I'm looking for original type steel wheels for my '53 F100. What years had these 16 inch wheels? Anybody got extras? Thanks

 

There are a few different 16" wheels with 5 x 5 1/2" pattern shown in the books. The most common is the 16" x 4 1/2" that was a K-H wheel #31283. The Ford number for that wheel is 8C-1015. It has the internal bumps for hub cap mounting. I find it used from 1946 through at least 1962. Bill (ND) might have a resource to show it used later than I show. There was an earlier K-H wheel, #28450, that was also a 16" x 4.5" and was used between 1940 and 1946. Whether this is a different wheel, or the same wheel with a number change, I can't say. The Chassis Manual also shows that a 16" x 5" wheel was offered starting in 1953. Ford #B4C- 1015-A, K-H #38189. I show it listed in the K-H catalogs through 1966. Again, it has the internal hub cap bumps.

Sorry I don't have extras of the 16" x 4 1/2", and am on the look out for some myself. Stu

 

What about the 16" x 4" wheels?

 

See lots of 15's but not a lot of the 16's.
I'm not for sure on what years/models had 16's specifically? I am curious as well. maybe some trucks came with either option available???

 

I'm sure you know they are available new from www.ralleyamerica.com, and probably others. By the way, we have gotten way too much snow down here, keep it up there please. Joe

 

Ilya - looks like a 16" x 4" was used on half tons between 1940 and 1946. Ford #01A-1015. There was also a 16" x 4" used by Merc for 40/41 model years, part #11A-1015. And by Zephyr for '39/'40. Part #06H-1015. These are all 5 lug x 5 1/2 circle.

Josh - There's been a gazillion different 15s available from 1939 on for the various makes and models. For purposes of our group, looks like '55 was the year a 15" x 5" was sourced on a F-100. Part #B5C 1015-A. Stu

 

I have a total of eleven 16" wheels in storage. Eight of them still have the tires on. Nine of them have the bumps on the inside for the hubcap, while two of them have tabs instead of the bumps and are slightly different in the design. I'm assuming that these two are from earlier models.

Not to hijack this thread, but it might be relevant.

The last set (of four) 16" wheels I sourced from a parts Panel truck. The two in the front had beauty rings. The two in the rear had lock rings. All four wheels appear to be the same in design and had matching tires/sizes.

I'm just curious whether the wheels with the lock rings are for a Ford application and whether the lock rings could be removed for normal use of the wheel????

Rear and front wheels side-by-side.


Wheel with the lock ring.


Close up shot of the lock ring.


Front wheel.


When I was at the storage on Sunday, I looked at the wheels with the lock ring again and noticed that there's a small number stamped into or around the lock ring, but I failed to write it down.

These are the other three I have (with the tires still on). The two wheels that don't have tires mounted on them match these in style.


So, would these be correct for our years and earlier/future years??

 

XFORDMAN, I have two 16's, nubs on the inside. They have tires that I want to keep, so after the snow. chuck

 

i think all the f100 had a 16" option (maybe even the f1 also). you can find 16x4, 4.5 on ford cars too from 1940-1948 with the 5 on 5.5 bp. the 4" being the easiest to get, the 4.5 next harder and more $$ and the 5" is REAL hard to get and they're $$$$$, because hot rodders want them (i have 1). my '54 panel has the later 16x5 with the outside bump (cheaper and easier to get). i second ralley america for new wheels.

 

Ilya - The multi-part wheels are listed in my 1953 Kelsey-Hayes catalog as an aftermarket set. There's no car/truck manufacturer's cross reference numbers listed with them, only K-H part numbers and a set number. They have the inner hub cap nubs just like the wheels that would have been Ford OEM, but were multi-part. The ones I find are wider though. They are 16" x 5.5" and 16" x 6". I have a similar pair on a donor truck, except mine are 8 lug.

If I understand your question, you can't remove the lock ring and still have a useable wheel. The ring is what holds the assembly together. Yours are the Goodyear split style. The catalog shows Goodyear rings on both the 5.5" or 6" sizes.

1oldtimer - Your point about the 16" x 4" size also being on cars throughout the 1940s is well made. The reference that I used in my first reply to Ilya lists cars, commercial cars, and half tons all together and I failed to differentiate. Stu

 

My 48-55 Ford parts catalog shows 48-55 F-1/100 as having 16x4.5", use with 6.00x16 and 6.50x16 tires, p/n 8C-1015, and 53-55 F-100 16x5 - Heavy Duty, p/n B4C-1015-A. It does not specify a tire size. I presume this would be for use with an optional, heavier duty suspension?

 

I was told by the seller that the fronts were 46 and the rear were 47 16x4s or vice versa. I'm not an expert. The seller told me that if I decided to swap out the wheels I should be sure to sell these because they were desirable. Is that true?

I'm trying to decide how the truck would sit on 15" wheels. Just thinking and plotting.

 

Yes, the 16" wheels are more populer with rat and traditional roddrers. There were 16" wheel in various widths. Some were 4", 4.5" and even 5". The wider, the better, the more popular and the more $$$.

 

16" is the diameter of the wheel. The 4 or 5 is the width of the rim? Is that right.
I'll measure mine and see what I have. Might influence my decision. Thanks for the assist.

 

Yes, 16" diameter. The width of the rim is measured from inside bead-to-bead.

I have about nine 16" rims that I need to go through and pick out a matching set of five for my truck. I currently have five 15" on my truck.