16 inch steelies?

[El Campo]

This may be a dumb question but can you get or has anyone put 16 inch steelies on our trucks? Have been toying with the idea of having a set around to put on instead of the billet wheels once in a while or when I am still fooling with the truck. My rationale for 16 inch instead of the usual 15s is the tires would be much cheaper and easier to find plus my 3 inch drop spindles will just BARELY allow 15s to go on. Then I would obviously want some sort of doggie dishes or the like for them too. Any suggestions, ideas or pictures? Thanks!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by El Campo

This may be a dumb question but can you get or has anyone put 16 inch steelies on our trucks? Have been toying with the idea of having a set around to put on instead of the billet wheels once in a while or when I am still fooling with the truck. My rationale for 16 inch instead of the usual 15s is the tires would be much cheaper and easier to find plus my 3 inch drop spindles will just BARELY allow 15s to go on. Then I would obviously want some sort of doggie dishes or the like for them too. Any suggestions, ideas or pictures? Thanks!

Stockton Wheel was the only mfr I could find that offered an OE steelie look in a 16" wheel. Unfortunately, last I read, they were no longer in business.

Other companies offer varying offset's & custom widths in 15" OE steelies, but in 16" diameter only offered 'Smoothies' which don't look the same to me & I'm not sure if the dog-dish caps can be utilized.

[N2TRUX]

Daaang that frame/stance/tire/wheel/cap combo is sexy.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Daaang that frame/stance/tire/wheel/cap combo is sexy.

I know they're not the 20/22" current buzz, but they were budget friendly for the width I wanted & classic never goes out of style.

[cdowns]

i'd call coker tire and ask him i do believe wheel vintiques offers them in special order

i think the variety is better at higer quality at cheaper prices in 15" tires

[rjsdad]

BeezleBurb got his thru Wheel Vintiques. There's a picture of them about half way down on his thread.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=397868&page=6

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rjsdad

BeezleBurb got his thru Wheel Vintiques. There's a picture of them about half way down on his thread.

They're the OE 8 Lug wheels (82 series in their catalogue) I ordered from Wheel Vintiques. 16" x 10" with white powdercoating. The powdercoat itself was actually an extra cost option, but I wanted them to be white like the stock steelies and I wanted them powdercoated for the extra bit of weather/abrasion resistance. For the base price they can be ordered either in bare steel or painted black. I plan to run 35x12.5 tires as soon as I've got the money for them. Originally I wanted to run tall skinny treads, but only Interco sells skinny tires in 35" diameters. Every other 35" tire will not fit properly on six or seven inch wide wheels (which is why I sold my stock style 16" x 7" eight lug steelies last year). I'm actually planning on purchasing Mickey Thompson Baja ATZs of the 315/75-R16 variety. The design rim they're measured on is 8.5" wide. The Wheel Vintiques OE 8 lugs are available in 6, 7, 8 and 10 inch widths, so I decided to step up to the 10" style.

When I mentioned the lack of 16" OE steelie options, I was referring to 5 & 6 lug choices. 16" 8 lug wheels can be found easily.

[El Campo]

Has anyone else tried to buy 15 inch tires lately? I just did for my other truck and they cost quite a bit more than 16 inch and there is not nearly the selection. Could not get the wide varieties of tread style and widths that I wanted. At least not where I looked could be different other places or maybe I did not look hard enough. Plus I agree, the classic look will always be cool. Pain to get brake dust off of, heavy and when scratched will rust but still look cool as heck.

[ChevLoRay]

I think there's still some new 15's available, but they're getting more expensive because there's less demand. I put 16x7's on my '96 GMC because I wanted to replace my 15's and the tire guy mentioned he's having a hard time finding used 15's. I went to a Wheel Vintiques 66-series (vette-style rallye) wheel. But, you want a wheel that looks original, but is a 16-inch diameter. Here's a pic of my GMC, but it ain't the wheel you want. Check out www.wheelvintiques.com, then order them from Summit Racing for less money.

[El Campo]

Yep wheel vintiques has them. And you can get all the way from a 16x4 to a 16x10. Hmmm tempting for 162 dollars (even for the 16x10) a piece. If I cant get my Intros to work for me I might go that route. Might anyways!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by El Campo

Yep wheel vintiques has them. And you can get all the way from a 16x4 to a 16x10. Hmmm tempting for 162 dollars (even for the 16x10) a piece. If I cant get my Intros to work for me I might go that route. Might anyways!

Which ones are you referring to? Original steelies in a 16" diameter & 5x5 pattern or the vette style ralleys?

[TobyArnot]

http://www.summitracing.com/search/B...k%7cAsc&page=3

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TobyArnot

http://www.summitracing.com/search/B...k%7cAsc&page=3

Close, but not close enough for an easy OE looking swap.

Those wheels don't have the 4 'windows' that OE wheels have which may or may not be a deal breaker to some (it would be for me as I needed to match some OE front wheels). They also don't have the locating dowels/nubs for mounting a 10 1/8" ID GM poverty style cap (they utilize different caps).

