I have a 1981 F150 supercab,351 with the stock 15" wheels and wheel covers. I found a set of white spoke wheels at a swap meet that the seller
said is 15". I didn't think to measure them until after I got home. They
are 16" with a 5x5 1/2" bolt pattern. The stock 15" has a 5x5 1/2" bolt pattern. My question is will these 16" wheels work? I tried them on both the front and back and there is no clearance issues. The bolt holes fit perfectly.
Everything I can find says they only put 15" wheels on F150's and 16" on
F250's and F350's. I know eventually they put 16" on F150's. I figure as long as I don't over do it on tire size there shouldn't be any problems.
The seller said these wheels came off an early 80's F150.
Thanks.

 

If they don't rub, they should be fine. They are most likely aftermarket wheels, the reason for their weird configuration.

 

16" rims are far more common these days, so you will actually have more tire options. If the rims are about 8" wide, then you can fit 265/70R16's on them. If they are 7", go with the F250 spec. 235/75 to 235/85. The narrow tires will result in more economy, and the wider will look better. If it makes you feel better, my 04 Xterra has the 265/70's and it is a stock size for this small SUV. You should have little to no issues with tire clearance. I've been running 265/70 and 31/10.5 for years. Fit is fine.

 

Wire spoke wheels on a Supercab, now that'll be different!

 

I want a set of torq-thrust for mine in black, but they are not available in 8 lug or high enough weight rating. Back to the shopping sites.

 

No not wire spoke. WHITE spoke. Like these-http://www.summitracing.com/parts/usw-70-7755/overview/

 

They are 16x7. I was thinking somewhere around 255-265.

 

You compared the measurements to the 15" wheels you have now? I was just thinking, it's not obvious sometimes what size wheel you have just from measuring it. I think you have to measure the inside where the bead sits, but I am not sure about that either.

 

Yes,I measured the inside. From what I've found on the interweb that is how
it should be measured for both the diameter and width. I wasn't quite sure either.

 

Size should be stamped into them, somewhere.
16" wheels can be used, and Ford did just that a few years down the road. The 1st gen Lightning came with 16" wheels, for better selection of "High performance" tires.

 

I learn something new every day. I was under the impression that the wheels on the 1st generation Lightning were 17". Thanks!

 

16" 5 lug 5.50" bolt pattern 'plain jane' painted steel wheels: 1948/52 F1 / 1953/54 F100 / Optional: 1955/79 F100, 1966/79 Bronco / 1975/79 F150.

No F100/150 or Bronco was available with 16" wheels after 1979. 1997 and newer F150 wheels are metric.

The genuine Ford F100/150 & Bronco styled steel white spoke ("wagon") wheels were introduced in 1977. They are 15" x 6" - 5 lug 5.50" bolt circle.

The ornament (hub cap) is retained to the wheel by 3 screws and steel anchors. The 3 holes for these parts are located within the bolt circle.

 

245 is a standard width for a 7 inch rim, 265 is the maximum you can go.
265 is a very common size, most tyres in 70 profile are passenger car cased (lower belt count and lower load ratings) so you need to go 75 profile to get light truck casings.
But a 265/75/16 might be too big in rolling diameter, if so drop down to a 245/75/16.

I'd go 16's here if I could, 15's are certainly thin on the ground