Identifying a 16.5 wheel over a 16 inch

[ApacheIvan]

Ok, I don't know if someone just put the wrong tire size on my truck or if someone put 16in rims on the front and 16.5 on the back. The rims look the same. Are there identifying marks on the 16.5 rim? I have the original spare that I think has never been on the truck, it is a 16.5 wheel, the back tires say 9.5x16.5 but the fronts are 245/70/16 or 75Rs, cant remember at the moment but definitely 16in tires. I have read here where that is not a good idea on a 16.5 rim, Tires 9.50/R-16.5LT are a bit more costly, if I already have 16 in rims on the front I may just get 2 more for the back or a set of white ford rims, or I may use the spare rim and just buy one more 16.5 if there are 16s on the front.. ANYWAYS, how do I determine what is going on with the wheels or tires..

[toolboxchev]

It will be embossed into the sidewalls of the tire. All tires have their sizing this way. I could not for the life of me tell you when this started??? Maybe the mid 1930's??

Someone round these parts knows.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

It will be embossed into the sidewalls of the tire. All tires have their sizing this way. I could not for the life of me tell you when this started??? Maybe the mid 1930's??

Someone round these parts knows.

I know how to identify the tire size, the question is about wheels. Just because a tire size says 16in does not mean it is on a 16 in wheel, or 16.5 tire being on a 16.5 wheel. The 72 C/20 had 16.5 wheels originally, it appears that the spare, and two rear tires are correct and I am assuming the wheels are 16.5 but the front tires have 16 in tires on them, I want to put 16.5 on them if they are wrong, or I want to change the wheels so all 4 match if someone changed them out when it was out of my possession.

[randy500]

You can tell 16" wheels by the outside and inside tire bead seating lip, it's like all other tire sizes, 90 degrees, 16.5 wheels are something like 45-60 degrees where he tire seats. Usually even mounted with a tire you can see the lip difference on a 16.5 mag type wheel. It's readily apparent to on steel wheels.

[special-K]

I can tell by looking. If you had a picture I could tell. 16.5s are deeper, for one thing. Measure the wheel diameters. The fronts will measure smaller than the rears if the rears are 16.5. If that doesn't help, look on the rim for the size stamped in.

My guess is your wheels are right for the tire. I guess people have tried to mount 16 on 16.5 and visa-versa, but can't imagine it happening with anyone paying attention.

[ApacheIvan]

I will take some pictures today..The wheels are definitely different, but I also noticed that the 16.5s on the back are different than the 16.5 spare too. If I ever get a hold of the guy that robbed my late uncle, it will take some doing not to grab him by the neck.

[master 1969 c10]

In my years working in the tire business 33 years of it. I saw this more times than u would think people mounting 16 inch tires on 16.5 rims and they would hold air but very dangerous could blow off the rims at any time hit a good pothole and boom. The way you can tell 16 inch rims is flat by the bead and wider than the 16-5 rim has a 45 degree angle or so. So if you're looking at The Rim Where The Bead goes on the rims the 16 inch rims are flat about three quarters of an inch where the beat of the tire is. And the 16.5 is like a 1/4 of a inch flat a then goes into a 45 degree angle. A lot of the big tire shop even quit selling 16-5 tires because this is happened so many times. It's all about the training

[Ol Blue K20]

Most rims are stamped with it's dimensions. If you had 16" tires stretched onto a 16.5 you would know it by now. It would have ridden like it was out of round (couldn't bead evenly) and then blown of the rim.

[ApacheIvan]

Ok, here are a couple shots, last one is spare under the bed. I measured and if anything the rears are smaller, not by much.. they are definitely different the fronts have the bead at more of a 90 degree angle and if you run your finger in toward the center there is a distinct grove where the back wheels don't, a little confused because the spare has a groove as well, but not the sharper angle at the bead..grumble grumble...The guy who "helped" my uncle a decade ago with "restoring" this, looks like he kept the original wheels and threw on whatever he had laying around his garage..The only wheel that looks to be original is the one under the bed, the others don't look to have ever been white.

