9.5Rx16.5 tires...the price of authenticity

[dads longhorn]

The tires on my truck are cracking splitting even though the tread is still like new. Tires are older than 10 years, but had very few miles put on them. Wildcat Radial LT 9.5x16.5 aggressive tread is on there now. Time for new tires before long. Price for BFG or Goodyear are near $200 ea. I have the original rims on there, 8 lug with hubcaps, C20, 3/4 ton, taken out 2x monthly for 30 miles each time, so not daily driver. Doubt Ill ever make it carry camper again or maybe pull an RV. Maybe a dirt road or two but no serious off roading.

I can buy new alloy wheels and 16 inch tires all day long for under$1000. But they're not what would have been on the truck to begin with. Original recommended size is 9.5x16.5. And the original hubcaps won't fit the new 16" alloy wheels.

Questions... Are the rims "split steel"? What's that mean? Are they safe? (They have been for 42 years)
Do I need load rating d, e?
Brands I'm considering are good yr workhorse or BFG all terrain, not Firestone or cooper. Any input on these? I will make sure of the mfg date per advice on this forum, thanks.

I guess I'm really asking the value of original or authentic sizes of wheels tires. Cheaper to go 16 inch but not authentic. Dad did a great job of taking care of this truck and I don't want to go modifying it. Originals are more rare and to me, a great part of the value of the truck. I'm leaning to keeping 16.5's and just suck up the extra cost.

Any input is welcome, thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

[71blksuper4x4]

I just ponied up and bought 16.5 x 9.50 sta traxion mud and snow tires last week for my 72 k20. Worth it to me for the look. Trevor
Posted via Mobile Device

[Stocker]

Strictly a personal choice as far as I see it.... if authenticity means that much to you, stick with original. Though original tires would have been bias-ply instead of radial, and bias-ply tires are much harder to find.

The 16.5" wheels I have seen were not split rims (more accurately, locking-ring wheels) but OEM 16" wheels often were.

I don't really consider changing wheels & tires as modifications to the vehicle, especially if they will be roughly the same physical size as the originals.

There's a wide variety of 16" tires available.... if it's my money, that's what I would buy. Load range E is far more than you need. LR-D is plenty, and with the use you described, LR-C would be just fine.

[slow-1]

Someone on here has a 3/4 ton with late model 16" Ford van wheels on it...looks stock and they were cheep at the bone yard if I remember correctly.

[Joesjunk]

I have 2 trucks with 16x7 ford steel wheels, painted them white, put the original hub caps back on and no one will ever know They are pretty cheap, and can be found at most salvage yards. I mostly find them on Vans from the early 90's through early 2000's. They say "16x7" stamped right on the outer part like where the valve stem is.

[Joesjunk]

Also Firestone makes a Transforce HT in a 9.50x16.5. Good looking highway tire, sometimes you can catch them on sale

[birdistheword]

Kinda crappy cell phone pic but I've got the same newer 16x7 rims on my truck with LT245/75R16 Firestone A/T tires and original GMC hubcaps. I think the caps even fit a little tighter on the rims.

[DeadheadNM]

I get the authenticity bit...I shipped in and had powder coated correct 16.5 x 8.25 wheels for my K20 - they look great but were I to do it over I'd go 16" and save a few $$. I considered the transforce tire but the two local Firestone shops I inquired with never got back to me about ordering a set. I went with the sole remaining size of BFG AT for the 16.5 wheel, which is 33" diameter. Doesn't Wheel Vintiques have a 16 x 8 steel wheel?

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

Also Firestone makes a Transforce HT in a 9.50x16.5. Good looking highway tire, sometimes you can catch them on sale

what he said - I put them on my 71. Have to consider the overall cost - i.e. compare new rims+tires to current rims+slightly more expensive tires (but not much). My white 72 has 16" rims (standard, not split rims - those have a big ring on the outside, very visible/obvious when you see them - and these are GM wheels, but the Ford 16x7's work well also - I just grabbed em from a junkyard off some of the later 70's early 80's C20s), and my 71 has 16.5" rims. BOTH have TransForce HT all the way around and they cost about the same price for the 16" (265-75-16) as the 16.5" 9.50x16.5). So, since the 16.5" tires are still available, that's what I'd do - no matter how you slice it, will still probably be less expensive than getting new rims AND 16" tires, of any brand. You really can tell the difference in the lip profile of the 16.5" wheels (green truck) - the tires seat differently on them, but they work just fine. The 16.5" wheels are originals - and that is what is on your truck as well it sounds like, but 16" wheels are perfectly acceptable - a few more tire choices (but I like the Fstones best anyway for these trucks) and they were an optional wheel size on factory C20s.

