Are these factory 16.5 wheels? Any value for 16.5 rims?

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AuroraGirl

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My truck came with 9.59-16.5 TBLS OOR, XUH rpo, no idea what that means. Also relisted as YUH later on tag. I have 5 of these laying in my yard, so I figured id ask

And, are these worth a damn to anyone other than guys dedicated off road? To my understanding they typically have a different bead type or something that makes them mate differently? Or is it just a rim size with vastly lower options for tires?
 
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bucket

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Garden variety "wagon wheels" or "white spokes". They would have some value if they were the original Jackman type with welded spokes, but those are just one of the many later ones with pressed centers.
 

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Garden variety "wagon wheels" or "white spokes". They would have some value if they were the original Jackman type with welded spokes, but those are just one of the many later ones with pressed centers.
Ill probably use them for on-property trailer then. Since I dont have many 16.5 tires Id just assume wait until I find some for free and maybe use em. or put tubes in these and hope they dont blow out under pressure.
 

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Garden variety "wagon wheels" or "white spokes". They would have some value if they were the original Jackman type with welded spokes, but those are just one of the many later ones with pressed centers.
After more research, I decided i will clean them up, throw paint on them, and await for someone to sell a set of big ol mudders on local listings. if i can get a good deal on used 16.5 they would make great summer tires and i can put as aggressive or HT or whatever i want but i dont think i would buy a new set in 16.5....

also, what would my original wheels be? split rim 16.5?
 

bucket

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After more research, I decided i will clean them up, throw paint on them, and await for someone to sell a set of big ol mudders on local listings. if i can get a good deal on used 16.5 they would make great summer tires and i can put as aggressive or HT or whatever i want but i dont think i would buy a new set in 16.5....

also, what would my original wheels be? split rim 16.5?

My '78 came with 9.50 16.5's on plain 16.5" steel wheels. Just a normal GM rim but with safety beads. I think that's what GM used most of the time.
 

AuroraGirl

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My '78 came with 9.50 16.5's on plain 16.5" steel wheels. Just a normal GM rim but with safety beads. I think that's what GM used most of the time.
so I just looked up safety bead.
Im confused now, do 16.5 have any practical purpose today in this day and age other than to be special purpose... by military?
 

bucket

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so I just looked up safety bead.
Im confused now, do 16.5 have any practical purpose today in this day and age other than to be special purpose... by military?

They still tend to be easier to mount and dismount tires with minimal tools.
 

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They still tend to be easier to mount and dismount tires with minimal tools.
OHHH, I bet back in the day of bias ply on cars and tall skinny tires that was a god send
 

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OHHH, I bet back in the day of bias ply on cars and tall skinny tires that was a god send

Trying to remember exactly, talked with an old tire guy a while back and all of the .5 tires are the same as the number. ie.. a 16 and 16.5 have the same id. though they have a different bead profile. To save my soul I can not remember what the difference is???

Back in the 80's in Waco we used to run the 16.5 puppy squasher mud grips on the back and 7.50* 16's on the front
 

bucket

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Trying to remember exactly, talked with an old tire guy a while back and all of the .5 tires are the same as the number. ie.. a 16 and 16.5 have the same id. though they have a different bead profile. To save my soul I can not remember what the difference is???

Back in the 80's in Waco we used to run the 16.5 puppy squasher mud grips on the back and 7.50* 16's on the front

That's right. The bead profile is 'less vertical' I guess you could say. Most all .5 sized rims don't have a safety bead either, other than many of the GM 16.5's.

The other .5" sizes are still about the only thing used in the medium and heavy truck industry (17, 19, 22, 24) but for whatever reason, the 16.5 usage has died off nearly completely.
 

AuroraGirl

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That's right. The bead profile is 'less vertical' I guess you could say. Most all .5 sized rims don't have a safety bead either, other than many of the GM 16.5's.

The other .5" sizes are still about the only thing used in the medium and heavy truck industry (17, 19, 22, 24) but for whatever reason, the 16.5 usage has died off nearly completely.
brake accomodation or alloy wheels i would think? steel wheels could always seem to fit brakes with an offset that alloy cant or is harder to pull off?
And of course, brakes are bigger because vehicles are bigger(weight, not necessarily size) and safety concerns etc so its getting harder to pack under 16.5
 

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