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Old 01-31-2018, 01:02 PM   #1
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Just starting this journey

I'm Jerry, and I've taken over ownership of an old school bus my father purchased used the year I was born (1962). I'm going to make into something comfortable and livable and hit the road in 2019. I'm having trouble getting out of the gate in trying to find tires. The ones on it indicate its a 7.50 X 20. Any suggestions where to look?

I'm looking forward to this venture and will lean on this forum for help.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 01-31-2018, 02:37 PM   #2
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Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
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Wow, what a vintage old bus. Finding the old 7.5 x 20 tires may take some effort but they should still be available. Forget automotive tire shops, skip Sams and Costco. You *NEED* a commercial tire shop, these are likely tube type tires mounted on split rims and require some specialized knowledge to replace safely.

You'll probably have an easier time finding 8.25x20 tires (the next size up), and you'll also find 9x20 and 10x20.

It's hard for me to see in the pic, but if you are running the Dayton type wheels (the rim is just a ring, the spokes remain part of the hub), you can swap it to 22.5" wheels easily. They should be a direct bolt on swap. 22.5" tires are very common and don't use tubes. Any commercial tire shop will handle these easily.
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Old 01-31-2018, 03:38 PM   #3
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Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
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Split rims kill. A lot of shops won't even touch them. Swap them for sure.

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Old 01-31-2018, 04:58 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrttool View Post
I'm Jerry, and I've taken over ownership of an old school bus my father purchased used the year I was born (1962). I'm going to make into something comfortable and livable and hit the road in 2019. I'm having trouble getting out of the gate in trying to find tires. The ones on it indicate its a 7.50 X 20. Any suggestions where to look?

I'm looking forward to this venture and will lean on this forum for help.

Thanks in advance.
Great bus...welcome to skoolieville...btw...my name is Jerry and I was born in 1962...yep

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Old 01-31-2018, 06:23 PM   #5
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Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
Maybe Nasty and Tool are long lost twin brothers?
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Old 01-31-2018, 07:25 PM   #6
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Maybe Nasty and Tool are long lost twin brothers?
Not brothers...and probably not related...kook though

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Old 01-31-2018, 07:25 PM   #7
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Not brothers...and probably not related...kook though

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Kool

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Old 01-31-2018, 07:31 PM   #8
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Location: Houston, Texas
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Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
What year, make, body, engine?

I found 7.50 x 20's for my 46 Chevy at a big rig tire shop for a couple of hundred bucks each (but never bought'em). All are from China and all are bias ply, tube type. I switched over to late model Chevy 19.5 rims so I could run tubeless radials. The early & late model Chevys have the same lug pattern but the center hole (hub piloted) are 1/4" bigger on the newer ones. Simple to fab a spacer.
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Old 01-31-2018, 07:37 PM   #9
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Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
That is an awesome old bus! It will take lots of time and money to bring this vintage bus back to life and if you do, I owe you a beer and a handshake. If this were my project, I would go with a body swap onto a newer diesel chassis similar to the one I have and go from there.
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