Hey all, this is my first time in this forum and I'm expecting boos. I'm currently in the process of finding tires to fit my original 8 lug wheels. It's a 78 F250 Camper Special and i think the wheels are 16.5" radius and 7" width. I've been told that half inch radius wheels need half inch radius tires. Is this true?

Also, 38x15.5x15 means what exactly?
-kit

 

Yes, you will need 16.5" tires for your wheels. No way around that

38x15.5x15 <--- breaks down like this

38 is the advertised diamater of the tire, 38 inches

15.5 is the advertised section width of the tire, about 15.5" wide measured at the bulge of the sidewalls

15 is the wheel diamater the tire is for, 15" wheel.

 

Awesome. Thanks a ton.
-kit

*Can any width wheel match any section width tire?

 

To save some money since there is not alot places that still make any 16.5's you can use 16's they would be cheaper and allow you a wider selection of wheels and tires for you truck.

 

I'm sorry Thomas, did you mean use i could use 16" tires or were you recommending I switch to 16" wheels?
-kit

 

Either I have a 76 Hiboy and i went with 16's over the old 16.5's cause the lack of choices with wheels and tires you can still get them as i posted before 16.5's but you'll end up paying more for them.

 

Are you saying you can put 16" tires on 16.5" wheels?










About the wheel width compared to section width, generally you want a wheel that is 2.5" narrower than the section width for the flattest tread foot print on the road. With larger tires, like a 14.50 or bigger you can go 4.5" narrower and be OK. You also can do that with the smaller tires, but the tread will have a slight bulge to it which may or may not effect drivability and handeling. Chances are it will not effect it unless you are useing the truck and tires at or near its load capacity. for example if you were going to be doing a lot of towing or hauling you would be better off having a 10" wide wheel with a 12.50 tire instead of a 8" wide wheel. The 8" wide wheel can work fine, but you will be able to run a higher air pressure in the tire and still keep a safe ammount of tread on the ground at full PSI with the 10" wheel.
With your 15.50 tires I would suggest a 12" wide wheel for longest tread life and best on-road driving. A 10" wide wheel might be a little easier on the ball joints, and if all your going to be doing is off roading it might actually be better because the wheel's bead will be in farther and more protected against rocks, but its going to handle a little squirly on the highway compared to the 12" wide wheel

 

No not at all i got rid of the 16.5 wheels and got 16's which fit fine on my hiboy. Going with 16's will give you way more selection with wheels and tires and what i've been told 16x8 is good upto 35/12.50's that what i have on my truck but if you go wider than 12.50's you would need 16x10 and up.

 

If you are trying just to replace the original tire size without going huge, but, still bigger, then you will find many choices in the 9.50 x 16.5 tire size.

Which will measure out about 30 x 9.5 x16.50 depending on who made the tire. The stock one was probably a 8.50 x 16.50 sized tire (about 27 x 9.5 x 16.50).

There are many good tires in the 33 x 12.50 x 16.50 size.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of 38...but wouldn't 12.50 be too wide for me anyway?
-kit

 

OK, good. I thought thats what you were saying