I am looking at purchasing a 1977 F250 Crew Cab 4wd. It's stock height, but I want to know what tires I can put on the 16"s without rubbing fenders off-road for BFG Mud Terrain K/O tires and then largest 16"s I can mount for Firestone Winterforce LT tires and still allow for snow chains during winter?

I suspect for the mud tires I can run up to LT285/75-16 E tires, and for the winter tires (allowing for chains) up to LT245/75-16 E tires

Also, will it make a difference that I will be changing the wheels out to 16"x8" steel wheels for traction profile as well?

Final question: will stock wheels from a 1983 F250 work on this truck as well as far as spacing and bolt hole line-ups?

 

Here's my '77 highboy with 315/75r16 KO2's on 16x10" ProComp's and they fit fine, even with my old stock suspension that's sagged about 2-3" over the years...




Going to a 16"x8" steel wheel might be hit or miss, depending on what front brakes you have.

As for the '83 F250 wheels, yes they'll work but I'm not sure about the backspacing...several guys use them tho.

 

I'm running 16 x 7 US Wheel chrome steelies on my '78. Clearance is adequate with twin piston calipers. I think 8" width would work with these as well. Usually 16" steel wheels clear OK and any OE wheel up to the metric switch in the 90's should be fine.

It seems like Ford set up bearings ect. for these trucks for approximately zero wheel offset. That should be attainable with an 8" wheel though tire fit in the chassis when you go big may or may not be ideal.

Also, FWIW, snow performance is usually better with narrow tires vs wide. A consideration if you will see lots of the white stuff. Also, chains like narrow tires. More bite and less chance they will flop around and hit a fender, brakeline ect.

Aftermarket aluminum 16" wheels with their thicker cross section tend to interfere with the caliper. A test fit is a really good idea before buying.

 

I've got 315/70R16's mounted on 16x8 white spoke steel wheels on my 77½, at stock height. No clearance problems at all.

Don't remember the brand of wheel, American Racing maybe??? I put them on in November 1999.

Robert

 

Any photos of the 77.5 with the 315's sitting at stock height?
I'd be curious to see what kind of clearance you have and what the stance looks like.

Thanks