Orphan Wheel - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**tim71** · 10-05-2019, 10:06 PM

5 years ago I removed the spare tire from under my K1500 when I acquired the truck. I stuck it in a shed and gave it no inspection or thought until a couple weeks ago. Upon inspection and removal of the tire, the wheel seems to be an odd size. It must predate the 67-72 era of trucks as it has hubcap prongs. Wheel is 17.5 inches in diameter, 8 inches wide and the back spacing is 4 and 1/8 inches. Hub hole diameter is 3.5 inches. Curious if anyone might know what this came off of and does it have any value or should I just dispose of it?

**HO455** · 10-05-2019, 10:53 PM

Its a likely Dodge wheel. 17.5's were an optional size from sometime in the 1950's through the late sixties. Although don't quote me on the years. Usually found on fleet vehicles. I have a set but I don't think they are 8" wide. Not junk but not everyone needs one. If I remember correctly I paid $200 for 4 of them a couple of years back. Fords may have come with them also but I'm not 100% on that. There was even a 19" optional wheel. Google up AK wheels and that should give you a value on it.
If you were in driving distance I would come over and take it off your hands

Warrens69GMC · 10-05-2019, 11:44 PM

What size is that tire? That looks to be a 16.5 x 8 rim

**LockDoc** · 10-05-2019, 11:57 PM

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It should be measured on the inside not the outside. That should make it a 16.5" x 8.25" wheel. They came on the camper trucks. My '68 CST/Custom Camper has them on it and they have the clips for the small hubcaps.

It may also mention an 8.25x16.5 spare tire on the SPID on the inside of the glove box door.

LockDoc

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 10-06-2019, 03:21 AM

My '68 C/10 Stepside came from the factory with 5.25 x 17.5 6-lug rims. They're listed in the SPID. I wore mine out at about 250,000 miles. By that time they were obsolete and no longer available.
I may be interested in the rim-only, but I need the 5.25'', narrow style.

**special-K** · 10-06-2019, 06:50 AM

That's a 16.5 x 8.25 for a slightly earlier GM 1/2t truck. These trucks all came with bias ply tires and there were no wide 15" truck tires made yet. Wide tires were a fairly rare upgrade for added or better hauling capacity, so mainly on 3/4 tons. The standard rim for a 3/4t was a 16" split rim and the 16.5 bead seal had just come out, which ran a wider shorter tire (think Wide Oval era). So all wider wheels were 16.5 to fit the tires available. If you ordered the 10.00 flotation tires on your Blazer you got 16.5s.

**tim71** · 10-06-2019, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
It should be measured on the inside not the outside. That should make it a 16.5" x 8.25" wheel. They came on the camper trucks. My '68 CST/Custom Camper has them on it and they have the clips for the small hubcaps.

It may also mention an 8.25x16.5 spare tire on the SPID on the inside of the glove box door.

LockDoc

No mention of spare on SPID. Not to surprised that unusual things show up on a truck with almost 50 years of life. I guess I could list it on the parts board to see if someone has been in need of a wheel like this.

**special-K** · 10-06-2019, 01:21 PM

That would be from an earlier truck. Definitely not an original wheel for your truck

**HO455** · 10-06-2019, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

My '68 C/10 Stepside came from the factory with 5.25 x 17.5 6-lug rims. They're listed in the SPID. I wore mine out at about 250,000 miles. By that time they were obsolete and no longer available.
I may be interested in the rim-only, but I need the 5.25'', narrow style.

That is interesting I did not know you could get a 17.5 on a GM from the factory. Do they have the GM hub diameter or the larger Dodge/ Ford diameter?
When you say you wore them out are you talking about the rims?

cornerstone · 10-06-2019, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

If you ordered the 10.00 flotation tires on your Blazer you got 16.5s.

Interesting. Care to enlighten me as to what would be floating? Why were they called flotation tires?

**special-K** · 10-06-2019, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Interesting. Care to enlighten me as to what would be floating? Why were they called flotation tires?

