Is it safe to run 16" tires on 16.5" rims??

[Longhorn 70]

I have a set of 16.5" rims with caps now but the rims have 16" tires on them marked for 16" rims only.

Am I going to have trouble with them?

[SS Tim]

Never put 16" tires on 16.5" wheels nor 16.5" tires on 16" wheels.

[mrolds88]

x2!!!! It isnt safe. There are so many 16 steel wheels out there and are cheap. CL, you pull it scrap yards. Be safe.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by ss tim

never put 16" tires on 16.5" wheels nor 16.5" tires on 16" wheels.

x3!!!!

[jocko]

I guess that covers that. If you are having trouble finding 16.5" tires for your 16.5 rims, try Firestone Trans-Force:

[cdowns]

have you actually mesured your rims to see if they are 16.5 rims or are you just relying on a 40year old spid to b right? and ?? that noone ever changed a tire on that truck

[Stocker]

I question that also..... while it's physically possible (and 100% wrong!) to mount a 16.5" tire on a 16" rim, mounting a 16" tire on a 16.5" rim should be quite difficult if not impossible.

Longhorn 70, most wheels have their size stamped into the back side..... what do yours say? BTW most 16.5s are not safety rims, while virtually all other car and light truck wheels are.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I question that also..... while it's physically possible (and 100% wrong!) to mount a 16.5" tire on a 16" rim, mounting a 16" tire on a 16.5" rim should be quite difficult if not impossible.

Longhorn 70, most wheels have their size stamped into the back side..... what do yours say? BTW most 16.5s are not safety rims, while virtually all other car and light truck wheels are.

Figured this would come up.
The 16.5 was designed as a HD bias ply tire. The bead is thick and heavy. As such it does not stretch very much. The matching wheel has a 5* bead seat for the tire to sit in and seal against but a low tapered lip.

A 16" was designed as a tube tire size and has a 15* bead seat and a taller lip. Most later wheels intended for tubless tires added safety ribs inside for the tire snap into as the tire is seated to help prevent the tire from leaking or popping a bead at low pressure. Due to the higher lips and the need to snap into place the tire bead is fairly elastic especially when new.

It is this elasticity combined with the low rim height and the tapering flange that enable a 16" tire to be forced onto a 16.5" wheel. But seating inflation pressures alone will likely be much higher than the tire is rated for.

[stsalvage]

first thing i was tot in the tire shop business was split rims how to mount and how to deflate NB# 2 was Never try to put a 16.5 on to a 16 inch rim My tire boss showed me when the tire was put on and showed me with a long Air hose while the rim was in the split rim cage.Man when it got to 60 PSI the rim was no longer mounted to the tire.He told me with the old 60/40 machines and you stand over the tire machine He saw the after math.His boss told him he heard a loud pop and a short scream and one of the other workers stated yelling.it nearly took the guys head off But not before taking his Nose off and 45 % of his face But luckily it Broke his neck and he did not suffer.Sorry to get graphic about it but my boss told me i rather beat it into you or scare you so bad so you wont ever for get it.

I was working for a Big tire shop back in the late 80's they dealt with a lot of split rims and the none split rims for the Big Riggs.I was just coming back from picking on a load of 235 85 22.5 recaps.I was walking up the lading Dock my Boss was walking down the ramp.

MR Bill My boss.Told me I had the rest of the day off.It was 11 am I told him i had 3 more pick up's to get.He told me To go HOME If Not i would be FIRED.So i told him ok i went in got my things looked down the where house and saw what looked to be Oil on the ground.

About 2 weeks after that My boss called me to say the shop is closed for the next 5-6 months.

Come to find out One of are new Tire Text Just inflated a Split rim was rolling it to the waiting truck to be loaded and the split rim came off and went 590 feet before it came into Contact with Jose he was eating lunch on a stack of tires it Cut his head off and then went into a brick wall bounced off and went into a Wood crate.