[Ol Blue K20]

The front appears to be 16. The rest are 16.5

[geunther]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

The front appears to be 16. The rest are 16.5

Agreed. The spare is also 16.5

[ApacheIvan]

Thanks Old Blue..I think I will see if I can find a couple 16in wheels for the back and call it a day

[jocko]

agree, looks li16 & 16.5s Here's another shot of em all cleaned up - you can see the difference a little easier. 16s on the white truck, 16.5s on the green.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by ApacheIvan

Thanks Old Blue..I think I will see if I can find a couple 16in wheels for the back and call it a day

Yeah the 16" wheels are easier to find than 16.5" tires. There's not a lot of selection for tires.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by geunther

Agreed. The spare is also 16.5

Thanks, I am looking at the ( I hate the F word) ford 16x7 6 1/2 from a junkyard for 63 a wheel shipped.. can hardly beat that. From everything I have read I think these are the ones that fit and take stock caps..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322475109227

Don't nobody buy them out from under me:P

These are right yes?

[Ol Blue K20]

I don't see the nubs for hub caps. The later years didn't have nubs, so beware of those.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I don't see the nubs for hub caps. The later years didn't have nubs, so beware of those.

Your'e right.. good catch..There are some others I found but without the slots.. I see browsing eBay there is only one with the slots and the nubs, looks like 94ish ford.. not the 07s I found..

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I don't see the nubs for hub caps. The later years didn't have nubs, so beware of those.

More like this eh?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-F250-TR...cAAOSwXYtYwxRU

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by ApacheIvan

More like this eh?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-F250-TR...cAAOSwXYtYwxRU

Yep, that's the one... now you need to find threee more.

[factorystock]

Back in '72, there were 2 school of thoughts : lower and wider ( the 16.5" 1 piece ) or the taller and narrower ( the 16" 2 piece ). The 16.5" rims came in various widths depending on tire size 8.00 -16.5 8.75-16.5 9.50-16.5 10.00-16.5, but the 16" 2 piece came in only one width for the 7.50-16 tire. Today, both of these wheels are seen less common because people gravitate to what is cheaper and more available. The 16.5" tire have always been available, but they usually have to be ordered in, and may cost a little more, and the disappearance of the 16" 2 piece wheel is obvious. So, the mid 70's to mid 80's Chevy 16" rims came to the rescue on most truck we see today or simple aftermarket wagon wheels. Because Chevy made the 16" rim in only 6" wide and stopped making these in the early 90's?, the Ford Econoline 16" wheel now comes to the rescue of not only the same lug pattern, it comes in a wider 7" size increases your tire selection even more( just make sure it is the bump style for hubcaps, late model rims are bumpless for full wheel covers). P.S., If my 3/4 ton still had the original 16.5" rims, I wouldn't change them out, I would just pay extra for the tires ( the the transforces in jocko photo). The extra price in tires, compared to the cost of other parts needed in a restoration is peanuts.

[FirstOwner69]

For reference, here are a couple shots showing the bead area angle and the stamping on the "inside" (must be a better word for it) of one of the original 16.5" X 6.00" wheels from my '69. The truck came with 8.75 X 16.5 tires.

[randy500]

Notice in the previous photo that the 16.5 wheel has a much wider bead seating area which is matched by the tire bead too, it's also slightly angled, easy to visually identify the tires and the wheels without looking for the stamping on the wheel.

[Bigdav160]

Most 16.5" rims do not have a safety bead (as shown in the pictures above) and easier to change without a tire machine.

[T-bags72]

When I picked up my 2nd owner 72 c20 a few yrs ago the dude had an extra set of 16.5 wheels that came with the truck. One set has wider tires off a 4x4 truck maybe and other set of original size. I switched frame due to rust issues and now have 6 lug wheels. If anyone interested in these I'll try to take some pics tomorrow

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by T-bags72

When I picked up my 2nd owner 72 c20 a few yrs ago the dude had an extra set of 16.5 wheels that came with the truck. One set has wider tires off a 4x4 truck maybe and other set of original size. I switched frame due to rust issues and now have 6 lug wheels. If anyone interested in these I'll try to take some pics tomorrow

Let me know..