3/4 Ton 16.5 Wheels?

[Ironhorse]

Curious, does anyone run the 16.5 wheels still? Tires seem rather hard to find but guess there are a few options? My 71 4x4 is a 1/2 ton six lug but I have wound up with a few 8 lug 3/4 ton wheels over the years. Couple stock 8 luggers and a couple aftermarket white spoke or wagon wheels from back in the day when they were on so many trucks then. Not sure of the rim width right now. Anyone think it would be worth it to offer them on the board? Not looking to get rich from them and I know shipping could be costly. Just hate to see good usable wheels sitting that will not fit on my truck that someone else might want and could put to us.

[LockDoc]

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I still have the original 8.25 x 16.5 wheels on my '68 CST/Custom Camper truck. I found a nice set of 16.5 tires from a motor home over at the local salvage yard. I don't think I would run them on the interstate but they work good around town.

Here is a thread on it:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753714

Looks like Firestone still makes tires for them but they are a little pricey. I think there may be another source posted too.

LockDoc

[MJN]

I'm running 8.25 x16.5's on my truck as well but with military 37x12.50 tires on them. I've been trying to sell a set of 16.5x6 rims with near new tires on them for the past couple years without any bites.

[special-K]

Anyone looking for new street radials for stock width 6.75"w or optional 8.25"w wheels, Firestone Workforce HTs are a great option. They are even listed as available from Walmart

[72c20customcamper]

I run 16 on the 72 the 68 gets 17 since it has the optional 17 inch 3 piece rims.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by special-K

Anyone looking for new street radials for stock width 6.75"w or optional 8.25"w wheels, Firestone Workforce HTs are a great option. They are even listed as available from Walmart

And imagine that I can find a plethora of 17 tires for my 52 year old truck

[jocko]

Originally Posted by special-K

Anyone looking for new street radials for stock width 6.75"w or optional 8.25"w wheels, Firestone Workforce HTs are a great option. They are even listed as available from Walmart

Tim, did you mean Transforce (instead of Workforce) - or is there a new tire out there I need to track down for my 16.5s!?

I like those tires, have run the HT (also available in AT, although don't look very all-terrain-y...) on 16.5" (pic 1) and 16" rims (pic 2), never had an issue, and they look good (imo )

[Ironhorse]

Beginning to look as if not much support for keeping these 16,5 wheels with the thought that someone would want or need them. Guess as much as I hate to scrap and trash good usable original parts not much of a possibility of finding a new home for these. Next scrap run guess they are destined for the ride.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by jocko

Tim, did you mean Transforce (instead of Workforce) - or is there a new tire out there I need to track down for my 16.5s!?

I like those tires, have run the HT (also available in AT, although don't look very all-terrain-y...) on 16.5" (pic 1) and 16" rims (pic 2), never had an issue, and they look good (imo )

Seems the tansforce is the go too .

[Steeveedee]

Yeah, I have the Transforce 16.5s on my truck. I think they were about $1k out the door for four of them. My wife wanted to go camping on short notice, so I bought those new. I'll buy 4 new 16" wheels when I'm ready to be rid of these. Since I pull a trailer on the highway, it won't be too long before that happens. I'll probably sell them for a song at that time. Sad that a tire goes "bad" in five years. I'd drive the truck around town until one sprung a leak from rot instead of replacing 5 year old tires, but that really isn't an option, in my case.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Yeah, I have the Transforce 16.5s on my truck. I think they were about $1k out the door for four of them. My wife wanted to go camping on short notice, so I bought those new. I'll buy 4 new 16" wheels when I'm ready to be rid of these. Since I pull a trailer on the highway, it won't be too long before that happens. I'll probably sell them for a song at that time. Sad that a tire goes "bad" in five years. I'd drive the truck around town until one sprung a leak from rot instead of replacing 5 year old tires, but that really isn't an option, in my case.

The 275/70 r16 cost about 600 from all places Walmart online came from simpletire I mounted them

[DeadheadNM]

The no longer produced BFG 16.5” on my K20

[special-K]

Originally Posted by jocko

Tim, did you mean Transforce (instead of Workforce) - or is there a new tire out there I need to track down for my 16.5s!?

I like those tires, have run the HT (also available in AT, although don't look very all-terrain-y...) on 16.5" (pic 1) and 16" rims (pic 2), never had an issue, and they look good (imo )

Yes, Transforce HTs. Sorry, no such thing as Workforce tires. I must have flipped it around in my head after I searched them to make sure they were still available, using Transforce, of course, in my search. Thanks for straightening that out.

[KLASS6]

I have 9.5/16.5 Firestone transforce HT on my 72 C20.
Not a wide range of tires in this size but I wanted to keep the truck all original.

[kwmech]

Had a set on my 68 years and scrapped them out for some later model 16''

[fun in dirt]

Just with through this debating what to run on my '72 build ... I have a set of 36"x14.5 TSLs on 16.5 slots that I absolutely love the look of, and a set of 37" military OZs on 16.5 steelies that are in perfect shape. But the sad truth of both is, even balanced at their best, I'm not totally comfortable running over 60mph with either. I searched for a month hunting a new set of 16.5" mud tires I could buy to run 70-75mph & not worry. Only options for 16.5 tires are Swampers (which is the TSLs I already have) & the Transforce (I don't want something that street looking). So I conceded & got a nice set of used 17" H2 wheels & some 315/70-17 Firestone MT2s (cause they were 50+% tread & cheap from local guy getting some of those streety type tires). So all to say I'm happy with these 17s, but I cannot make myself sell either set of 16.5s, they are just too cool! Both still usable for playing around on & I love the look of grips on slots so much I'll use them for decor somewhere maybe

[gmc684x4]

My 70 came with 16 wheels i think there stock horrible checked white paint looks pretty much like my 68 16 wheels only a bit wider

I always thought 16.5 was a 70s ford size since that is the truvks i seen them on the most

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

My 70 came with 16 wheels i think there stock horrible checked white paint looks pretty much like my 68 16 wheels only a bit wider

I always thought 16.5 was a 70s ford size since that is the truvks i seen them on the most

Here is the SPID from my '68 CST/Custom Camper Truck. It only lists the spare tire wheel, but all of the wheels were 16.5 x 8.25.

LockDoc

[factorystock]

Not many 16.5 tires with the off road tread out there for 4x4's, but the highway tread is still readily available and reasonably priced. If I had a 2x4 C 20 with original 16.5 wheels, I would just keep them.https://www.ebay.com/itm/Firestone-T...sAAOSwiiZeXOsJ

[jocko]

Agree not many off road options, but these are the tires I plan to go with, assuming there are still internal combustion engine vehicles around when I get around to restoring mine Unfortunately a little pricey, but I've got lots of time to save up.. ha.

[Arnulfo]

JOCKO THANK YOU for that info! I was about to give up on my 16.5 slots too , but no more!

[factorystock]

Those look great jocko! The ride may be a little ruff, but you can't beat the old school narrow bias ply traction look!

[jocko]

agree ride may be a little stiff. I saved that pic from a member's post many years ago, and held onto the STA link once I finally found it. There seems to be sufficient demand for a radial that looks like an old school off road, I sure wish someone would make one

[CG]

Originally Posted by jocko

Agree not many off road options, but these are the tires I plan to go with, assuming there are still internal combustion engine vehicles around when I get around to restoring mine Unfortunately a little pricey, but I've got lots of time to save up.. ha.

Thats a great looking combo. If you arent using a truck as a freeway commuter I think they would be awesome.