71 GMC Longhorn tires and/or rims

[JerryIndy2112]

I just bought a 71 GMC Custom Camper. The tires on it are 9.50R16.5LT and they are rotten. I need new tires, the only tires I found at this size are trailer tires or I found them as 2ply at $246 each. So I started researching rims to update to a standard tire size. Well, I am trying to keep truck fairly stock. So I want a rim I can put the hubcaps back on. Several tire shops have told me just to get Craigers or some other rim. I do not want to change the look that much if it can be helped. Any ideas from veterans in restoration? This is my first project truck, so feeling a bit frustrated by simple tires.

Thanks Jerry

[Chris_oz]

Hi,

Wheel Vintiques do a steel rim in either black powdercoat or chrome.
16" 8 stud in 6,7,8 or 9" wide.
I am told that they will take the stock hubcaps.
I hope they do as I have ordered a set and should know soon.

There are a few options for other stock style rims but I don't know if they can use a stock hubcap.

Good luck

[projectking]

Ford 16” steel wheels fit and also take the gm hub caps

[JerryIndy2112]

Thanks for quick response. I looked into Vintique. I did not mention the hubs are 8 lug, 6.5". Will a Ford fit that? What year Ford rims? I believe the 6.5" 8 lug pattern was updated at some point to the 5.5".

Thanks

[Bones72Super]

I believe the ford steel wheels from 97 and older are ones you want.They are 16 x 7 I believe.I am in the same situation.I was at my local wrench-a-part today and had no trouble finding 4 good condition ford 8 lug steel wheels.They want $15 each with a $5 core so I am definitely picking up a set for my truck.

You should check your local salvage/junkyards and see what you can find.You may have to pull them yourself so bring tools so you don't have to go back home and make another trip.I hope this helps you out, happy hunting!

[jocko]

Keep your rims and buy ya some Firestone Transforces. Available in AT or HT - I think (personally) that HTs fit your Longhorn best. HTs pictured below, same size as your originals.
With the money you save by not buying new rims, you can powder coat your originals (or just keep it in your pocket)
I've had two sets, the ones below and also a similar set on 16" rims, had no complaints.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5THT&tab=Sizes
EDIT: and welcome to the forum from a born and bred Hoosier.

[JerryIndy2112]

Thanks jocko,

I had found those same tires. I thought they must be trailer tires and may not be suitable for a 1 ton truck. But seeing them on a truck makes me feel much better about ordering them. They look sharp on your truck.
That is good news.

Jerry

[72c20customcamper]

I bought these for my truck Ford f250/350 E250/350 rims . 70 $ free shipping . Was looking at a set of 16.5 slots but figured I'd stay with 16. Much easier to find tires. Local scrap yards around wanted 30 bucks a rim for rusted rims.
https://www.roadreadywheels.com/prod...teel-wheel-rim

[71threequarterton]

My truck had 16.5s on it when I bought it - Boy was that a rude awakening when I started looking for tires... I ended up going with the 16" Wheel Vintiques which opened up my choices for tires big time. I'm running stock, period correct hub caps on them.

[cypressbog]

Originally Posted by jocko

Keep your rims and buy ya some Firestone Transforces. Available in AT or HT

I just had a set of TransForce HT tires installed on my 2012 Ram 2500 4X4 on Monday and love, love, love them! E Load Range but ride like a car tire.

[Coley]

...lose the 16.5" wheels.....double lose them if they have split rims, lol.

Get a set of 16" rims and the Ford rims work great as stated.

Then take your pick of an 8-10 ply 16" quality tire.....you'll be good to go.

Also, welcome to the forum!!

All good
Coley

[projectking]

I believe 55-98 ford wheels have the 6.5 bolt spacing.

[Killer Bee]

for broader selection of modern profile tire variety, 16" wins hands down over 16.5"

however, there is enough 16.5" stock profile tires out there..

I needed to get the rusted 15" snap rings off of my 65 and found this set locally cheap..

very clean 16.5 x 6.75 factory steel set of 5 w/ Firestone LT9.50R16.5 mentioned above..

my future objective is to get the original style farm skinnies back on it..

more info on that here http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...2&postcount=19

good luck!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by cypressbog

I just had a set of TransForce HT tires installed on my 2012 Ram 2500 4X4 on Monday and love, love, love them! E Load Range but ride like a car tire.