2 of the other workers where no more then 2 feet a way it was so quite and then they heard the ring hit the wall then the crate Jose i was told still had his sandwich in his hand it took from what Chris told me it took like 1 to 2 mins for his head to fall off.I know it sounds bad But Jose looked at him and blinked his Eyes.

Reason why my Boss wanted me out of there OSHA and the EPA and other people with Accidents like that they lock down everything for up to 24-48 hours where No one can enter or leave my boss did not want me there.

ever sence then I don't play with split rims.Sorry to be graphic But People need to learn that airing up tires and not understanding the true dangers in doing that can Kill you or your fellow workers

[jocko]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

first thing i was tot in the tire shop business was split rims how to mount and how to deflate NB# 2 was Never try to put a 16.5 on to a 16 inch rim My tire boss showed me when the tire was put on and showed me with a long Air hose while the rim was in the split rim cage.Man when it got to 60 PSI the rim was no longer mounted to the tire.He told me with the old 60/40 machines and you stand over the tire machine He saw the after math.

Neither the 16s or 16.5s being discussed in this thread are split rim types. Split rims were an original type of wheel, but 16 and 16.5 non-split rims were/are available. Most folks switch over to the pre-87 16" rims for tire availability reasons from the 16.5 non-split types. But the split rims are generally a no-no at most tire shops these days, they won't even mess with them.

SoCalSuper - that is hilarious....

[Longhorn 70]

Originally Posted by cdowns

have you actually mesured your rims to see if they are 16.5 rims or are you just relying on a 40year old spid to b right? and ?? that noone ever changed a tire on that truck

PLEASE someone help me get off the stuff... Is it too many gas fumes or lacquer thinner.... The rims I have are 16's... WHEW. They say 16x6 1/2 NOT 16 1/2 x6.


OK I'm good thanks for making me double check.

[SS Tim]

You now owe everyone who replied lunch! :-)
No seriously it is a good subject and worth talking about as a lot of newer members have no knowledge of the differences or why. Plus with today's machines, designed to mount the really low profile tires, one could with enough determination stretch a tire to failure it seems.

One last thing no 17" on 16.5" either!

[Longhorn 70]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

You now owe everyone who replied lunch! :-)

When I get the truck on the road we'll all go to the little bar and grill down the road from me so I can buy....and stagger home.

Thanks for the replies guys.

[So.Cal.Super]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

One last thing no 17" on 16.5" either!

Now you Tell me!!!

I spent all day getting them on!

[schurg]

Originally Posted by So.Cal.Super

Now you Tell me!!!

I spent all day getting them on!

what.....in the hell.....

[Longhorn 70]

YEAH, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot??

[Bishops Trucks]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

You now owe everyone who replied lunch! :-)
No seriously it is a good subject and worth talking about as a lot of newer members have no knowledge of the differences or why. Plus with today's machines, designed to mount the really low profile tires, one could with enough determination stretch a tire to failure it seems.

One last thing no 17" on 16.5" either!

WAIT, I didn't get a chance to reply. Can I atleast have some fries of peoples plates?

[Longhorn 70]

Doggy bag?

Don't worry Jim. You can still drive out for lunch. I haven't got the truck officially on the road....YET. More work this weekend should get her going.

[So.Cal.Super]

I love the internet

I remember watching an older nissan sentra make a left hand turn with 13x7's and 50 series tires probably sticking out 6" with the offset. as he made the left, his passanger front tire took off into the bushes... I think I cried I laughed so hard.

[skorpioskorpio]

My understanding was always that the point five designation was a way to differentiate the 2 different bead types and not that the 16 and 16.5 were actually 1/2" difference in size. When 16.5s were more common, warnings about not interchanging 16 and 16.5 were far more common, because apparently it doesn't take much effort to mount one on the other either way. It does however make for a weak bead seal because the bead angles are completely different.

[Square_78]

I really dont understand why people put skinny tires on WIDE rims like that? What exactly is the point? It sure doesnt look good, and it cant be safe... It just looks like you cant afford the right size tires for the rims. What am I missing here?