Can some one please explain stock 8 lug wheels to me?

[factorystock]

Great wisdom, ask for knowledge before buying. For '72, the 16.5" wheel was the one piece solid, the 16" wheel was the 2 piece. For some strange reason the 16" one piece Chevy 8 lug didn't arrive till the mid 70's, but didn't get wide spread use until early 80's. Now the 16.5" was available in a few different widths, yours is the narrower 6.75, there was a 8.25" and wider 9.75 for larger 16.5" tires. The 16.5" tires can still be ordered today, but you can't but any taller size tire than what you already have on your narrow 16.5 rim. So it looks like you are probably in the right direction going to 16" wheels. With a 16" rim, you can go to a much taller 215 or 235 85 16 tire. Must be 85 series for the tallest tire. The most common Chevy 8 lug 16" x 6 was made up until '87, some carryover (square body) models used them to '91.THese were bump type wheels that accept the standard 12" hubcap. Stay away from late 80's and 90's 16" wheels designed for plastic center caps only (your fourth link). Some Ford pickup and Econoline 16"x6 and 16x7 will work also. The Econoline wheels in the first and second link will bolt on, but they have no nubs for hubcaps, they were designed for full wheel covers only. Pre 2006 Ford Econoline wheels have the bumps and will work. The third link is a GM 16"x6, they will work, but those are the "van" postive offset wheels ( hubcap will be closer to the curb) vs. the standard pickup wheels (see special K's and sickla joe's photos and links, they are all good choices).

[Sicklajoie]

These are the Ford van rims just like the link I provided, on 265/75/16 tires. The tires are 31.5" tall.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by special-K

Ford wheels*

*The 8-lug pattern for GM,Dodge,Ford,IH,Jeep,etc was always the same till the late-90s when Ford decided to go metric. Wheels back then were just wheels and they all looked the same except for minute differences...car,truck,van. Diameter and lug pattern was all that mattered. It was the hubcap/wheelcover that brought individual style to each make and model,the way styled wheels do today. These are the last SAE wheels Ford made,which was after GM went to the styled steel wheel/center cap design in '88 (C/K). By then 16" tires were being offered in lower/wider profiles (75 series),so GM went from 6" (73-87/91 RV) hubcap-type to 6.5" styled steel and Ford went to 7" without changing from the old style. Pop a Chevy/GMC cap on and they are GM wheels! They are stamped "Accuride" who is like the modern day "Kelsey-Hayes" (who built everyone's wheels back then)

^^ Cut & pasted from an old closed thread b/c it best answers questions that I have been searching for recently. Along with other posts in this thread, it may be helpful to others too.

I just discovered that my 12-year-old 33/12.50-16.5 BFGs are cracking much worse than I had realized. Still good tread, but how safe? My long-term plans were to get Ford 16x7 steel wheels and go back to tall-n-skinny tires, but I needed more info on which wheels to look for. Tim's post takes care of that, now I hope my one & only local junkyard can help me out!