‘65 F250 that’s been non-op for awhile. Now looking to get it back on the road. The front wheels are 16” lock ring, and the rears are 16.5 x 8.25 solid wheels with innie nubs. Chad recently posted available tubeless wheels for ‘66 models, and no 16.5’s were listed. So, what do I have?

 

The aftermarket 16.5" wheel in various widths hit the aftermarket in the early 60's primarily for the pickup camper market. There were several companies that manufactured these inner tab or inner clip wheels, depending on application, till the OEM began offering 16.5's in the later 60's.

 

I recently compiled, and had restored, a set of the 8-lug , 16”, one-piece innie wheels. A bit expensive and time-consuming, but needed the extra set for snow tires. I rejected the opportunity to obtain a set of 16.5” wheels at a cheaper cost after finding out the cost of tires for them.

 

Coker has 16.5 tires in varying widths for $265-$495. It’s difficult for me to have any perspective on the cost of goods and services, because everything seems to have an increased cost. I was looking for f250 bottle caps on eBay and found a complete set for over $1700. Almost what I paid for my truck 25 years ago. It’s becoming harder to enjoy hobbies on a fixed income. Thanks for the replies. Sorry for the rant.

 

KO1960,
I too, feel your frustration - I believe we are all feeling it and it isn't just happening to Slick hobbyists...... I can't name any type of hobby or activity that the participating costs haven't gone through the roof in the past 5-10 years - even much faster than the vast majority of those still earning a wage. Hunting, fishing, snorkeling, bike riding, gardening, etc.... Sadly, I don't think trying to "wait it out" for the deals or lower prices is going to happen.
BarnieTrk