16.5" wheels?
 

I just bought a 70 Blazer; it has 16.5 inch wheels on it. The PO told me that the wheels were "factory”? Anyone know if these trucks had 16.5" as an option factory or dealer?

Dasani

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

mine has 16" wheels, and I believe them to be stock, but I don't know if they are factory or dealer. I have heard of a few pickups with 16.5, but I thought they were all on 3/4 ton trucks.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

My 79 1 ton pickup has the factory 16.5 inch wheels. They were exclusive to the heavy duty trucks as far as I know, Mine are 8 lug as well and wouldn't fit on a 6 lug half ton Blazer (obviously)

Wasn't aware they even made a 6 lug version of the 16.5's.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

I've got a set of 16" on a truck which look like they are 5" wide. The 16.5's are 8" wide. They will look cool on a 4 wheel drive truck.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

The 16.5's on my truck are 7" wide. So evidently GM made different versions of this wheel for different applications.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

I found some 16.5's in a pull-a-part yard a while back. See my post here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317795

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

I read some of that. I don't agree that the 16.5's are dead. I just bought 4 brand new tires last year for my truck and a local tire store had them in stock. With a "D" load range for a 1 ton truck even.
Store I went to said they get requests for 16.5's often so they tend to keep a couple sets in stock. They are out there, just have to know where to look. Don't go to your run of the mill Tire Discounters, Big "O" Tires or Sams club either. Those places are a joke.
It's the good ole mom and pop tire stores that have been around for 40+ years where I have better luck.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

Thanks everyone, I know that opinion differ and I truly appreciate the input. I understand that 16.5” are rare, these are said to be factory or dealer installed on this blazer. Does anyone know what numbers I should look for on these wheels to verify their authenticity as a GM factory wheel? I have boxes of parts and the glove box door is in a box some where, would it be on the door as an option?
The PO took the wheel covers off for another truck and isn’t willing to get off of them. He purchased the Blazer from the first owner 17 years ago, and tells me that it had the wheels and hubcaps on it then and that the guy he got it from assured him that they were on it when it came off the dealer’s lot.
They look cool to me. I have no use for them at this time, but they will not be going to scrap for sure, I’ll bust the tires off clean 'em up and place 'em in storage until a use of buyer appears.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

I was doing a search for 16.5" wheels and i found this very old post thought you might find it interesting. It has 16.5" 6 lug wheels on it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=65795

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

16.5s are not dead and 8.25 x 16.5 6-lug wheels are only scrap metal to those who don`t know any better.They are as valuable of part as any other rare vintage option.They`ll only become worth more as fools scrap them,just as with all old things neglectfully discarded only to make the survivors worth big money.

10.00 x 16.5 flotation tires were an option and 8.25 x 16.5 wheels were part of that option.15" were standard and 16" were another option.All of the many options were for tires and different wheels came if required (flotation or 16").

Check out 72highlander`s Blazer thread.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

Interesting how everyone is mentioning the 16.5's on these blazers as being 8 inches wide.
The 16.5's on my 1 ton truck are only 7 inches wide, yet they are also an 8 lug wheel.

I haven't seen 16.5's that were 8 inches wide or in a 6 lug either. That has to be a hard combo to find.

Re: 16.5" wheels?
 

They are actually 8.25" wide and are the wider than stock for wider tires option.Standard 8-lug wheels are 7 x 16.5s,you are right.But the wide wheels are 8.25,just like the specialty wide 6-lug wheels.On my first `72 C/10 I put 8.25 x 16.5 5-lug wheels on the rear.Check out 72highlander`s Blazer thread.Only the tires are listed,but it`s a wheel/tire option.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...scan0009-1.jpg