[Sicklajoie]

I'm one of those 16 x 7 Ford rims guys (thanks to Joesjunk's advice). I'm a diehard Michelin guy and since they don't offer 16.5 tires, I had to go the 16" wheel route.

[dads longhorn]

Thank you all for the input, I guess I just need to decide . I thought Firestone tires weren't so good? But given that I don't drive it a lot or make it work very hard they may be just fine. Theyll probably dry rot again before wearing out in 10 more years. I don't need an aggressive tread either so a highway tire load rating D or C sounds like it will work. Ill look online to see tread and sidewall plys and all that stuff.
Posted via Mobile Device

[special-K]

In the long run I think you'd be best off to find a set of those Ford 16 x 7s. These trucks came with either your 6.5 x 16.5 standard bead wheels or the 16" split rims...a separate rim to hold the tore on. Those are highly impractical these days. Those Ford wheels give you the practicality of 16" tires while looking for all intents and purposes like the original 16.5s. When looking for the Ford 7"s you must be careful to be sure you get the ones with the SAE bolt pattern and not the later metric 170mm ones.
Right now and probably the cheapest way to go will be buying the Firestone 9.50/16.5s for the wheels you have. Unfortunately,the problem we all have to face with rarely driven vehicles,no matter what size tore,is the tire companies have gone to making tires that will rot before wear as a profitable form of planned obsolescence.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

I'm one of those 16 x 7 Ford rims guys (thanks to Joesjunk's advice). I'm a diehard Michelin guy and since they don't offer 16.5 tires, I had to go the 16" wheel route.

Hey, could you get some wax on that thing! Love ol Red, looking fwd to your magazine spread....

[Sicklajoie]

Originally Posted by jocko

Hey, could you get some wax on that thing! Love ol Red, looking fwd to your magazine spread....

I haven't waxed her in over 2 years ...although I use that Meguiars Quik Detailer stuff every so often...

[In The Ten Ring]

I am pretty sure my spare tire dates back to 1971. :-0

[Katrina/10]

I didn't know those Ford wheels fit so well.

[dads longhorn]

Ok so I'm a little slow!!! But, I finally got new tires! Firestone 9.5 x 16.5 transforce. I'm glad I stuck with the original size, one less modification to the original set up. Steering is more responsive, and the truck feels "stuck to the road" a little better. Best thing is I know they're new and not dry rotting. Also made sure the new ones were manufactured within 6 months ago. 10th week of 2016. Good. Here's some pics from iPhone.

[dads longhorn]

Pics of tires. Can only post one at a time sorry

[dads longhorn]

I need to touch up the paint on the rims then done with wheels. On to the next thing.

[Joesjunk]

It looks great

[Stocker]

That does look good! Thanks for updating your thread.... many guys fail to do so.

I'm sorta in the same boat you were in when you started the thread more than 2 years ago. Running 12-year-old BFG 33/12.50-16.5s with plenty of tread and plenty of cracking. I'm giving up on that tire size, looking for Ford 16x7s and plan on getting 255/85 tires. My K20 came with 7.50-16s so in a way I am going back to the tall & skinny look that the truck was born with.

[Sicklajoie]

Looks great!!

[special-K]

I'm glad you kept it original. It's great to know the Transforces are still being made. I just had someone tell me they weren't. Can't believe everything you hear in the real world . It must be a nice feeling with new and true rubber. Great to be able to head farther from home with confidence.

[dads longhorn]

Thanks everybody. Discount tire guy did say that size was becoming obsolete. In another 10 years I may be looking for other rims. I was able to watch them and see how the spare was dealt with and where all the old grease is in the front that needs to be cleaned away from the zirk fittings. I have work to do cleaning more! Nothing looked cracked or broken though and it was good to see beyond the tires.
Yeah it looks just fine but really it's authentic and yes, now I can go farther from home. I just retired so now I have access to IRA money to begin some work on the truck. Wipers don't squirt, AC blows but not cold, upholstery needs to go back to original look. So I may be asking for help on some of this stuff. Thanks again for the helpful comments. For now I can drive it like I stole it! (But I don't). Hahaha

[DeadheadNM]

Was the photo in post # 18 taken in Santa Fe? Truck looks great.