I have 2 1969 F-250's with manual steering (manual everything, actually) and perfect front end alignments. One has good quality 9.50x16.5 LT bias ply highway tires as from the factory, the other has good quality P235-75R16-E radial tires. Just in case you guys have forgotten the feel of bias ply tires on the road, they wander way more than the radials and make way more road noise. The bias ply tires require considerably more effort to turn the steering wheel, although there is slightly more tire in contact with the road compared to the radials on the other truck for part of the difference in steering effort.

I actually enjoy the bias ply feel. It's like going back in time to when you had to pay attention to your driving in order to maintain your lane. Also, if I can help it I never turn the steering wheel without the truck rolling just a bit. It's interesting how manual steering and bias ply tires changes the driving style.

The bias ply tires truck has a T85N-OD transmission with 3.54 Torque Lok differential. This truck will just flat out fly along at high speed and the tires let you hear all about it. I'll be installing a 410 cid FE shortly, actually a 416 counting the 0.030 overbore and the longer stroke of a 428 crankshaft in a 390 block.

Dang, I love old Fords!

 

Years back my brother had radials up front and bias plys in the back. A side effect of buying used tires. That thing (Datsun extended cab, 78) was a wrestling match and un-driveable in the snow. It was like fighting a Sunny; small, pissed off and disappointing once it breaks the surface of the water. Where do you get 16.5 bias plys nowadays? Farm/trailer supply? I ask because there may be 16.5's on the C/S I'm trying to get a look at. They looked like a tall sidewall last time I drove by.

 

I'm not sure I'd deliberately seek out 16.5" bias plys, but they're an interesting artifact of the 1960's. I've never seen Chevy or GMC's with 16.5's. Ebay sellers carry them, others too. just google and several vendors will pop up.

One thing to note: if you change from 16.5 to 16 inch wheels, make sure you get the wheels with the big center circle that slips over the full floating axle. The Dana 60 requires the largest center circle. There's usually not a problem with the front hub, but the back hubs need wheels with the large opening. For rotating tires/spares, it helps to have all 4 be the large diameter axle center.