Wider, as in "high-flotation". They were 10.00 -16.5 8-plys mounted on 16.5 x 8.25 wheels

**HO455** · 10-07-2019, 12:07 AM

I remember when those tires were a new thing. They were huge!

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 10-07-2019, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

That is interesting I did not know you could get a 17.5 on a GM from the factory. Do they have the GM hub diameter or the larger Dodge/ Ford diameter?
When you say you wore them out are you talking about the rims?

The lug holes mainly. But I did a lot of curb hopping and off roading. Also I was in search & rescue, and got to a lot of weird places.
They are GM OEM rims. It used to have argent silver hubcaps with orange bowties in the centers. I may still have one.
I think the 17.5 x 5.25 was for municipal fleet trucks, as the tire size was not popular and cost more. [Also military.]
I now run 235/85R16LTs. About the same ride height and profile as the 8Rx17.5LTs or the 8.00x17.5 bias 6 ply.
Originally 7.00x17.5, but they were discontinued in the mid-'70s.

10-05-2019, 10:06 PM	#1
tim71 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 1,102	Orphan Wheel 5 years ago I removed the spare tire from under my K1500 when I acquired the truck. I stuck it in a shed and gave it no inspection or thought until a couple weeks ago. Upon inspection and removal of the tire, the wheel seems to be an odd size. It must predate the 67-72 era of trucks as it has hubcap prongs. Wheel is 17.5 inches in diameter, 8 inches wide and the back spacing is 4 and 1/8 inches. Hub hole diameter is 3.5 inches. Curious if anyone might know what this came off of and does it have any value or should I just dispose of it? Attached Images __________________ 1972 Blazer Highlander 1971 GMC K1500 SWB (sold) 2004 Corvette Z06 CE

10-05-2019, 10:53 PM	#2
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,272	Re: Orphan Wheel Its a likely Dodge wheel. 17.5's were an optional size from sometime in the 1950's through the late sixties. Although don't quote me on the years. Usually found on fleet vehicles. I have a set but I don't think they are 8" wide. Not junk but not everyone needs one. If I remember correctly I paid $200 for 4 of them a couple of years back. Fords may have come with them also but I'm not 100% on that. There was even a 19" optional wheel. Google up AK wheels and that should give you a value on it. If you were in driving distance I would come over and take it off your hands __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

10-05-2019, 11:44 PM	#3
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,612	Re: Orphan Wheel What size is that tire? That looks to be a 16.5 x 8 rim

10-05-2019, 11:57 PM	#4
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,635	Re: Orphan Wheel - It should be measured on the inside not the outside. That should make it a 16.5" x 8.25" wheel. They came on the camper trucks. My '68 CST/Custom Camper has them on it and they have the clips for the small hubcaps. It may also mention an 8.25x16.5 spare tire on the SPID on the inside of the glove box door. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

10-06-2019, 03:21 AM	#5
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,423	Re: Orphan Wheel My '68 C/10 Stepside came from the factory with 5.25 x 17.5 6-lug rims. They're listed in the SPID. I wore mine out at about 250,000 miles. By that time they were obsolete and no longer available. I may be interested in the rim-only, but I need the 5.25'', narrow style. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

10-06-2019, 06:50 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Orphan Wheel That's a 16.5 x 8.25 for a slightly earlier GM 1/2t truck. These trucks all came with bias ply tires and there were no wide 15" truck tires made yet. Wide tires were a fairly rare upgrade for added or better hauling capacity, so mainly on 3/4 tons. The standard rim for a 3/4t was a 16" split rim and the 16.5 bead seal had just come out, which ran a wider shorter tire (think Wide Oval era). So all wider wheels were 16.5 to fit the tires available. If you ordered the 10.00 flotation tires on your Blazer you got 16.5s. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 10-06-2019 at 01:19 PM.

10-06-2019, 01:21 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Orphan Wheel That would be from an earlier truck. Definitely not an original wheel for your truck __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-07-2019, 12:07 AM	#12
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,272	Re: Orphan Wheel I remember when those tires were a new thing. They were huge! __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377



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