16.5 wheels unsafe???
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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16.5 wheels unsafe???
I was recently told by a tire store that the 16.5 " wheels I have are unsafe. Suppossedly the tire does not lock into the rim the same way 15" or 16" rims do. They say if the air pressure is lowered in the tire, it could pop off the rim. Any truth to this??? Also I was told that tire companies are starting to phase out the 16.5 tires and they will eventually be non existent.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,903
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From: Copley, OH
16.5 wheels unsafe???
Your tire store is full of seriously brown smelly crap. Let me guess, they wanted to sell you a set of "safe" 16" rims, right? 16.5" wheels and tires are as safe as any other size. The safety issue comes from jackasses putting 16" tires on 16.5" wheels, they don't seal too well. The major manufacturers may well phase out the 16.5" size eventually, but given the number of trucks that use them, there would probably be a specialty maker that keeps them in production
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 807
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From: -
16.5 wheels unsafe???
I SERIOUSLY disagree with you straneranger. I have 16.5" rims and they SUCK! If I air my tires down to less than 15 psi the tire blows off the rim during a turn. It happened to me twice on the dunes. The tire dealer is right in saying they don't have the same edge interlock as 15" and 16" tires. The 16.5"s do have a higher weight capacity though, and are meant to be fully aired up at all times. Get 16"s they are much safer for the wheeling crowd.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
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From: IL, USA
16.5 wheels unsafe???
The angle of the surface where the bead seats on 16.5" rims isn't the same as 15",16",17", etc...(any full inch rim). The 16.5" rims rely more on air pressure to keep them seated on the bead. If you plan to air your tires down off roading I would say that the 16" or 17" rims would be the way to go on your SD. Otherwise there is no problem with the 16.5" rim/tires.
The tires I have really looked at have the same weight capacity in 16", 16.5", and 17" sizes.
Currently the biggest selection of bigger sized tires is in the 16.5" rim size, a lot aren't offered in 16" or 17" rims. I doubt that the 16.5" tires will be phased out due to how many people currently run 16.5" rims........but I suppose it could happen.
Hope this helps.
The tires I have really looked at have the same weight capacity in 16", 16.5", and 17" sizes.
Currently the biggest selection of bigger sized tires is in the 16.5" rim size, a lot aren't offered in 16" or 17" rims. I doubt that the 16.5" tires will be phased out due to how many people currently run 16.5" rims........but I suppose it could happen.
Hope this helps.
New User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 21
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16.5 wheels unsafe???
are you going to air your tires down to 15 psi?..if not then 16.5 rims are fine.i got 16.5 rims on my truck but i dont air them down i dont drive on sand dunes i live in ct theres no sand dunes here anyway.and it is true that some people do put 16 inch tires on 16.5 rims being as silly as they are.so if your going to drive with normal air pressure in your tires and not going to air them down do almost not having any air in them then there fine,i run them and never had a problem with my 16.5 rims and tires.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
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From: Newburgh, IN
16.5 wheels unsafe???
I've got 44" Boggers mounted on 16.5x14 Bart Wheels and was told not to run over 15 to 17 psi of air in them. I'm also running the powder balance and don't want to be popping these tires off the rims left and right. I can only hope this isn't going to be a problem
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 101
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From: USA
16.5 wheels unsafe???
I run 16.5's as do most of my friends, and none of us has EVER had a tire blow off of the rim. We do all kinds of stuff from hauling tractors to 4wheeling to truck pulls.
My one buddy pulled his truck with 33x15.50x16.5 and he was running 20 psi in the tires. They looked like wrinkle wall slicks. I would say that the tire shop wa just trying to sell ya new stuff.
My one buddy pulled his truck with 33x15.50x16.5 and he was running 20 psi in the tires. They looked like wrinkle wall slicks. I would say that the tire shop wa just trying to sell ya new stuff.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
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From: Neenah, Wisconsin
16.5 wheels unsafe???
Theres some truth to this all. 16.5 inch rims use a 5 degree taper on their bead. all full inch sizes...15,16, ect. use a 15 degree taper. the 16.5's will blow off the rim at low pressures....below 15 or so. If you air down to four wheel, even not in sand dunes, you run the risk of loosing pressure. I routinly air down my 35x12.50x15 bfg's to 8-10 psi. The difference in 4 wheeling capabilitys is like night and day.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
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From: Newburgh, IN
16.5 wheels unsafe???
Would it cause a problem to drill and screw the bead to the rim? Max pressure for my tires are 25psi and like I said, I was told to drive on an everyday basis @ 15 to 17psi. I can't imagine what airing down would be. I don't think I'll ever have the need
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
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I was recently told by a tire store that the 16.5 " wheels I have are unsafe. Suppossedly the tire does not lock into the rim the same way 15" or 16" rims do. They say if the air pressure is lowered in the tire, it could pop off the rim. Any truth to this??? Also I was told that tire companies are starting to phase out the 16.5 tires and they will eventually be non existent.
