16.5 aluminum 8 lug rim opinions

[72c20customcamper]

I have an opportunity to by 80's style slotted aluminum rims for a good price tires are good too. Looking at my options and not really many for this size . 9.00 16.5 radials are a little smaller than the 275/75r16 that's on the truck now. These would be perfect if I had a 4x4 which i may have at sometime in The future

[71sierragrande]

I had the bfg all terrain 33x12.5x16.5 on my 1995 K3500. But I believe they discontinued

[Stocker]

Those wheels were popular back in the day and have a period-correct look to them. Just be aware that 16.5 tires will possibly become harder to find as time goes by and more of them are discontinued. As stated above, that particular BFG was discontinued (I had 'em, could not replace them. I tried.) As to the Cooper tires you're looking at, check the date code on the sidewall. They could be unsafe even though there's plenty of tread.

[72c20customcamper]

There fairly new tires . But I'll check the date code. I can get Firestone highway tires for it at a fairly good price.

[sweetk30]

there were a few makers of them rims . the best was WESTERN WHEEL cast in on the back side by the lug hole area .

they take sleaved lug nuts with washers .

and yes harder to find tires these days .

[leddzepp]

16.5 tires are obsolete. Once the ones on those wheels are done, may as well scrap them.

[special-K]

Actually, Firestone sells a 9.50 Transforce HT that would be perfect for those 8.25 rims. They are 30.58" tall. I ran that size on the front of my old Custom Camper. They filled the opening quite well

[72c20customcamper]

I passed on the rims. Tires weren't really a problem lots of companies making them . That size is very prevalent on 90's to mid 2000's class c motorhomes. But by the time I bought the lug nuts and perhaps new tires I could buy new 16 inch rims. Looking at these , just not sure if the center cap will go on the 60 rear

[special-K]

The thing is, those wheels look like barf compared to the slots. The slots just look right. And that makes them worth the effort. You'll be buying new lug nuts if you get those Cepek wheels won't you?

[72c20customcamper]

I know the slots look good. And yes I'll need new lugs but standard chrome lugs are half the price of shanked. So when you need 32 of them it adds up quick. The 16's on my truck have about 3k miles on them so that's 600 right there. I may just say fork it and buy some 90's Ford E350 painted rims from the salvage yard and call it a day

[special-K]

There ya go! Yeah, buying tires makes the difference there. I think those Dually wheel covers look decent. I honestly never saw them used on single wheel. Thought about popping them on a truck before but never did. I don't like them on a Dually but not so bad on a regular truck.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I may just say fork it and buy some 90's Ford E350 painted rims from the salvage yard and call it a day

I just did this last week. Go on Monday’s, it’s $10 for a steel wheel AND tire, nobody can beat that.

[Mudder]

Tire companies quit making 16.5's about 12 years ago. The local tire places won't mount Super Swampers and won't even get them. Said they have to buy 36 of them at a time so some of us that have always ran them are pretty much screwed.

[special-K]

Local tire stores are screwing themselves. Buy them online if they don't want your money.

[72c20customcamper]

Went to the local yard looked around ended up buying a set of amercan racing 16 x7 outlaws off a 1988 Ford f250. I'm going Monday to pick them up. 35$ each but I couldn't look at the left front as it was on top of another vehicle. So if it's as nice as the three I could see it's a fine deal. They wanted 30$ per rim for steelies

[leddzepp]

Tire stores will not mount any tire over 10 years old either. So even if you find a brand new never used set of 16.5 tires, chances are they were manufactured before then and unless you have a machine to mount and balance yourself you are screwed. It’s really too bad, 8 lug slotted wheels are cool looking, but essentially useless now since they are 16.5.

[CG]

I bought my Swamper (Interco) Radials 33x12.5x16.5's TSL's I think two years ago. I had to wait for them to produce a run of them. I don't use them for what they were made for. Just bombing around a little in my K20. Prolly less than a thousand miles on them.

Pics from when I got them ... super cool look IMO.

[sweetk30]

fyi dorman makes the lug nuts and washers for these older rims . a lot cheeper than mcgaurd lug nuts but again not as fine a finish quality but they work fine .

[special-K]

I bought a set from LugNutGuys who sell on Ebay and at swap meets. Pep Boys had them but haven't looked recently.

[72c20customcamper]

Well the Amercan racing rims didnt work out. The one I couldn't see was damaged. So it looks like I'll be buying new. I like this one but don't know if I should go 16x8 with 4.25 bs or 17x9 with 4.75 bs and I need to call about the center cap , it may not clear the floater rear hub.

[sweetk30]

go 17" lot more choices anymore with all the oem going 17" or bigger .

and 17 over the 16 wont look to out of place at all .

[special-K]

Figure 16.5 was in the middle. I guess you want to add pizazz. Just wondering if you considered Wheel Vintiques 16 x 8 steelies. Your truck sure would look sharp with those painted white with caps with that 2-tone paint... and not scream aftermarket wheel either. Ok, enough of me making suggestions. It's your truck. Just don't buy those Cepek wheels that look like a stator more than a wheel

[72c20customcamper]

I thought about steelies but at over 100 a piece seems steep when you can get aluminum wheels cheaper. Called several yards and they all want 30 to 35 a piece for 16x7 steel 8 luggers. And I have to get rid of the old tires. So by the time I blast and paint them I'm in the 100$range again without caps.

[Stormin08]

i know this is sinful on this site....but my DD is an 02 ram cummins (2nd w/ 24V)...i run the later 3rd gen 17" rims...very close reminder of a slotted mag.

always a decent/inexpensive option as well for the right years

[72c20customcamper]

The guy at the local yard gave me the tip on this site roadreadywheels.com 16x7 steelies are 70 $ free shipping .