I'm putting together a set of 16.5" inch wheels for a 1967 Ford F250. I have three right now and need two more.

Anyone seen any of these, anywhere?

Specifically, what I am looking for are 16.5" X 6.0" tubeless painted steel single rear application rims (SRW). I am wanting them to match the other three wheels on the truck which are stamped "Fomoco" on the wheel face with the letters "KH" (see photos).

DETAILS:
16.5" x 6.0" Wheel
Measures 17.5" Tall Outside Diameter X 7.5" Wide Outside
C7TZ-1015-A (Replaced by D1TZ-1015-A)
Identification Stamping Number 84720 / 84750
1967/70 Ford F250/350
Tubeless Tire
.50" offset-heavy duty
8 Lug Bolt Hole pattern on a 6.5" Bolt Circle (165.1 mm)
4 3/4" Center hole for Medium Hub Center
15° rim profile
One Piece / Drop Center
Riveted
Made by Kelsey Hayes for Ford
Painted Steel
Outie style tabs for deep hubcaps measuring 11 3/4" OD
1/2" Wheel Stud Hole
Fits Tire Size 8.00 X 16.5 or 8.75 X 16.5

I read these same size wheels were fitted on F-250/350's between 1967 and 1979, and used on 1969/74 E300's. This size and style wheel was also offered by Dodge and Studebaker on their 3/4 ton models. The Part Number was replaced with D1TZ-1015-A in later years.

I do not know when they were stamped "Fomoco" or "KH". But that is what I'd like to find.

I've also read that this size was available from other vehicle manufacturers prior to 1967, but that Ford finally began offering their versions of the 16.5" rim in 1967. So this is the first year these would have been used on an F250.

Anyone with any number of these in a good straight condition, I will be repainting them, that they would be willing to sell please contact me.

Photos are of what I currently have, two on the front and one spare.

Thanks

 

FTE member truckdog62563 is the wheel guru, will answer all your questions.

KH = Kelsey Hayes .. the wheel manufacturer.

 

Yes, truckdog62563 is the guru. He has helped me figure out some of this. I very grateful.

Thanks for the info on KH. I was wondering what that meant. I found an interested article talking about their history...

https://www.encyclopedia.com/history...s/kelsey-hayes

I thought these were made by Budd, but I guess not now.

 

I have 4 16.5 wheels that came off my 72 that I am sure came on it originally...they are stacked against a wall at the body shop where the truck STILL IS...On Friday I will be seeing my customers that are in El Cajon and the truck is also there....so Ill bounce by and take a look see....I have a computer on the truck so I can compare the picture you have here with what is stacked up against that wall....I went with 16 inch new Dorman wheels that I had powder coated...I wanted good quality tires and was NOT impressed with anything 16.5...way too expensive for the much less than smooth ride and much reduced handling for me to consider the 16.5 size....If what I have is what you need you can have them....they have ZERO value to me....the tires on them now while deep in tread are egg shaped etc dry rotted etc. the truck sat not moving for a few years with a cab over camper on it....

 

That would be great if they matched. Thank you so much. I just went to two junk yards again yesterday and went through all the piles, trucks, dark corners. Nothing. Only a few 16.5's but nothing that matched. Been trying craigslist but nothing there yet.

Yep, nobody wants these 16.5s. I understand about the tires. Not to many options out there. But I did see Firestone has a nice set. Can even get them for about $130 on Amazon even though there were $280 at my local tire shop.

I'll wait to see what you find. And if they match, perfect!!

 

Be careful buying tires thru the internet...tire DUMPS are done online..the tires that have old DOT date codes end up online to get rid of them..tires really DO have a shelf life...Firestone has a DARK history of having environmental issues that compromised the structural integrity of their tires..An aging date code on a tire is not a good thing especially for a Firestone

 

Just curious why the need for 16.5? The 16 were also available in 1967.

 

Yep, I've been working on a set of 16"s as well. I found a set of four original locking rims with innie hub caps that would have been factory original to that year. I also have just come across a set of four 16" locking rims that use the outie hub caps. I'm not sure these were original but I'll tackle that question separately. Not many people like these locking rims, so it's hard to find a set of these as well.

My understanding is that this 1967 Ford F250 truck came with the 16.5's, so that is the main reason I'm trying to finish out the set. I could be wrong. But having the two front and the spare be "Fomoco" and "KH" (Kelsey Hayes) reinforces that belief. The rears were upgraded to a wider width for 12" tires and they have tabs for innie hub caps as well. I'm not sure if it came from the factor with those or the dealer.

It's just so hard to put together an original set of 16.5's and most people are not even interested in these. I want to try. I like the 1967 because some of it's components were one year only and this adds to the intrigue and challenge. My uunderstanding this includes the dash *****, the radio, the grill, the ignition switch, the mirror bracket, the hood emblems, the ash tray handle, the hood latches, the master cylinder, the parking brake assembly.

