8.25 x 16.5 Western Wheel Turbines - Tire size

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Just picked up five 8.25 X 16.5 Western Wheel turbines for dirt cheap, though it might have been a wasted effort. I have the same 8.25 X 16.5 wheels on my fronts, which have 9.50 X 16.5 tires on them. Therefore it seems the 9.50" tire is the correct fit. Doesn't mean it is.

Anyway, the reason I bought these new turbines was to replace the 9.75 X 16.5 wheels on the rears, which require a 12.5" tire, and I can't justify the expense.

Ironically, the 8.25" wheels I picked up have 12.5" tires on them, just like what's on my 9.75" rear wheels. So I'm left wonder what the heck.....I may have bought five wheels that require the same tires I was avoiding.

At any rate, does anyone know if the 9.50 X 16.5 tire is correct for a 8.25 X 16.5 wheel? That and/or tires suggestions.

Thanks

[RichardJ]

9.50 X 16.5 tires was what I had on my 8.25 X 16.5 front wheels. The 9.75 X 16.5 rear wheels had a 12.5" tire as well.

Not wanting to deal with the limited choices for the 16.5 tire other than the popular 36" mudder tires, I switched to 17" wheels with plenty of choices available.

[special-K]

A 9.50 tire on an 8.25 wheel is a good match. I'd say that is the smallest size and a 12.50 is the biggest. 12.50s were typically run on 9.75s but in more recent years guys want the tires tucked-in more and run those on 8.25 wheels (or with 16s they run 8"). I ran 9.50s on the front of my '71 Custom Camper mounted on 8.25 slots

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

This is VERY GOOD news, thank you. A 9.50" tire runs about $160, while a 12.50" is $350 easy

I had read a post something to the affect that 12.50" was the only option for 8.25" wheels, and even then wasn't a good fit. Between that and the 12.50" tires on the wheels I bought, it was beginning to look like learn a lesson day. 2-3 hours round trip to Wellington Nv. Nice drive, I really like the area.

Somebody painted the slots white. I think I'll have the tires removed and the wheels blasted.

[CG]

Sounds like you have a cool set up in the works.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by CG

Sounds like you have a cool set up in the works.

Looks like it will work out, thanks...................... 8.25" turbines aren't plenty, I've looked for a while. 9.75" are sure available, and some folks ask a lot of money for them too. Speaking for myself, when my rear tires are toast the 9.75" are off cheaply. A shame the tire business has nearly phased these out. Nothing quite like fat 16.5 slots and turbines. Old school cool............Anyway, I've got too many turbines at the moment (ha!)..............

Question for someone. If I have these soda blasted, they should be alright without a top coat right? I shouldn't have said painted "slots", because that's misleading. The insides of the spokes are painted. Tough coat too. I used aircraft paint remover on one, which was long enough to hope for some blasting for all five.

[special-K]

These are 33/12.50s on 8.25 on the GMC. The Chevy has 9.50s on 8.25s and 12.50s on 9.75s

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by special-K View Post
These are 33/12.50s on 8.25 on the GMC. The Chevy has 9.50s on 8.25s and 12.50s on 9.75s
Your Chevy tires/wheels are just like mine. Such a beautiful truck/camper. A#1

Here's a link that includes the wheel width recommendation, confirming what you already know. They advertise these tires as 9.5 & 9.50 with variances in load descriptions etc., but they're all the same tire. At least the manufacturer # is the same. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-9-5R16...dW3yom&vxp=mtr

According to one vendor "Per Firestone, the rim-width range for the selected tire: 6.8-8.3".



Other than that, the tire local retailers I dealt with prior to this thread don't know WTH they're talking about.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Tires are off. I checked on soda blasting, but the guy doesn't use it anymore at $90 a bag. He uses a GMA Garnet material, which amounts to 120 grit or finer. Might be a bit rough and cost is approx. $35 a wheel, so back to stripping by hand.

[onebigjohn]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Tires are off. I checked on soda blasting, but the guy doesn't use it anymore at $90 a bag. He uses a GMA Garnet material, which amounts to 120 grit or finer. Might be a bit rough and cost is approx. $35 a wheel, so back to stripping by hand.

What about these guys?
http://www.precisionsodablasting.net...ting/Main.html

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by onebigjohn

What about these guys?
http://www.precisionsodablasting.net...ting/Main.html

Yep, that's "Bob", the guy I spoke to. Nice old gent.