Either set will work, but I'd advocate the aluminum 16s. The 16.5" and 16" have nothing in common size wise. The 16.5" is technically more similar to a 14". The only way to get a reasonable tire diameter is to go with more width. Tires will be expensive. The comparable relationships for the other 15°/5° combos are 17.5"/15", 19.5"/17", and 22.5"/20".

The Alcoa 16s, a 5° design, will work with the more available, and reasonably priced, 235/85R16" tires. I have that same set of Alcoas on my '97 F-250 and have had great service from them. Stu

 

I had been looking for a decent set for quite a while. They are getting harder and harder to find in that kind of shape. Already had a couple offers to sell but I told them no. I am planning on going to 265s when I go tire shopping.

 

Be careful to match the tire to rim width. Stu

 

Great truck! Interesting bumper. It doesn't look stock. Does anyone know what it came from?

And I see it used to have a grille guard.

And I like the two tone option. About the RE on the data plate ..... the R means red (vermilion) body color, does the E stand for Snowshoe White on the roof and back of cab?

 

Thanks, Abe. I will ask the previous owner about the front bumper. Yes, the E stands for Snowshoe White on the roof and rear of the cab.

 

Looks like you have a great find. I have been following a bunch of the threads and was wondering about the Alcoa rims if they are a replacement for the 17.5, (6 x 7.25) widowmakers as my son and I have an f350 we are looking for options to make it useable. Also would the rear axle from the 92 - 97 f250 be an option for replacing the 55 rear axle? This is not meant as a high jack but it is the first time I have seen these rims mentioned. Thanks

 

The Alcoas are no solution to your 6 x 7.25" bolt pattern. If you now have 17.5s they are one of the solutions we recommend for guys with widow makers. A rear end swap to a 1972 or earlier F250 Dana 60 would be a bolt in swap, and yield an 8 x 6.5" pattern at the rear, but is no help on the front. We've had examples of guys doing the machine work on the front to convert to 8 x 6.5", but that is a longer discussion. Stu

 

Thanks Stu, I will have my son post more pictures of the f350 on his page under Silver54 and maybe you can confirm what we have before we get going.

 

Stu, I got a question about swapping rear axles. Would one out of a newer cab and chassis work with some mods? I ask because I discovered that 1997 and older cab and chassis rigs had the same 34 inch narrow frame on the rear. That means plenty of Sterling 10.25/10.5 rears to pick from with better gearing options over the 72 and older rears which are getting hard to find.

 

Yes, but I'm not the one with details. I have read that the cab/chassis continued the 34" frame much later, but don't recall how many years it continued. I know that our Gary Sisson has a Sterling 10.25" DRW axle under his 1959 F-350, but am sure the WMS-WMS measurement is much wider than stock because he runs dually inners only to keep the wheels under the fenders. I'll defer to others on whether the Sterling mounts up without moving spring perches. Stu