The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

capturedlive · 07-09-2011, 08:42 PM

I'd guess a number of this forum's members have 16.5 tires on their trucks. I've got 8.75 x 16.5 Generals and I'm not very impressed with them, but I'm having trouble finding replacements. The guy at Big O told me the best thing I could do was switch to 16" rims, but to heck with that-- I'm keeping the originals. So, how about it, 16.5ers? Where do you go for your treads?

**4X4GMC1972** · 07-09-2011, 09:42 PM

http://www.nebraskatire.com/hot_deal..._hot_deals.htm
They have bias ply tires and are good to deal with

Longhorn Man · 07-09-2011, 10:07 PM

convert to 16 inch... only a few people will be able to tell

capturedlive · 07-09-2011, 10:09 PM

Interesting, I've never heard of Specialty Tires of America (and not a single review to be found online)... but they have my size in two styles, and the price is right. If shipping's reasonable, this could be the ticket. Thanks for the lead, 4X4GMC1972.

**nightmare** · 07-09-2011, 10:19 PM

when I had my '69 GMC 2500 with the 16.5's, I went to a local tire shop. Not NTB or Discount Tire, but a place that dealt with 18-wheelers. They had them in stock and were reasonably priced too. Just a thought.

capturedlive · 07-09-2011, 10:26 PM

I agree, Longhorn Man, that life would be a lot easier if I switched to 16", but I'd like to stick with the original wheels. Just a desperate, old fool holding onto the past I guess.

**4X4GMC1972** · 07-09-2011, 10:32 PM

STA was McCreary. Made here in the USA. Tennessee I think. I bought them for mine and I'm very happy with them.

capturedlive · 07-09-2011, 10:38 PM

Good idea, nightmare. It goes along with 4X4's recommendation, more of a "mom n' pop" store. My guess is local tire shops are taking advantage of needs abandoned by the chain stores.

bobs409 · 07-10-2011, 10:22 AM

I go to my local junkyard and often get lucky. I got a set of 4 like new ones already mounted on 8 lug steel wheels for $100. Those are on my 71 C20. All I had to do was clean them and paint the wheels, then bolt them on!

There are alot of cube vans and delivery type vehicles with these kind of tires getting junked so they come in fairly regularly.

Just got 6 for the wrecker too!

factorystock · 07-10-2011, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the link 4X4GMC1972! I have seen the Specialty Tires of America tires and they use the same tread pattern used in the 70's. Very authentic. Can be ordrered thru most commerical heavy truck tire dealers. I believe you can bump up to the larger 9.50's on the same rim.

CG · 07-10-2011, 11:26 AM

I got my BFGs at Discount Tire. They had to order them in. I asked if this was going to be a problem tire to get in the future, they said not as far as they know.

capev86 · 07-10-2011, 03:43 PM

i know Coker tire reproduces vintage tires with modern materials and construction (radial instead of bias ply). maybe they might have something?

Mike C · 07-10-2011, 07:19 PM

BFG has discontinued the 35 12.5 16.5 MT's, so some other cancellations may happen. I know they have the 33 12.5 16.5 AT still. If you want BIG ties, Tread Wright has re-treaded 37" Humvee radials.

**Daddy Brim** · 07-10-2011, 07:53 PM

Thair is a company in Fresno CA. that has 16.5 tires in stock (East Bay Tire Co 559-354-1000)

**LockDoc** · 07-10-2011, 08:29 PM

-
Member "Roadmarks" posted this in one of my threads earlier....

Quote:

Hey LockDoc, Real nice rig! If you have a "Sam's Warehouse" discount place in your part of IOWA, I'd try them for your 16.5 tires. Around here in NC, Sam's has both 9.50s and 8.70s in 16.5! I hope this helps. Enjoy that truck.

Les

LockDoc

CrewCab59 · 07-10-2011, 09:01 PM

I have 5 sets of 16.5 in the form of 8.25 and 9.75 wide and have sts and BFG , the 16" just don't have the same look to the wheel because of the missing ridge .

