16.5 rims Help

[73camperspecial]

My sons 1973 3/4 ton camper special has 31X10.5r16.5LT Has anybody found tires for 16.5 rims

 

[MrMarty51]

I did`nt know that Chevy ever come out with the 16.5 rims,I had been,all this time,thinking that those stinking 16.5 rims was a ford thing.
You`ll probably need to get some sixteen inch rims,or whatever size You would prefer as them sixteen point five inch tires have gone the way of the dinasaurs.
I
have been getting some good 16 inch rims from the salvage yards for the price of scrap.
The last four new 16 inchers I bought they were fourty bucks each and I got some good used take off tires for 30 bucks each.

 

[MrMarty51]

Hey John,welcome to the forum,I`ve been missing a few so there it is.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Closest thing I could find for a stock 2WD...
http://www.ntwonline.com/33X12.50R16.5D-ALL-TERRAIN-KO-BF-GOODRICH.html#.URleeWdZ3-U

 

[towjoe]

16.5 was common on the 70's trucks. most 16" back then were split rim and 16.5 were standard tubeless. Easy to tell them apart 16" rims have a lip where the bead of tire goes and 16.5 rims have a taper where bead goes

 

[bucket]

After looking around, it seems a lot of the problem are these stupid tire websites. Tire searches by size aren't set up for a tire that only has two parts to the listed size, they want rim diameter, width, AND aspect ratio. I also found that for searching by vehicle, they only list a K10 with 15" tires.

Anywho, I did find these. I don't have this version, but I do have a set of Power Kings and like them.

http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-8509-mu...i-tires.aspx?gclid=CO6n-sbIr7UCFYdT4AodGX8A6g

 

[shabes2]

Hey I own a tire shop and in the 16.5 wheel the only tire left to my knowledge is the 33 12.50 16.5 bfg. Definitely would try to switch them down to 16 inch wheel tho. Good luck

 

[philjafo]

I dont know what all these other guys are talking about, theres lots of 16.5 tires out there. Your cheapest source though would be military surplus tires and they only come in two sizes 36 inch bias plys and 37 inch radials. for street tires though its actually cheaper to buy a 15 or 16 inch tire on a steel rim, thats rim and tire for less then just a 16.5 tire.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I dont know what all these other guys are talking about, theres lots of 16.5 tires out there. Your cheapest source though would be military surplus tires and they only come in two sizes 36 inch bias plys and 37 inch radials. for street tires though its actually cheaper to buy a 15 or 16 inch tire on a steel rim, thats rim and tire for less then just a 16.5 tire.

A 36 or 37" tire might not be a good option for a 2WD truck.

 

[MrMarty51]

A 36 or 37" tire might not be a good option for a 2WD truck.

Kind of like the 16.5 wheels too.

I think someone stuffed them 16.5s on that pickup somewheres along the line,I may be wrong,but,I have never seen a GM product that had from the factory 16.5s on it.
Whenm I am out scrapping and I see a vehicle with wheels on it and I happen to be needing some,the first thing I do is look at the size,if it says 16.5 on it I just walk away and wonder who duh hecxk ever come up wit that odd ball suminabeeeechee size anyways.Well,I think it was a fords better idea for a low profile tire for handling loads,it warnt worth a crap,I worked for a candy tobacco wholesaler,traveling eastern Montana in a brand new 250 size ford van and them 16.5 tires was always cupping,one side or the other.rant over.LOL

 

[bucket]

Like Towjoe said, 16.5s were common on 70's trucks and earlier. Most were 6.5 inches wide or so, but there are some rare optional 16.5s that were 9.75 inches wide.

 

[TexasOutlaw87Cummins]

You can use mil spec tires ! It's what I used on my Dually can get them like 90 a pop ! 37 12.50... If you wana sell them ill buy them !!

 

[woodsrider250]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...e&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&RunFlat=All

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...e&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&RunFlat=All

 

[hand101]

Anyone can correct me if Im wrong. 16.5 wheels were very very common on 3/4 and 1 ton of the 70's and early 80's. Im pretty sure GM put steel 16.5's on from the factory. The reason (like I said, correct me if Im wrong) was due to larger brake calipers on the front and larger drums on the rear. You stated you have a "camper special". Meaning it will (from the factory) have a heavier rear end/springs and probally larger and heavier front springs(4x4)/coils(2wd) to accomidate a "bed camper", gooseneck, 5th wheel, bumper pull campers. Usually those trucks had a larger motor, usually a big block of some kind, and heavier trans, auto 3spd or manual 4spd. If you want to go to a 16" rim, try finding a stock one at the junk yard and try it on all 4 corners of your truck to make sure there are no fitment issues. Worse case you have to jump up to a 17", which most new chevys have stock, and have a LARGE selection of tires.
Just my $0.02
Hope this helps you out.
John

 

[MrMarty51]

I saw only fords with the 16.5 wheels,but,I havent seen everything.
If someone knows of Chevy coming from the factory with the 16.5 in. wheels then please speak out.
Thank You.