16.5 tires
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: MD
16.5 tires
I'm having a rather diffcult time finding a set of 16.5 tires for my 79 F350 4x4. Are the 16.5 tire size now obeslete? The current set of tires on my truck is very old, at least 20 years. Or original tires from factory.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,290
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From: Toronto, Canada
16.5 tires
Naw, you can still find 'em!
Cooper makes a few, in the discoverer lt line.
BF goodrich also makes a 31x 10.5R16.5, but I think that they say that you need a 8.25 inch rim.
Look around, they are out there!
Cooper makes a few, in the discoverer lt line.
BF goodrich also makes a 31x 10.5R16.5, but I think that they say that you need a 8.25 inch rim.
Look around, they are out there!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 172
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16.5 tires
Yes they're still around. Probably not on hand, but any tire store should be able to order them from their wholesaler and get them for you in a day or two. Of course convincing the salesman that they make a 16.5" tire in something smaller than 33x12.5 could take somewhat longer than that.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 93
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From: Simi Valley USA
16.5 tires
I just bought 5 new Cooper Discoverer 16.5 X 9.50
at Great American Tires - $450 out the door.
1973 F250 3/4 ton Custom
390 .060 over w/428 inside (422?)
Edelbrock Performer intake
Holley 4160 carb
14" K&N Filter
True Dual Exhaust
and more to come.
at Great American Tires - $450 out the door.
1973 F250 3/4 ton Custom
390 .060 over w/428 inside (422?)
Edelbrock Performer intake
Holley 4160 carb
14" K&N Filter
True Dual Exhaust
and more to come.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
16.5 tires
Thanks, everyone.
Guess it wasn't popular as it used to be. Looks like I'll have to endure salesmen's mindless adveristing/rant as I am explaining 16.5 tires. Oh well.
I think I'll go with the 31's or 33's.
Guess it wasn't popular as it used to be. Looks like I'll have to endure salesmen's mindless adveristing/rant as I am explaining 16.5 tires. Oh well.
I think I'll go with the 31's or 33's.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 15
From: Toronto, Canada
16.5 tires
If you're going to buy new rims (which sounds likely of you're going to 33's) you might as well convert to 16's and give yourself better selection!
Matt
Matt
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Troy USA
16.5 tires
Just make sure you stick with the recommended wheel width for the tire. I see a lot of people pushing the limits (and beyond) of mounting tires on wheels that are too narrow and/or too wide for the tire manufacturers recommendation.
Depending on how far you push the envelope on this... it may be no big deal. But this is on 'regular' safety-bead wheels.
16.5" inch wheels are taper-bead wheels. Matching the tire-width/wheel-width recommendations is more critical.
This isn't meant to scare you. Just make sure you get the right width tires for your wheels.
Depending on how far you push the envelope on this... it may be no big deal. But this is on 'regular' safety-bead wheels.
16.5" inch wheels are taper-bead wheels. Matching the tire-width/wheel-width recommendations is more critical.
This isn't meant to scare you. Just make sure you get the right width tires for your wheels.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 172
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16.5 tires
If I was going to bigger tires, I'd stick with the 16.5's over 16's unless you plan on airing the tires down for offroading. There are more and bigger tires available in flotation sizes for 16.5's versus 16's, and they can be quite a bit cheaper too. The bigger than stock tires are easy to find from any mailorder tire company that advertises in Fourwheeler etc. But if you plan on airing down quite a bit, get the 16's since the 16.5's have tapered rim beads and pop off the rim much more easily.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
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From: MD
16.5 tires
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
I'm going to stay with the stock wheels. Those truck tires are expensive enough, and I want to keep the original apperance. The current tire size is 9.75, I think.
I might go 31x 10.5R16.5 if it will go on the stock wheels good. Will they?
I've been trying to find the specs on the factory 16.5 wheels such as backspacing, offset, rim width, etc. Where can I find them?
Thanks
I'm going to stay with the stock wheels. Those truck tires are expensive enough, and I want to keep the original apperance. The current tire size is 9.75, I think.
I might go 31x 10.5R16.5 if it will go on the stock wheels good. Will they?
I've been trying to find the specs on the factory 16.5 wheels such as backspacing, offset, rim width, etc. Where can I find them?
Thanks
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: MD
16.5 tires
I also should mention I won't go offroading that often. I will offroad once in a while to keep the 4x4 system happy, and whenever I feel like it. There aren't many places to go offroad here.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 15
From: Toronto, Canada
16.5 tires
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Mar-02 AT 08:52 PM (EST)]Go to the major wheel manufacturer's website and they should show you how to measure your rims! Can't think of where I saw this, but it was one of them! Try here: http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/mtwheelsfaq.html
As I said before, BF Goodrich recommends at least a 8.25 inch wide rim for the 31x10.5R16.5 tire. On these trucks I believe that a 16.5x9.75 wheel was optional, BUT if you have a 9.5R16.5 tire, I don't believe that you have these wheels (they are too wide for the tire).
Dude, you have no idea how good a nice set of wheels can make these trucks look! I put Weld Racing Supersingles on my truck in 16.5x8.25 size, kept the stock size tire (which is 9.5R16.5) (*max width for that tire) and it makes the truck look so good that I have a mental breakdown when swapping to the stockers for the winter. (last year for that though- putting her away for next winter!)
As I said before, BF Goodrich recommends at least a 8.25 inch wide rim for the 31x10.5R16.5 tire. On these trucks I believe that a 16.5x9.75 wheel was optional, BUT if you have a 9.5R16.5 tire, I don't believe that you have these wheels (they are too wide for the tire).
Dude, you have no idea how good a nice set of wheels can make these trucks look! I put Weld Racing Supersingles on my truck in 16.5x8.25 size, kept the stock size tire (which is 9.5R16.5) (*max width for that tire) and it makes the truck look so good that I have a mental breakdown when swapping to the stockers for the winter. (last year for that though- putting her away for next winter!)
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
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16.5 tires
>Yes they're still around. Probably not on hand, but any tire
>store should be able to order them from their wholesaler and
>get them for you in a day or two. Of course convincing the
>salesman that they make a 16.5" tire in something smaller
>than 33x12.5 could take somewhat longer than that.
I have a similar problem. On my 1980 tow-truck I have 16" wheels on the front and 16.5 duals on the rear. I don't know which is original, but I've had a hard time finding 16.5" tires in Hawaii. The dummies at the tire stores even try to tell me 16.5" tires don't exist. Questions I have: I finally found and bought two 16.5" tires but now need two more tires. Should I pick up a set of 4 16" wheels and tires for the rear duals or hunt down two 16.5" tires? Is there a reason for the 16.5" wheels that I don't know about? Are they stronger than the 16's? I see other, newer, tow-trucks using 16" wheels with no problem. There MUST be a reason for the 16.5" rim, no?
>store should be able to order them from their wholesaler and
>get them for you in a day or two. Of course convincing the
>salesman that they make a 16.5" tire in something smaller
>than 33x12.5 could take somewhat longer than that.
I have a similar problem. On my 1980 tow-truck I have 16" wheels on the front and 16.5 duals on the rear. I don't know which is original, but I've had a hard time finding 16.5" tires in Hawaii. The dummies at the tire stores even try to tell me 16.5" tires don't exist. Questions I have: I finally found and bought two 16.5" tires but now need two more tires. Should I pick up a set of 4 16" wheels and tires for the rear duals or hunt down two 16.5" tires? Is there a reason for the 16.5" wheels that I don't know about? Are they stronger than the 16's? I see other, newer, tow-trucks using 16" wheels with no problem. There MUST be a reason for the 16.5" rim, no?