Any Suggestions: Need 16.5" tires for my '65 F-250

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 22, 2009, 6:10 pm

Hey Fellas,

I've been looking around but haven't come up with much to choose from for my style-sided F-250; I realize that the kicker is the fact that I'm running 16.5" wheels/rims.

The truck is currently equipped with 10-yr old 9.50R x 16.5LT, 10-ply, Goodyear "Workhorse" tires, and they have served me well. I did find online a similar tire at SEARS; a 8.75R-16.5LT, 10-ply, 2680lbs@ 75psi; which would also work, but is more tire than I need. I probably don't realize a combined cargo & tongue weight of more than 2,500lbs....so I'm thinking a set of 8-ply rated tires would likely be enough - if I could locate them.

Does anyone here know of anybody that still sells a LT 235R/75-16.5", D-rated (8-ply) with an All-Season tread?

Yeah, I could simply dump the 16.5" rims and step over to a set of 16" rims....but since I've got a Dana 60 rear end with the large center hole, it really makes that easier said than done too.

Thanks in Advance, Guys!!

BarnieTrk

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 22, 2009, 8:03 pm

i run 16" wheels on my d60 rears with no problem.
these are original 16" inny wheels tires are a bit larger 265 i think.
tire store i got them from is a cooper dealer and one of the guys there has a slick, he said they were the closest he had in stock for tall skinny radials i wanted.gave me a good deal on a set of 4.
http://fordtruk.com/forums/album_pic.ph ... user_id=26.

where you have to watch them 16" is on the front with disc brakes some of the older wheels dont clear the calipers.

chevy 8 hole wheels center wont fit over the d60 center hub, ford and dodge will.so will most aftermarket.

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 22, 2009, 8:35 pm

Thanks for the input, Iceman6166!

Yeah, I know that my 16.5" rims aren't OEM.

I also agree with you that a 265R75-16 would be a nice tall tire; 31.5" from my calculations - so you bring out a good point that I wouldn't really loose any height by going from a 16.5" to a 16" rim with those sized tires. I don't really need a M/T tread like that Cooper you have, but the taller tire would be nice.

Thanks for the reminder about the front disc caliper clearances; I don't have a worry about that as I've got drums up front and plan to keep them on there at this point.

Yep, that Dana 60 center hub hole size is an issue. I haven't looked around to see just how easy/hard it would be to locate a set of 16" Dodge/Ford D60 hub hole rims in good shape. I suspect they have been out of production for a while now........

Nevertheless, I may still have to go to a 16" if I can't locate any decent 16.5" tires.....

Thanks again for the reply!
BarnieTrk

modeleh · Post by **modeleh** » March 23, 2009, 12:01 am

These are 255/85/16s, about 33" diameter. Tallest and skinniest radial I was able to find around here. The rims are off an early 90s F250, would have been nice to find some 16s to fit the "inny" hubcap, but they'll do.

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 23, 2009, 5:14 am

SWEET '66 4BYE, MODELEH !!

Good suggestions on tires and rims - & they look great on your truck, but I think they'd be a tad too tall under my 2X4 '65.

What do you roll under your '65?

BarnieTrk

64fordf100292v8 · Post by **64fordf100292v8** » March 23, 2009, 8:44 am

I run 235/85/16 steer radials on the front of my truck and 7.50/16 bias ply traction treads on the back of my 64. I have converted it to a F250. Steers and handles just fine, just wish I would have had the front tires siped as well.

modeleh · Post by **modeleh** » March 23, 2009, 9:22 am

BarnieTrk wrote:

Good suggestions on tires and rims - & they look great on your truck, but I think they'd be a tad too tall under my 2X4 '65.

What do you roll under your '65?

BarnieTrk

My 65 has 235/85/16, and you're probably right, the 255/85 would probably be too big, particularly on the front.

norville · Post by **norville** » March 23, 2009, 12:01 pm

cooper and Firestone make 16.5 that would fit nicely

https://www.tiresavings.com/tireShop.ph ... ndCombined

bob

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 26, 2009, 8:08 am

Hey Bob, good to hear form ya !

I'll have you know that your ol' 3/4 ton had a good snooze over the winter and I have since awakened him and I'm now getting him to do some work for me again.
I'm happy to report he's running just fine!

You may recall that I was hesitate about the 4spd/OD trans you had installed. Yes, without any load or trailer, the trans gets the job done. However, maybe I was spoiled on the granny gears of my T-18 because I am still debating on the possibility of switching out the tranny with the T-18 that I have in my other slick. I really notice it with my trailer - because I don't like riding the clutch when backing my trailer up the hill to my shed. Another bit of status update on him is that I am currently in the process of removing the 60-gallon bed tank & switching him back to a behind-the-seat fuel tank out of a '68. I should be able to keep fresher fuel in him and use the dash gage by using a smaller OE tank. No biggie.

As you may have read, I've been searching around here for some suggestions on some newer 16.5" tires.... I hope I can locate some 16.5 tires that meet with my approval, because I really would like to maintain the aluminum slotted wheels. However, my choices for 16.5" rubber is fairly limited.

Well, U Take Care,
BarnieTrk

P.S.
Bob,
I saw the pic of your new-to-you Bronco you posted a while back... looks like a sweet FoMoCo 4X4!
Do you still have the NISSAN Patrol 4X4 project?

norville · Post by **norville** » March 26, 2009, 8:44 am

Glad to hear things are well with that truck. I suggest you save any bits and pieces from the tranny swap and sell it as a package or put it in the shed.

That link has a few name brand tires with 16.5's firestone and cooper.

I drove quite a bit so keeping fresh fuel in the truck was never a problem... I told you , ya should have taken the original tank.

As far as the nissan and bronco. unfortunately one of them has to go... I'm spread to thin.

bob

frank66 · Post by **frank66** » March 26, 2009, 9:34 am

I'm running 265/75 R16 load range E Cooper Discoverer ATR's on my '66 F250. They are mounted on 8 lug 16" American Racing Outlaw II rims that fit on my Dana 60.

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 30, 2009, 11:00 am

norville wrote: I suggest you save any bits and pieces from the tranny swap and sell it as a package or put it in the shed.

If I do the tranny swap, I'd put the 4spd/OD in my '65 F100 - from where I'd get the T-18 granny trans out of. So, I shouldn't have any parts left over or on a pile in the corner.
Of course one issue with such a swap is that I'd likely need to have a new driveshaft built for BOTH trucks - $$.

That link has a few name brand tires with 16.5's firestone and cooper.

I'll check it out again......THANKS!!

I drove quite a bit so keeping fresh fuel in the truck was never a problem... I told you , ya should have taken the original tank.

That's exactly what my wife said!! The one time I try to consider minimizing my 'spare parts piles' and it comes back to sting me! LOL!

unfortunately one of them has to go... I'm spread to thin.

Been there - still trying to do that too!

Good Luck!
BarnieTrk

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » March 30, 2009, 11:03 am

frank66 wrote:I'm running 265/75 R16 load range E Cooper Discoverer ATR's on my '66 F250. They are mounted on 8 lug 16" American Racing Outlaw II rims that fit on my Dana 60.

Frank,
Those tires & wheels look great on your truck!

BarnieTrk