My impression as well. They were pretty heavy duty, wore well (i.e. didn't wear out quickly), rode well, and looked correct on the truck.
Jerry, if you wanted to make that Longhorn look even MORE period correct - replace the rears with 16.5x9.75s - that was a rather common configuration back then for Longhorns. Now, having said that - finding a 16.5 tire for THAT rim might be a bit more of a challenge. Haven't checked to see if the Firestones are offered in a size for that wheel width.

[JerryIndy2112]

I am leaning toward the Firestones. I may visit a local junk yard and look for the 16" Fords, but rims and tires will cost as much. I will still need to clean and paint or powder coat rims either way. I plan on getting a plate for it Saturday. There is so much to do to get the truck the way I want it. A bit overwhelming. Thanks all for the advice and answers. It is nice to have a community that has done this before. I got the truck cheap, but it needs so much.

Thanks,
Jerry

[rpmerf]

A couple things to be aware of.

9.5R16.5 - 9.5" wide, 30.6" diameter.
245/75R16 - 9.65" wide, 30.5" diameter - this should be your closest match.
265/70R16 - 10.43" wide, 30.6" diameter - these are a bit wider for a more balanced look.

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

The factory 16" rims on my 70 C20 are 6" wide. For a 6" rim, the widest recommended tire is a 235. I had a 82 C20 with 7" wide rims (don't know if they were factory), and 265 wide tires. I really like the way the 265s looked compared to my 235s.

[HO455]

The 8 lug ford/dodge wheels will work but will not be hub centric like a Chevy wheel would be. That's why you can't put Chevy wheels on a ford. Now have a smile about all the ford owners who brought a set of Chevy wheels home and then couldn't bolt them on. (Yeah I was one of them)

[WorkinLonghorn]

16" wheels were optional for these trucks. Mine had them but they were "split-rim" style and I swapped them out for Ford 16" (craiglist $25 for the set-20 years ago) since most shops refused to work with them. I went from 7.50-16 to 235/85/16R/LT E rated with no noticeable speedo problem.-BA

[projectking]

I had 2 sets of transforce.....Dried out and cracked quickly. The second set was on Firestone $$$. Now I run Michelin’s.

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by projectking

I had 2 sets of transforce.....Dried out and cracked quickly. The second set was on Firestone $$$. Now I run Michelin’s.

interesting.. how old were the firestones? please note, although you buy them new from a tire store, manufacture dates may be much older..

this set I mentioned above are late 2012 manufacture and although low mileage, have been on two trucks both parked outside in socal..

6 years old, no signs of damage on them, other than some light curbing

and more to the point for folks with 16.5" rims, michelin does not offer a 16.5 LT tire I am aware of..

for those interested, reviews seem fair or better on average considering narrow radial tire options in 16.5"
RATINGS CHARTS & REVIEWS FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE HT

[painterljp]

Dont know if this matters to anyone. But watch what you use to shine your tires. Some products dry out rubber and make tires more prone to cracking sidewalls since that is the part you shine up. We have firestone tires on our 68 destinations le's. We have had them for 5 yrs. No cracking as of yet. Our longhorn is going to get firestones also. Soon as they have a good sale. Going to put 265/75/16's. We changed out the rims already to 16 vs. 16.5. Off a 71 chevy 3/4 ton truck. A friend gave them to us he's going with aluminum rims.

[projectking]

My tires were from ‘15 the second set were from around the same time. Never used tire shine on them as it was a “working” truck. Both sets dry rotted within a few months and wore prematurely, roughly 70k between the both sets combined.

[Killer Bee]

wow, that's bad! wonder if there was a recall on those batches?

we get several name brand tire manufacturer recalls a year here at work..

[davischevy]

These are 16X7 Ford wheels.

[projectking]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

wow, that's bad! wonder if there was a recall on those batches?

we get several name brand tire manufacturer recalls a year here at work..

Didn’t go down that road, just decided I was done with Firestone. Rubber quality has really diminished lately not limited to just tires