I love that. And this is my third 1967.

I enjoy trying to figure out what was original and what was not. The puzzle and the mystery. I love learning about the history of these trucks, how they changed and transformed. How they were personalized from the factory and even more personalized from the dealer.

I find myself accomplished when I discover something new, like whether the jack handle was straight or hinged on this truck. And where the tire iron mounted. Still trying to figure that one out.

So the 16.5's represent part of the process and the fun of it all. In the end, even if no one else can tell the difference between wheels, I'll feel accomplished and proud of myself for being patient, taking time, and being willing to put together an original set of wheels as would have come on that truck.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the tires having DOT date codes. Never really thought of that. Especially since I've seen some tires 20 years old still going strong. I'll make sure I check this out. It seems there is a 30 day return guarantee and free shipping. Also one reviewer said they were concerned about the dates but when they got their 16.5" Firestone tires they were only 4 month since the DOT date.

I don't think it has to do with buying online though. Because when I went into the tire store, he got onto his computer and went online to see what he could order. Just the way I did. And I have no way of know where he was getting them or the date code of those tires. Maybe I'll ask about that next time I go in.

I probably wouldn't mind if they were a year old, even more. I'd be more concerned about the condition of the tire when I got it. And this is probably affected by how it was stored and handled and less a matter of how many years since manufactured. I would imagine tire shops tend to tell people their tires have an expiration date. Expiration date to me has always been when a tire is no longer safe or functional. Nothing to do with date.

And in the case of 16.5's I'd think that not many of these tires are sold and would expect them to be older. I don't mind that at all.

But in the case of buying online, in this case Amazon, I was very impressed that one person got their tires and they were only 4 months old. And they are stocked and sold directly by Amazon, not a third party. This makes it less likely to get tires that were mishandled or store outside. And with the 30 days return, there is no risk.

Many times on-line can delivery better quality at a lower cost. And sometimes this is the opposite. I see this with buying parts for my truck. Some of the online companies seem to have great prices for really good stuff. And some have high prices for not so good stull. Tricky to sort through.

The online rating for these tires was 5 stars on Amazon. Pretty impressive. Not a single negative review out of 30 customers.

That works for me. But I'm curious now as to the date. I'll post it here once I get them.

 

Firestone has been owned since 1979 by Bridgestone, a Japanese tire manufacturer.

In the late 1970's, the Firestone 500 tire was defective, the tread peeled off.

Firestone, in order not to have to replace millions of tires under warranty, declared bankruptcy, then was purchased by Bridgestone in US Bankruptcy Court.

Y'all may want to "drive a Firestone," but not me. I had Firestone 500's on my new 1979 F150 Stupor Cab, tread peeled off the rear tires several months after I bought it.

At my own expense, I replaced all 5 tires with Goodyear's, since Firestone wasn't gonna do it.

People have short memories, how many of y'all remember the Explorer roll over fiasco?

The Firestone tires were defective and FoMoCo compounded the problem by installing D rated tires, then underinflated them to give a more "cushy" ride.

This fiasco cost FoMoCo millions of bucks and didn't help their reputation either...that wasn't very good to begin with.

 

Will guys I just got a good set on my 1971 F250. They are Firestone
Transforse ht 8.75r16.5 LT. Been on the truck for two years, no problems, good even tread wear. I run 60# in them most all the time, bit of a hard ride.

 

Those Firestones are exactly the tires I was thinkinig. And the hub caps. And the wheels.

I actually like the idea of gettng the Firestones because they do have such an interesting history with Ford. I would think that a company that has gone through that sort of mess would have learned a lot from the experience and come out the other side a better company. At least that's what has happened to me everytime I've made mistakes and learned from them.

Got my Marti report today and sure enough... 16.5" wheels. But using 8.00 10 ply rated black sidewall tires. So I may try to find some 8.00 X 16.5 tires as well. I have 8.75's on the truck right now but they are needed to be replace. Past their "expiration" date and it shows as they are not looking great.

So I'm still looking for at least 2 more "Fomoco" 16.5 wheels with the "KH" stamp on the face.

Anyone have any of these they want to part with?

 

Unless you are building a 100% correct truck I do not know why you are so set on finding a couple more 16.5 stamp steel rims that have FMC & KH stamped in them. The 16.5 rims on my truck are the same as your rims (only different rim maker) & use the same Ford hub caps. Little easier to find 16.5 stamp steel plain rims like I run. Ain't no one going to bend down to make sure the have the KH & FMC stamped in them. As I said above I like the FirestoneTransForce ht 8.75r16.5 LT tires and they have worked out fine for me. As a side note, I like the tire size look on my 1971.

 

Closeup picture of my 16.5 rim & 71 hubcap.

 

If you go with a stamp steel wheel like mine you might check with a company called
Wheel Vintiques, they make OEM style wheels. Check their Web Site to see if they make 16.5. Good luck.