Tires For 16.5" Diameter Wheels

[Steeveedee]

Time to put new tires on Big Orange. It is a 3/4 Ton Custom Camper with the heavier duty 16.5 diameter wheels. I don't seem to be able to find that diameter tire. I'm pretty good at the internet, but this one seems to be beyond me. I'm in Simi Valley, CA. Anyone have a source local to this area? TIA!

[Duluth67]

These look really good on mine. Period correct look.

http://www.stausaonline.com/tires/sta-super-traxion/

750$ installed in Minneapolis

[Sicklajoie]

These seem to be really popular.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...=1&RunFlat=All

[Steeveedee]

Been to tirerack, they don't seem to show my wheel size. This is what is stumping me. CostCo and a a couple other local tire stores don't show 16.5" tires, either. I want a road tire, not something for any kind of bad weather.

[Sicklajoie]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Been to tirerack, they don't seem to show my wheel size. This is what is stumping me. CostCo and a a couple other local tire stores don't show 16.5" tires, either. I want a road tire, not something for any kind of bad weather.

The one that I linked above is for 16.5 rims. Am I missing something?

[Duluth67]

Slick's link is 16.5, isn't that what you want?

[Steeveedee]

Can't explain it, the first time I went there it didn't show up! It gave me the tire calculator, which did not work. I see the tire now. Weird.

Thanks, guys!

[Duluth67]

When I was searching a year ago or so, those, and the ones I posted, seemed to be about the only options. Is that the general consensus? Two options?

[Steeveedee]

That may well be the case. It used to be you could just go in and get a set of tires. I'm concerned now about whether these will be available next time. Old school trucks might not be able to move!

CostCo doesn't sell tires for my 2000 Astrovan, or my '68 Skylark GS, either. It's conspiracy, I tell ya! =D

[BCOWANWHEELS]

if you can fit them military surplus hummer tires are 37"tall and 12' wide. there goodyears and bfg t/a,s. they go for 50-100.00 each. look on ebay,theres tons of them. they ride excellent and have great on n off road traction. I run them on all my M715,S

[jocko]

Firestone TransForce HT is a great tire. BF Goodrich now making a 16.5, but it's a larger 4x4 type if I recall. Mud or All Terrain T/A. Anyway, here's my 16.5x9.50 Firestone TransForce HTs for ref (well, mine before I sold this one):

[Steeveedee]

Firestone is closer to home. Thanks!

[RichardJ]

You have a Grand American Tire in Simi. http://grandamericantires.com/catalog/tires

I tried to link to the 16.5 tires, but it didn't seem to work. Enter tire size using " - " for ratio

I was looking for 16.5 tires a couple years ago. The 9.50 Firestone TransForce would have worked on the front, but I had aftermarket slotted aluminum with wider rears and needed something like 12.0 x 16.5.

You can find 8.75 and 9.5, 16.5 tires, but above that is the big mudders as you have found.

I bought 17" Hummer wheels and still had trouble. I wanted 265 front, 285 rear, E rated in a name brand. Bridgestone Dueler was the only one that could give me what I wanted. All the other companies could only give me a D rated for the rear. The new tires ended up being a little larger in front and a little smaller in the rear than the old tires.
Sorry, I've wondered. Nothing there that applies to your question.

If the Grand American in Simi is like the others, call and tell him what you are looking for. He will give you a lower out-the-door price over the phone than if you just drive in. If you phone he knows you are still shopping and he wants your business.

[swamp rat]

16.5's are slowly being phased out, there should still be some sizes out there but the BFG's in 33" and 35" are history, i got one of the last sets of 33's ever made.

Check with Dick Cepic of your looking for a mud tire, they may still have one.

[Steeveedee]

I'm looking for tires rated for carrying a camper and (sometimes) towing a trailer. As many millions of this wheel as may still be on the road, you'd think there would still be enough market. I'd not like to have to replace the stock steel wheels.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

You have a Grand American Tire in Simi. http://grandamericantires.com/catalog/tires

I tried to link to the 16.5 tires, but it didn't seem to work. Enter tire size using " - " for ratio

I was looking for 16.5 tires a couple years ago. The 9.50 Firestone TransForce would have worked on the front, but I had aftermarket slotted aluminum with wider rears and needed something like 12.0 x 16.5.

You can find 8.75 and 9.5, 16.5 tires, but above that is the big mudders as you have found.

I bought 17" Hummer wheels and still had trouble. I wanted 265 front, 285 rear, E rated in a name brand. Bridgestone Dueler was the only one that could give me what I wanted. All the other companies could only give me a D rated for the rear. The new tires ended up being a little larger in front and a little smaller in the rear than the old tires.
Sorry, I've wondered. Nothing there that applies to your question.

If the Grand American in Simi is like the others, call and tell him what you are looking for. He will give you a lower out-the-door price over the phone than if you just drive in. If you phone he knows you are still shopping and he wants your business.

Thanks!

[stllookn]

I use the BFG 33x12.5x16.5 from Discount Tire.

[DarkFlounder]

My K2500 with a 4" lift was running 35x12.5x16.5 BFG TA KOs. Went to replace the tires and couldn't find any replacements.

Eventually just bought new rims (WheelVintiques black steel 8lug 16x10) and mounted 315x75x16 BFG TA KO2s on them.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by stllookn

I use the BFG 33x12.5x16.5 from Discount Tire.

When did you buy them? That's the same tire I have, from the same supplier, bought several years ago. Currently shown as unavailable. One of my sons works there (America's Tire, the retail outlet for Discount Tire) and says they have not been able to get any for several months.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I'm looking for tires rated for carrying a camper and (sometimes) towing a trailer. As many millions of this wheel as may still be on the road, you'd think there would still be enough market. I'd not like to have to replace the stock steel wheels.

There aren't that many on the road anymore. 16.5" rims haven't been made in eons, and after there were enough people in tire shops trying to mount 16" tires on 16.5" rims and damn near killing themselves... they really stopped making them.

I'm surprised there are ANY tires available for them.

Coker tire might have some 16.5" nostalgic type tires available.

Gary

[LONGHORN1962]

American tire distributors. Looks online fine your state and look for a distributor in your area. In the 9.50 size they have Firestone TransForce radial and a Samson bias ply. In 12.00 they only have the Samson bias.

[skrenly]

Old school Bias Ply are available mail order.

http://www.nebraskatire.com/hotdeals/trailer-st

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

There aren't that many on the road anymore. 16.5" rims haven't been made in eons, and after there were enough people in tire shops trying to mount 16" tires on 16.5" rims and damn near killing themselves... they really stopped making them.

I'm surprised there are ANY tires available for them.

Coker tire might have some 16.5" nostalgic type tires available.

Gary

Bolding mine. That's called bleach in the gene pool. I never did that, in my many years of mounting tires. Got to rtdi, when mounting tires. I've even fixed flats on the 20" split ring wheels. Best be paying attention, and have the cage on when inflating them. I've seen the training video where the guy got his head taken off, due to improper split ring installation.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by LONGHORN1962

American tire distributors. Looks online fine your state and look for a distributor in your area. In the 9.50 size they have Firestone TransForce radial and a Samson bias ply. In 12.00 they only have the Samson bias.

Looks like Firestone is my only solution. Thanks, all for their input. What concerns me is that I might have to buy new wheels, next time I buy tires for Big Orange. Seems a shame to make it a semi-donk.

[swamp rat]

Coker won't pick it up unless they can prove the demand it there as the cost of the dies will be expensive.. (My opinion)