16 Vs 16.5 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CG · 10-03-2007, 11:50 PM

Whats the scoop on these wheel sizes? Did 3/4 tons come with either one depending on what was ordered? Ive been leaning towards the stock look for my 71 3/4 ton 4x4. There are a couple of really nice ones Ive seen on the board lately. Both have 16's and are a bit narrower. I have wide 16.5's right now. I'm pretty sure I have another set that isn't quite as wide but they are also 16.5's. I'm going to want to use stuff I have on hand. If I'm going to go truly stock, would the 16.5's be ok?

67_C-30 · 10-04-2007, 12:00 AM

Tire availability were the biggest complaint about them years ago. All the original 16.5 tires had a lower profile, making them a wider, shorter tire. Now, you can get 16.5's in metric sizes pretty much in any size you can for a 16" tire for about the same price. The bead on the 16.5's are not as deep, and I've heard of people fussing about the bead "not looking big enough" but I've never seen or heard of any problems with the coming off the bead. I have had monster loads (read: WAY overloaded!) on my 69 C-30 car hauler, and my 16.5's have never failed me.

brianthelion02 · 10-04-2007, 01:07 AM

A lot of them come with 16s on the split wheels,EWWWWWWW!And i have a set of them!!!!

**Bob B.** · 10-04-2007, 04:01 AM

I went with 16" wheels so I could run LT245/75R-16 tires. That size of tire is very common and easy to find at a good price.

earl87gta · 10-04-2007, 04:11 AM

I always ran 16.5 on my 4x4 but now tires are getting fewer and fewer so I went to 16s so I could have more tire choices.

dwaite72lnghrn · 10-04-2007, 06:24 AM

6 months ago 9.50rx16.5 were hard to get. Now do a search and more company's are carrying them. I looked awhile back and goodyear was the only maker at 250+ a pop. Now Kumho, Cooper, Mastercraft and firestone have them. Now the prices rang from $90 for kumho, firestone has the transforce HT (10ply)for about $140. Early 16.5" rims were known to split the bead with radials on them. No real bias ply tires that I can find for 16.5 that would fit 2wd trucks, Bias ply tire will really carry a load without getting squirrely on you like the radials seem to.

**special-K** · 10-04-2007, 07:41 AM

Originally 3/4t trucks came with 16" split rims.Around when these trucks were made,the muscle car era,tires were starting to go in the "Wide Oval" direction.Non-split design wheels for 8-luggers started being offered in 16.5" and they had the lower/wider profile.
So both were available,either split 16" or standard 16.5".

10-03-2007, 11:50 PM	#1
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	16 Vs 16.5 Whats the scoop on these wheel sizes? Did 3/4 tons come with either one depending on what was ordered? Ive been leaning towards the stock look for my 71 3/4 ton 4x4. There are a couple of really nice ones Ive seen on the board lately. Both have 16's and are a bit narrower. I have wide 16.5's right now. I'm pretty sure I have another set that isn't quite as wide but they are also 16.5's. I'm going to want to use stuff I have on hand. If I'm going to go truly stock, would the 16.5's be ok?

10-04-2007, 12:00 AM	#2
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 Tire availability were the biggest complaint about them years ago. All the original 16.5 tires had a lower profile, making them a wider, shorter tire. Now, you can get 16.5's in metric sizes pretty much in any size you can for a 16" tire for about the same price. The bead on the 16.5's are not as deep, and I've heard of people fussing about the bead "not looking big enough" but I've never seen or heard of any problems with the coming off the bead. I have had monster loads (read: WAY overloaded!) on my 69 C-30 car hauler, and my 16.5's have never failed me. __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club!

10-04-2007, 01:07 AM	#3
brianthelion02 Overdrive club Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: apache junction, arizona Posts: 819	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 A lot of them come with 16s on the split wheels,EWWWWWWW!And i have a set of them!!!! __________________ 1971 c-10 1951 3100 chevy 1970 chevy c-30 Sold!

10-04-2007, 04:01 AM	#4
Bob B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,363	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 I went with 16" wheels so I could run LT245/75R-16 tires. That size of tire is very common and easy to find at a good price. __________________ 1967 GMC CM-2500 Camper Cruiser, 351E V-6, NP 435 4 speed, Dana 60, and factory A/C. 2012 GMC K-3500 WT regular cab, 6.0L Vortec, 6L90.

10-04-2007, 04:11 AM	#5
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 I always ran 16.5 on my 4x4 but now tires are getting fewer and fewer so I went to 16s so I could have more tire choices. __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

10-04-2007, 06:24 AM	#6
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 6 months ago 9.50rx16.5 were hard to get. Now do a search and more company's are carrying them. I looked awhile back and goodyear was the only maker at 250+ a pop. Now Kumho, Cooper, Mastercraft and firestone have them. Now the prices rang from $90 for kumho, firestone has the transforce HT (10ply)for about $140. Early 16.5" rims were known to split the bead with radials on them. No real bias ply tires that I can find for 16.5 that would fit 2wd trucks, Bias ply tire will really carry a load without getting squirrely on you like the radials seem to. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne

10-04-2007, 07:41 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 16 Vs 16.5 Originally 3/4t trucks came with 16" split rims.Around when these trucks were made,the muscle car era,tires were starting to go in the "Wide Oval" direction.Non-split design wheels for 8-luggers started being offered in 16.5" and they had the lower/wider profile. So both were available,either split 16" or standard 16.5". __________________ "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 ~



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