So I've been searching for deep dish old school slotted mags because they look so great on our trucks. The only ones to fit the 8 lug pattern are 16.5x9.75. I found a pair with the help of another member, however, I started looking for all season tires (not off road) and I cannot find tires anywhere. Cooper/BF Goodrich, etc. are all on back order with no date to deliver...maybe never. I understand there are a lot of tires to fit these rims, but no all season tires. Rims are no good without tires. So what next?

I know that American Racing makes the Ansen sprint but they only make them in 6 lug pattern. I have a 74 F250 Crew and would like some feedback on converting the 8 lug to 6 lug. The only thing I haul is a 23' boat. Talking with one of the local "tire guys" he suggested that converting 8 lug to 6 lug is a bad idea because of the torque of the truck. I do have a 460 in this beast. I should note that I'm having a hard time even finding these rims. Is American Racing still making these rims? Very frustrating.

My options are:
1. Find a tire manufacturer that still makes 33/12.5/16.5 all season tires
2. Convert my 8 lug to 6 lug and run a "standard" rim size
3. Give up trying to put slotted mags on my dent crew

Thoughts? Feedback?

 

I knew that 16.5 street tires are rare. Thats why i went 16's
Id say, either go with the offroad tires they make. Or give up on the slots.
If the truck is nice and clean, id go with 17's. (my truck is an old farm truck, so i went 16's)
Dont convert to 6lug (id think that woulf mean ditching the dana rear end for a 9")

 

16.5 tires are a bitch to find. Do not convert to 6 lug, that is a downgrade for what you are trying to do.

That's my 2 cents.

 

My buddy had sa set of mastercraft courser tires on 16.5 wheels, they weren't too aggressive, bout like an AT tire. Maybe check into that. I also have a set of radial rover rv tires on my truck that are 33x12.5x16.5. I don't know if they make them anymore, I tried looking on the internet with no luck.

 

Keep watching Craigslist. I've passed up two sets of like new 16.5" tires that have been posted on my local Craigslist. I decided I'm not going to deal with that headache every time I need a tire. Switched to 16" rims.

....also Nebraska Tire sells new 16.5 tires but they are bias ply and they want $169.00 each for them. No thanks!

 

16" aluminum slots are out there, but they're hard to find, here's a set linked below, they're polished and i doubt they're cheap, search Craigslist nationwide.

AKH Vintage Wheels - Ellensburg Washington

 

I saw a set of 8 lug 16x8.25 at a swap meet last weekend. They were a little rough, polished with a wire wheel. The guy wouldn't budge from $250 and they weren't high on my priority list now. I'm sure ill kick myself later.

 

tire rack has the bfg AT tires, I have run them and they were fine on the highway.. I have a set of turbine style and a set of slots that are 16.5 and was thinking about running one or the other sets but I decided to go with 16" rims I have on already and run a narrower tire.. so if you decide to go with slots and need them they will be sitting here doing nothing right next to the turbine rims..

 

Montana H thanks for the link, now I can get a idea what the rims I have are actually called and worth. So far I have in my tire barn:

BTW all are 8 on 6 1/2

1. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 Aluminium slots
2. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 Aluminium spokes
3. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 Aluminium Cyclone Hurricane
4. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 American Racing Outlaws II w/35" BFG AT's on the blue truck
5. 2 sets of 16.5x9.75 American Racing Baja 1 set w/44's, 1 set w/35" Boggers
6. 4 sets of 16.5x9.75 Steel white spokes 1 set on ol red with 36" HUMMER mil tires
7. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 "Jack Man" old style white spokes
8. 1 set of 16.5x9.75 American Racing Outlaw I (center line style)
9. Just got a set of Centerline Convo pro 16x10 8 on 6 1/2 for the 79 or my Dodge

Every truck I have can fit the Goodyear Wrangler Military HUMVEE 36's or 37's except for my ol silver truck I have some 16's in a 8 lug chrome spoke for it.

I find a ton of 16.5 rims and tires on the craigslist and buy all I can, found a new set of 33x12.50x16.5 mud treads at a tire store for $700 I said no to that crazy price.

New/used military 36's or 37's for $300 to $400 a set around here.

As far as calshamus problem just locate some 16's in a rim that will work for you and be happy that you can get what ever tire you need for alot better of a price.

 

I just looked at Mastercraft Tires - Courser HTR -

I couldnt find any 16.5 tires


as far as used tires go.
any good tire shop won't mount a tire that's over 10 years old
no matter how good it looks or how much tread is left

 

Negative on both Tirerack and Mastercraft Courser. I don't think 16.5 AT tires exist anymore. As I said there are a ton of off-road tires in this size. I guess I'm in search of 16 inch slots...should be fun. Maybe someone in the FTE nation knows where I can get some for a reasonable price. AKH is waaayyyyy out if my price range. :-(

 

How much did AKH want? the last set of 16" aluminum slots i seen on craigslist went for $600

 

wow I was really surprised by lack of availability when I started looking up 16.5 tires everywhere to try and help. I guess I'd go with a bfg all terrain as your best option if you can't find anything anywhere else...

 

There are no BFF AT (Big O, tirerack, Americas Tire, or Les Schwab) and they're on back order with no delivery date.

 

I don't want to give up my 16.5 slots so I too have been searching for 16.5 tire options. One of them I came across is the Delta Natioinal (Del-Nat) Mud Trac.

Delta Tires Catalog - Del-Nat® Tire Corporation - National Tires, Del-Nat Tires, Akuret Tires, Private brand tires.

They are still making them and as of last week my local tire shop could have them in a couple of days. Your best bet is to check with a smaller "Mom & Pop" tire dealer. I have found that a lot of the big, name brand tire stores won't even bother looking for 16.5 tires except for BFG All Terrains.

From the looks of it, this Del-Nat company makes all of the Pro-Comp tires so I would think they would have a good product. I know its not an All Terrain but they might be worth taking a look at.