Too narrow of a rim?

[lowrollin70gmc]

Quick question: I am having trouble finding a set of 16.5x8 steel wheels for my k20 burb but have a set of 16.5x6s and some 37x12.5x16.5s (look at my location to figure out where they came from...)

Is that too narrow of a wheel? I know it's outside the recommended range but what are the repercussions of putting the tire on a narrow wheel, as I'm having trouble finding the wider wheels.

Thanks,
Andrew

[LONGHAIR]

A wheel that is too narrow does a few things. The main one being an inflation issue. When you inflate it to a "proper" pressure, it will have too much "crown" across the tread. This is a tread-wear problem as well as a traction problem.....but if you reduce the pressure enough to get them flattened out some, the sidewalls get "flabby". This can cause handling problems as well as an over-all "wallowing" feeling.
It can also shorten the over-all height of the tire from having the sidewalls "pulled in" and then running lower pressure makes it worse.

There is a point to the recommendations, they have tested it and had them "approved" by the DOT.

[special-K]

The stock 16.5 wheels are 7",I believe. So,only an inch under recommended. But,you can get 16.5 wheels. Stock type wheels are hard if that's what you want.

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by special-K

The stock 16.5 wheels are 7",I believe. So,only an inch under recommended. But,you can get 16.5 wheels. Stock type wheels are hard if that's what you want.

For sure. I see them often on Craigslist.

[silver7]

In addition to the most import safety considerations Longhair listed, when you have a narrow rim on a wide tire it causes your tires to look like ballons or marshmallows going down the road. Since the outside of your rim and the mounting surface of your tire are on two different planes the side wall of your tire will form an arc. This would be exaggerated even more when the tire height is much greater than the rim as in your case.

[lowrollin70gmc]

The set I have are 6 wide from craigslist and it's hard to find a set of 8s or 9.75s within reasonable distance. I know of a set in nor cal, but it would cost too much to ship down here.

I'll just keep looking, maybe toss some 34x9.5x16.5 TSLs on these wheels for the old skinny look in the mean time.

[Stocker]

IIRC, 16.5" steel wheels come in 8.25" width, not 8". At any rate, good call to get skinny tires for your 6" wheels, or keep looking for proper wheels for your 37/12.50 tires.

[special-K]

You won't find any tall skinny 16.5 tires for those 6" wheels. I figure with the cost of shipping the wide 16.5s are still worth it.You can't just run out and get them anywhere,they are way cool,usually cheap enough to offset shipping,and other wide wheels cost way more and look like crap after a while. These steelies look good forever. Or at least they do after you strip them down and coat them again every ten years or so. Heck,I have a set of 8.25s ready for my 12.50/37s that I gathered individually from near and far. One I got from Sakontr in MN and I'm in MD.