Tire choices
Sts
Bfg at
Firestone

Thanks

07-09-2011, 08:42 PM	#1
capturedlive Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 18	The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt I'd guess a number of this forum's members have 16.5 tires on their trucks. I've got 8.75 x 16.5 Generals and I'm not very impressed with them, but I'm having trouble finding replacements. The guy at Big O told me the best thing I could do was switch to 16" rims, but to heck with that-- I'm keeping the originals. So, how about it, 16.5ers? Where do you go for your treads? __________________ '72 GMC 2500 Sierra Long bed 402 cu. in. 400th transmission

07-09-2011, 09:42 PM	#2
4X4GMC1972 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 506	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt http://www.nebraskatire.com/hot_deal..._hot_deals.htm They have bias ply tires and are good to deal with __________________ 1978 Dodge Omni

07-09-2011, 10:07 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt convert to 16 inch... only a few people will be able to tell

07-09-2011, 10:09 PM	#4
capturedlive Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 18	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt Interesting, I've never heard of Specialty Tires of America (and not a single review to be found online)... but they have my size in two styles, and the price is right. If shipping's reasonable, this could be the ticket. Thanks for the lead, 4X4GMC1972. __________________ '72 GMC 2500 Sierra Long bed 402 cu. in. 400th transmission

07-09-2011, 10:26 PM	#6
capturedlive Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 18	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt I agree, Longhorn Man, that life would be a lot easier if I switched to 16", but I'd like to stick with the original wheels. Just a desperate, old fool holding onto the past I guess. __________________ '72 GMC 2500 Sierra Long bed 402 cu. in. 400th transmission

07-09-2011, 10:32 PM	#7
4X4GMC1972 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 506	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt STA was McCreary. Made here in the USA. Tennessee I think. I bought them for mine and I'm very happy with them. __________________ 1978 Dodge Omni

07-09-2011, 10:38 PM	#8
capturedlive Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 18	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt Good idea, nightmare. It goes along with 4X4's recommendation, more of a "mom n' pop" store. My guess is local tire shops are taking advantage of needs abandoned by the chain stores. __________________ '72 GMC 2500 Sierra Long bed 402 cu. in. 400th transmission

07-10-2011, 10:22 AM	#9
bobs409 1969 Custom 30 wrecker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pottsville, Pa Posts: 2,611	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt I go to my local junkyard and often get lucky. I got a set of 4 like new ones already mounted on 8 lug steel wheels for $100. Those are on my 71 C20. All I had to do was clean them and paint the wheels, then bolt them on! There are alot of cube vans and delivery type vehicles with these kind of tires getting junked so they come in fairly regularly. Just got 6 for the wrecker too! __________________ Bob 63 Impala 283/PG/3.36 (under restoration) 66 Impala 327/PG/3.36 66 Chevelle SS 409/M22/3.55 69 Chevelle 307/PG/3.08 (future restoration) 69 C10 short stepside 454/TH350/3.73 69 Custom 30 tow truck 350/4 spd/4.10 (resto done, CRUISIN TIME!) 71 Cheyenne 20 fleetside 350/4 spd/4.10 71 Chevelle 6/PG/3.08 72 Chevelle 454/M21/4.10

07-10-2011, 11:00 AM	#10
factorystock Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 3,396	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt Thanks for the link 4X4GMC1972! I have seen the Specialty Tires of America tires and they use the same tread pattern used in the 70's. Very authentic. Can be ordrered thru most commerical heavy truck tire dealers. I believe you can bump up to the larger 9.50's on the same rim.

07-10-2011, 11:26 AM	#11
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt I got my BFGs at Discount Tire. They had to order them in. I asked if this was going to be a problem tire to get in the future, they said not as far as they know. __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

07-10-2011, 03:43 PM	#12
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt i know Coker tire reproduces vintage tires with modern materials and construction (radial instead of bias ply). maybe they might have something?

07-10-2011, 07:19 PM	#13
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt BFG has discontinued the 35 12.5 16.5 MT's, so some other cancellations may happen. I know they have the 33 12.5 16.5 AT still. If you want BIG ties, Tread Wright has re-treaded 37" Humvee radials. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

07-10-2011, 07:53 PM	#14
Daddy Brim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clovis Ca. Posts: 632	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt Thair is a company in Fresno CA. that has 16.5 tires in stock (East Bay Tire Co 559-354-1000) __________________ I'm sorry I called you stupid. I thought you knew already. 67 C-20 Custom Camper 68 Nova 396 it does wheelies 2005 Buick Century the one the wife drives 1989 Toyota Tercel to drive when I can't put gas in the first 2.

07-10-2011, 09:01 PM	#16
CrewCab59 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,185	Re: The 16.5 Tire Scavenger Hunt I have 5 sets of 16.5 in the form of 8.25 and 9.75 wide and have sts and BFG , the 16" just don't have the same look to the wheel because of the missing ridge . Tire choices Sts Bfg at Firestone Thanks __________________ 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 4x4 burb 1971 GMC SWB CST 4x4 1972 GMC k20 4x4 (X- brush truck ) 1971 Chevy CST Blazer 4x4 1971 Chevy C/10 1970 Cab Chassis C30 157" 1971 Cab Chassis Custom 30 Deluxe 157" 292/4spd ( Napco Replica ) 1988 Chevy V30 4x4 wrecker challenger 4812



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