I run 49" tires on 16.5" wheels.
If you air down without a beadlock I don't care what size tire you are running you are going to have problems. 16.5 wheels do NOT have a problem anymore than any other size wheel for tire "pop off".
Question my knowledge of 16.5 wheels. After all I have 1000's of them I think I would know
(This truck is full, front to back of 37" 16.5 tires)
Todd
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
WRONG!! I sell more 16.5 wheels and tires than prob. anyone in the US. 16.5 is no different than any other tire size as far as having a tire "pop off". As a mater of fact there are more 16.5 beadlocks out there than any other wheel. 
I run 49" tires on 16.5" wheels.
If you air down without a beadlock I don't care what size tire you are running you are going to have problems. 16.5 wheels do NOT have a problem anymore than any other size wheel for tire "pop off".
Question my knowledge of 16.5 wheels. After all I have 1000's of them I think I would know
(This truck is full, front to back of 37" 16.5 tires)
Todd
I run 49" tires on 16.5" wheels.
If you air down without a beadlock I don't care what size tire you are running you are going to have problems. 16.5 wheels do NOT have a problem anymore than any other size wheel for tire "pop off".
Question my knowledge of 16.5 wheels. After all I have 1000's of them I think I would know
(This truck is full, front to back of 37" 16.5 tires)
Todd
Go look at any one of those wheels where the bead seats and compare it to a 15 or 16 (or about any other size) The 16.5's dont have whats called a safety ridge wich is the hump that the beads pop over when you air them up. When you mount a 16.5 and air it up the tire does not make the loud pop when it seats. If you let all the air out of a 16.5 it will fall off the wheel with little persuasion where a 16 still requires a bead breaker to get over the safety ridge. The 16.5's arent "unsafe" maybe just not as safe.
New User
Joined: Aug 2009
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WRONG!! I sell more 16.5 wheels and tires than prob. anyone in the US. 16.5 is no different than any other tire size as far as having a tire "pop off". As a mater of fact there are more 16.5 beadlocks out there than any other wheel.
I run 49" tires on 16.5" wheels.
If you air down without a beadlock I don't care what size tire you are running you are going to have problems. 16.5 wheels do NOT have a problem anymore than any other size wheel for tire "pop off".
Question my knowledge of 16.5 wheels. After all I have 1000's of them I think I would know
(This truck is full, front to back of 37" 16.5 tires)
Todd
I run 49" tires on 16.5" wheels.
If you air down without a beadlock I don't care what size tire you are running you are going to have problems. 16.5 wheels do NOT have a problem anymore than any other size wheel for tire "pop off".
Question my knowledge of 16.5 wheels. After all I have 1000's of them I think I would know
(This truck is full, front to back of 37" 16.5 tires)
Todd
i have been looking for a set of those tires. can you email me at hondamanben@hotmail.com about a set.(the ones in the trailer)
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
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Go look at any one of those wheels where the bead seats and compare it to a 15 or 16 (or about any other size) The 16.5's dont have whats called a safety ridge wich is the hump that the beads pop over when you air them up. When you mount a 16.5 and air it up the tire does not make the loud pop when it seats. If you let all the air out of a 16.5 it will fall off the wheel with little persuasion where a 16 still requires a bead breaker to get over the safety ridge. The 16.5's arent "unsafe" maybe just not as safe.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 122
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From: Near Burlington, VT
I bought a 1983 F-250 just because it came with almost new 33 16.5 12.5 tires on 16.5 rims. I just found out that the one tire that was flat had a repair done poorly on the inside bottom of the rim. Theres a hole, it was welded and currently allows a small leak. Now i cant find a 16.5 wheel (or two to keep them in pairs) to save my life. Craigs list ebay, googling wheel stores... they even exist anymore? All my local junkyards claim they havent had them for years. Any idea where to get one or two good 16.5 rims that will fit with my 33 16.5 12.50 tires?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I have a set of 38s mounted on 16.5" rims that have a bead retainer, so that argument is out. These were factory Dodge or Chevy rims.
FWIW, all the .5 sizes have the tapered bead. I have 14.5s on my trailer, and have never had an issue. In my time as a heavy truck tech, I never saw an issue with a 22.5 or 24.5 tire related to the bead.
What's unsafe is ignoring the .5 on the tire or rim, and trying to mount the wrong size. Guaranteed to end badly.
FWIW, all the .5 sizes have the tapered bead. I have 14.5s on my trailer, and have never had an issue. In my time as a heavy truck tech, I never saw an issue with a 22.5 or 24.5 tire related to the bead.
What's unsafe is ignoring the .5 on the tire or rim, and trying to mount the wrong size. Guaranteed to end badly.