[El Campo]

SCOTI has a good eye! You are correct that even wheel vintique does not have the one that matches the OE exactly . For me it's not a deal breaker because it doesnt have to be a perfect match in my case. For others you are out of luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by El Campo

SCOTI has a good eye! You are correct that even wheel vintique does not have the one that matches the OE exactly . For me it's not a deal breaker because it doesnt have to be a perfect match in my case. For others you are out of luck!

Also, verify the hub cap retaining point dimensions if you plan to run OE 64-66 dog dish type truck caps (or 67-87 truck caps or Caprice caps).

[viking427]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Stockton Wheel was the only mfr I could find that offered an OE steelie look in a 16" wheel. Unfortunately, last I read, they were no longer in business...

The 6 lug boys have been feeling this pain for a very long time as 15" tires go the way of the dinosaur. The ultra-rare 6 lug factory optional 16" (not 15", not 16.5", not smoothies, not rallys, not clips, not 8 lugs, not...) steel wheels for 68-72 were only 6" wide, limiting your tire choices if you did happen to be lucky enough to have stumbled across a set. Stockton wheel is still in business, just got off the phone with them. They can build a factory stock oem looking 6 lug steel wheel (steelie) in 16x8 ..or other widths.. with the 4 oem appearing "windows" and 4 oem appearing nubs to retain the 1/2 ton 10 1/8" dog dish caps on, powdercoated in white just like original, for about 150/ea. Not outrageous considering zero options in 6 lug factory looking wheels these days.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by viking427

The 6 lug boys have been feeling this pain for a very long time as 15" tires go the way of the dinosaur. The ultra-rare 6 lug factory optional 16" (not 15", not 16.5", not smoothies, not rallys, not clips, not 8 lugs, not...) steel wheels for 68-72 were only 6" wide, limiting your tire choices if you did happen to be lucky enough to have stumbled across a set. Stockton wheel is still in business, just got off the phone with them. They can build a factory stock oem looking 6 lug steel wheel (steelie) in 16x8 ..or other widths.. with the 4 oem appearing "windows" and 4 oem appearing nubs to retain the 1/2 ton 10 1/8" dog dish caps on, powdercoated in white just like original, for about 150/ea. Not outrageous considering zero options in 6 lug factory looking wheels these days.

Still in business or 're-opened' under new mgt/ownership? Last I read, the owner notified his employees that they were shutting the doors & then commited suicide that night.

[viking427]

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/heavy_duty.html

Their "Series 20" are the blanks they'll use to build them. From my understanding Stockton Wheel did go through some turmoil in the past year or so (any search will pull up the shipping complaints/stories), but they seem to be getting their act together now with an operational web page back up and I know of 1 recent delivery that was delivered on time & up to expectations. I checked with several other hot rod wheel mfrs that couldn't/wouldn't build them. A couple said they could source the 16" outer hoops (rims), but not the larger diameter 6 lug x 5.5 BC centers to weld them to.

[El Campo]

On their website it says under new ownership
Posted via Mobile Device

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by viking427

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/heavy_duty.html

Their "Series 20" are the blanks they'll use to build them. From my understanding Stockton Wheel did go through some turmoil in the past year or so (any search will pull up the shipping complaints/stories), but they seem to be getting their act together now with an operational web page back up and I know of 1 recent delivery that was delivered on time & up to expectations. I checked with several other hot rod wheel mfrs that couldn't/wouldn't build them. A couple said they could source the 16" outer hoops (rims), but not the larger diameter 6 lug x 5.5 BC centers to weld them to.

I know Stockton can & has built them because that's where mine came from. But, Stocktons customer service was pathetic. Actually, it was flat-out dishonest....

I waited double over the 4-6wk quote I was given w/excuses after excuses (I recall it was almost 15wks total). The 1st time I checked on the status of my order was @ the end of the 6th week & they couldn't tell me what 'stage' of the build process the wheels were at. Turns out, they hadn't even been started. Very frustrating experience for sure & it didn't need to be. Simple & honest communication of the status or of any delays would have worked for me.

Also, larger diameter centers aren't needed for the 16" hoops. 15" centers can me modified to work.

[stomper]

Dang! This truck had factory 16" 5 lug wheels. I could have got them for next to nothing. I had a feeling I would regret that.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=463251

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=463247

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Stockton Wheel was the only mfr I could find that offered an OE steelie look in a 16" wheel. Unfortunately, last I read, they were no longer in business.

Other companies offer varying offset's & custom widths in 15" OE steelies, but in 16" diameter only offered 'Smoothies' which don't look the same to me & I'm not sure if the dog-dish caps can be utilized.

I know this is an old thread, but I've been searching your threads for some updated pics and can't find any.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I know this is an old thread, but I've been searching your threads for some updated pics and can't find any.

That's because it got moth balled. Domestic split, relocation, storage issues, plus finishing my dually project. Popular drill for many unfortunately. It's back @ my shop as of mid March & I'm currently working on getting the stainless exhaust finished.

[LostMy65]

Keep us posted.
Maybe I missed it, but exactly what are the wheels, backspace, and tires?
Thanks for the update.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Keep us posted.
Maybe I missed it, but exactly what are the wheels, backspace, and tires?
Thanks for the update.

Factory GM 71-87 15x6" fronts w/215/70-15 Radial T/A's.
16x10" rears using the same 71-87 centers. 5.5" back space w/285/60-16 Silvertown/BFG Radial T/A's.