and older-style bias-ply tires deserve the same attention as the more common metric radials.

A quick inspection is cheap insurance on a vintage truck or SUV, especially one that may sit for stretches between drives. Include the spare in that routine, and if your wheel and tire combination uses tubes or older valve hardware, add valve stem condition and leakage checks to the pre-drive walkaround.

Many 1987 Chevrolet Trucks tires are suitable for normal highway use when they are in good condition, properly inflated, and matched to the correct wheel and vehicle application. The speed-rated products shown here include S-rated tires such as 215/75R15, 235/75R15, 31X10.50R15, 235/85R16, and some 215/65R15 options, which carry a 112 mph ceiling. Other sizes do not always show a speed symbol in the examples here, so the exact sidewall marking on the tire matters.

On a 1987 truck, tire capability is only part of the highway equation. Brakes, steering, suspension condition, alignment, and the way the truck is loaded often matter more in real-world driving than the tire's maximum speed capability, especially on older heavy-duty pickups and SUVs.

Inflation pressure on 1987 Chevrolet Trucks depends on the exact tire size and product. Examples include 215/75R15 at up to 32 psi or 50 psi depending on the tire, 235/75R15 at 32, 35, or 50 psi, 195/75R15 at 32 or 35 psi, 235/85R16 at 80 psi, 750-16 at 40 or 48 psi, and 215/65R15 around 35 psi. Those figures are tied to each tire's maximum load rating and should not be transferred from one size to another.

Use the vehicle's original inflation recommendation as your baseline for the truck itself, then compare it with the tire maker's sidewall limits for the specific reproduction or modern tire you are using. Load carried, wheel width, and the truck's duty level all affect the final setting.

Before a longer drive in a 1987 Chevrolet Trucks model, inspect all five tires for cracks, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Check that the spare is usable, confirm the valve stems are sound, and look closely at any older bias-ply or specialty sidewall tire for signs of age-related deterioration. Wheel condition and lug security deserve attention as well.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-trip check on an older truck or SUV. Brake feel, steering response, fluid levels, belts, hoses, lights, and cooling-system health all matter on a vehicle of this age, and solving small issues before departure is far easier than dealing with them on the road.