1965 F250 Campers Special
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Joined: Jun 2012
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How to measure wheel size.
It is too cold for me to go measure mine so here is how to do it...
I do not know the term "smooties", I am familiar with bias, radial, ratios, slicks, knobbies, M&S, studs, S&M, LT, PT, mags, etc.... anyway...
Most people do not like to discuss wheel size because just when you think you have it down, something strange comes along or some old guy will argue you have the numbers backwards and will not leave you alone until you either kill him or agree.
You will have to go out and measure to be sure of what you need.
It has been 44 years but here is how I remember it.....
Wheels are expressed as # lugs, pattern or distance between lug centers 180 degrees across from each other, then by tire size and then center hole size.
Ex. 8 lug X 5.5 pattern X 16.5 tire size WITH A CENTER HOLE OF 5 in is a 8by5.5by16.5by5.
or some people will argue tire size first.... 16.5 X 8 X5.5 on 5 center
Regardless of the old guys and what they start with, here is how to measure wheels.
Even hole wheels:
Even hole patterns or distances are measured center line of one lug to the center line opposite straight across the wheel. The center hole is important as Chebys were smaller than the others back then. Generally all pre 1979???? 8 hole fit the Cheby but Cheby did not always fit the others without torching the center which some people like my brother did.
.
Measuring odd hole wheels need a little more work.
Ex. 5 X 4.5 X 15
To measure the odd lug pattern or distance, label a hole #1, skip a hole and label the next one #3. Measure between the center line of holes you call #1 and #3. Multiply by 1.05 for extreme accuracy or just add 1/4 inch for good enough.
I hope this helped more than confused. I am always open for correction but cannot guarentee I will remember it or sometimes even care.
I should have just gone out and measured mine..
I do not know the term "smooties", I am familiar with bias, radial, ratios, slicks, knobbies, M&S, studs, S&M, LT, PT, mags, etc.... anyway...
Most people do not like to discuss wheel size because just when you think you have it down, something strange comes along or some old guy will argue you have the numbers backwards and will not leave you alone until you either kill him or agree.
You will have to go out and measure to be sure of what you need.
It has been 44 years but here is how I remember it.....
Wheels are expressed as # lugs, pattern or distance between lug centers 180 degrees across from each other, then by tire size and then center hole size.
Ex. 8 lug X 5.5 pattern X 16.5 tire size WITH A CENTER HOLE OF 5 in is a 8by5.5by16.5by5.
or some people will argue tire size first.... 16.5 X 8 X5.5 on 5 center
Regardless of the old guys and what they start with, here is how to measure wheels.
Even hole wheels:
Even hole patterns or distances are measured center line of one lug to the center line opposite straight across the wheel. The center hole is important as Chebys were smaller than the others back then. Generally all pre 1979???? 8 hole fit the Cheby but Cheby did not always fit the others without torching the center which some people like my brother did.
. Measuring odd hole wheels need a little more work.
Ex. 5 X 4.5 X 15
To measure the odd lug pattern or distance, label a hole #1, skip a hole and label the next one #3. Measure between the center line of holes you call #1 and #3. Multiply by 1.05 for extreme accuracy or just add 1/4 inch for good enough.
I hope this helped more than confused. I am always open for correction but cannot guarentee I will remember it or sometimes even care.
I should have just gone out and measured mine..
Last edited by old broke prospector; Apr 23, 2013 at 08:52 PM. Reason: speelling
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
F250/350's went to metric wheels in 1999, but no Econoline has metric wheels.
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