has anyone ever taken 16.5" wheels and turned them into 16" using the 16.5" centers

[chewychevy67]

I would like to keep the center piece of the rim and ditch the outside tire bead for a 16". I would like to keep the deep dish look but still use my clip style hubcaps but have a better selection of tires. maby even be able to properly install beauty rings. any one done such a thing or is it even possible?

[cdowns]

if you're precise i guess its possible

[69sixpackbee]

Try Stockton Wheel

[Tx Firefighter]

It's very doable.

Your gonna need to measure the OD of your existing center and find a 16 inch hoop with the same ID.

Drill the rivets out to remove your old center. Tap the center into the new hoop and set your backspacing. Now mount in on the truck's hub so you can spin it slowly by hand and tap it with a mallet if needed to make sure it's running true as it turns. Tack weld, recheck runout, then remove the wheel and weld it up tight.

I've never done 16 inch wheels but I have recentered 15 inch wheels before using this method. No problems other than it being a lot of work.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by 69 1/2 Six Pack Bee

Try Stockton Wheel

Research them for reviews before you use them.

[special-K]

Good question. I have wondered the same thing. the question is,are the 16.5 centers the same size as 16s? Or,Is the difference made up in the rim or are the centers different? I have wondered this. I figure there's a chance the centers are the same since both sizes existed at the same time and made by the same companies. Why haven't I ever measured? I dunno. other than I still haven't given up on 16.5 tires. BTW,Stockton Wheel doesn't make wheels that are the same as the OEM-type Kelsey Hayes and I don't believe they make anything with clips

[chewychevy67]

the outside OD of thi inners are 15 1/8". i would love to have 16x8 all around. had 15x8 on my last truck and loved the look. would even be better with stock type hubcaps i think and these centers look even deeper than the 15" stockers. where would i start to look for these. most 16" rims i have seen are aluminum or split rims and i dont want those.

[special-K]

Were you going to attempt this yourself? GM got away from split rims and 16.5s by the '80s. From some point in the '70s there were 16" clinchers. But,even split rim centers may be worth measuring. Ford & Dodge wheels may be good donors,too. The hard part is finding the 8 x 16 rim that works. If all else fails you can look into having wheels made using old style centers. But,I think you could widen the 16" rims using two...you'd need eight total.

Now I need to start measuring wheels. It would be cool if white spoke or other wider 16" rims would work.

[chewychevy67]

No i dont have the proper equiptment to do this i just wanted to look around and see what rims might have this diameter for reference. I have phoned a few shops up here and none will even look at it. may have to send them south and that may be costly. i definately want to do this if it can be done.

[factorystock]

The aftermarket (kelsey hayes, budd, goodyear, firestone) typically removed the centers out of stock GM narrow 17.5" wheels, and put them into wide 16.5" wheels, primarily for the camper pickup market. Your clips, and the offset are evidence it is the mid50's thru mid 60's optional 17.5" 6 lug wheel center. I would keep this unique wide wheel stock cap setup in 16.5", very uncommon to see today and worth the few extra dollars in tire costs.

[chewychevy67]

I wouldn't mind leaving them the way they are i would just like more of a tire selection. i am using these on my 2wd 1/2 ton. are there any tires on the market that will not make the truck look like a 3/4 ton? most tires on the market are 4x4 tires.

[dougo]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

I wouldn't mind leaving them the way they are i would just like more of a tire selection. i am using these on my 2wd 1/2 ton. are there any tires on the market that will not make the truck look like a 3/4 ton? most tires on the market are 4x4 tires.

Cooper makes a tire for the 16.5 that doesn't have an agressive tread (4x4) pattern. Well... hopefully they still do. I saw them in a tire shop about 8 months ago.
Posted via Mobile Device

[special-K]

Originally Posted by factorystock

The aftermarket (kelsey hayes, budd, goodyear, firestone) typically removed the centers out of stock GM narrow 17.5" wheels, and put them into wide 16.5" wheels, primarily for the camper pickup market. Your clips, and the offset are evidence it is the mid50's thru mid 60's optional 17.5" 6 lug wheel center. I would keep this unique wide wheel stock cap setup in 16.5", very uncommon to see today and worth the few extra dollars in tire costs.

The wide 16.5 wheels were not adapted from 17.5s. They were made from their own stampings. Companies like Kelsey Hayes were OEM jobbers who also sold their product in the aftermarket. They would be the ones who made the GM 17.5s.
The 9.50-16.5 hiway treads are still available

[cleanfreak]

I have done this stuff with 15's years ago , looked at 16" car steel hoops , like on an intrepid , lesabre, regal , they seem pretty wide , might help you to find a 16" hoop that will work for you - Good luck

[chewychevy67]

i was looking for cooper 16.5 tires online but could not find any. thought maby they had a discoverer line in this size.

[chewychevy67]

anyone use firestone transforce ht tires? if so do they ride nice or rough?

[chewychevy67]

ttt

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by special-K

The wide 16.5 wheels were not adapted from 17.5s. They were made from their own stampings. Companies like Kelsey Hayes were OEM jobbers who also sold their product in the aftermarket. They would be the ones who made the GM 17.5s.
The 9.50-16.5 hiway treads are still available

I've been looking for replacement 17.5" rims for years. My [5.25x17.5] originals wore out years ago. In 2002 I went with 16" white spoke rims and 235/85/R16LTs to get about the same stance. The original owner [or agency] of my 1/2 ton Stepside specified 17.5" rims in the SPID.

[pumpkin]

I have swapped center wheel sections with other outer rims. I just cut them apart on a brake lathe, true them on the lathe and weld them up. Its time consuming but can be done. You could check with local machine shops.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

I've been looking for replacement 17.5" rims for years. My [5.25x17.5] originals wore out years ago. In 2002 I went with 16" white spoke rims and 235/85/R16LTs to get about the same stance. The original owner [or agency] of my 1/2 ton Stepside specified 17.5" rims in the SPID.

The 17.5" is very rare rim. Many of these centers were used in the 16.5" Kelsey Hayes wide camper rims.Check out ( sorry if someone can do a link ) ebay # 290572663246 for a very similar center section 6 lug with clips.

[chewychevy67]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQ...0Q26Q5ffviQ3d1

['68OrangeSunshine]

Thanks for the link. But it sold for $175. Too expensive for a daily driver/work truck. Also getting tires in that size would be almost as difficult. I still have one '68 GM 17.5x5.25 rim my spare was on and [the spare spare] a Firestone 17.5 x5.25 that looks different but has the right diameter and width. I think I paid $15 for it in the early '70s.
Maybe I should put these up on E-Bay and soak the more gullible.
About 10 years ago one of the vendors offered me a 17.5 rim with original [most likely cracked] bias ply 7.00x 17.5 tire attached for $100 before shipping. He wouldn't dismount the tire and just ship me the rim, so I passed.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Thanks for the link. But it sold for $175.
Maybe I should put these up on E-Bay and soak the more gullible.

Thanks also for the link chewychevy67. The wide 16.5" and tall 17.5" wheels are rare and hard to find and are worth it to those who are into a unique period correct restoration. Tires are harder to find, but still can be ordered at truck tire dealers.It seems the daily driver type vehicles will aviod this wheel and tire combo, but for show crowd, they are worth keeping.As for the true price value of a period correct optional rim, the NAPCO ( 50's 4X4's ) crowd seem to appreciate a factory correct restorations, while the later 4X4 crowds do not seem to show the same interest.