tire size 16.5 to 16

[Blacktank]

anyone know the 16" tire size for a 1977 chevy dually? the current 16.5's are weird and the numbers no help because they are way small

load range and ply are out and load index is in https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/...?techid=55

quick look and i found these? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hankook-Dynap...T/17792708
it's the width i'm concerned about,dont want them to rub,the current 16.5's have inches of room

gvwr 8900
gawr front 3400,rear 6000
it's basically a box van and i will never come close to the max ratings

[sternwake]

Here's one tire size calculator

https://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Probably a better one here:

http://www.barrystiretech.com/

http://www.barrystiretech.com/165tires.html

Barry posts regularly in the Bitog forums as Capriracer.

I doubt anyone online knows more about tires.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub...1/1/Tires_&_Wheels

[Blacktank]

stock size 8.00 16.5,thats what the tires that's on it are and they are tiny,if i remember right my clearance issue is with the inner tire to leaf spring,will check tomorrow

should i go a wider tire in the front?

[rvpopeye]

225-75-R16 is the size on my salvage rims.....

[MN C Van]

Rims- It's a dually?- drives need to have correct sidewall clearance between drive tires.
You would see incorrectly spaced duals get rocks stuck between the two tires and wear holes in sidewall.
I doubt the size you linked would have this problem, something to keep in mind if you 'plus up'

Steers are where you have clearance problems, in jounce, suspension makes wheel arc,
combine that with turning and that's where clearance problems come in with alternate sizes.
Some you could swap (relatively) massive 235/85R16 on drives with plenty of clearance, but 8.75 16.5 was largest steer.

8.00, 8.75 and 9.50 16.5 were available.
TireRack 16.5

With 16 you're also going from a wide-base (commercial) tire to a flimsier LT.
And a hankook, LoL.

So you have a lighter duty type, and manufacturer that's at the medium low or low end of quality range.
And what's quality? Recappers pay more for Michelin/Bridgestone casings, and the truckers gladly pay more for them.

You could also look at low-pro 17.5 dimensions- still a widebase and readily available in quality tires and commercial caps.

That type of tread you linked will get irregular wear unless you rotate frequently.

But the 16" is readily available, and you have a wide range of treads and manufacturers to choose from-
Plus, 16" rims are also readily available used, so you could go to a junkyard and test-fit on a hulk of your chassis.
Used rims are what would prompt me to change, otherwise see if the 8.75 16.5 fit.

[Blacktank]

my clearance issue

about an inch between tire and leaf spring bolt

a couple inches between tires



cant do much until i get the 16's and see if the backspacing is the same,would need longer lug nuts to add a spacer

[Blacktank]

heck,215mm = 8.4 inches so 17 inches of rubber per side,sound like plenty to me,maybe 235's in the front?

popeye,go toss one of those 225 on the rear and let me know about the inside clearance,it's easy,they dont weigh nothing

hankook is a known maker unlike the other cheapies,goodyear wrangler but they have had tons of problems with that tire

[rvpopeye]

My back says not true !
Besides , I had them take the tires off so I wouldn't have to pay to scrap them.

Anyhoo , Those size tires mounted on those rims had no spacing problems on the van they came off of. So....
Oh , and the load range of the 16's I've been pricing are E. (Cooper ST3? ~800/6 out the door)

And ,,,the price on those rims isn't much more than I ended up paying for the used ones.
Including the degreaser ,rust killer and paint.I clocked in at about $60 each not incl my labor and the wear on the wire brushes !

[MN C Van]

Wouldn't mix sizes- can't rotate.
Although tires may be dimensionally similar, the 16" rim may have more offset-
Goodyear wasn't a favoured brand- they did have high mileage drives, but you still got less for casings.

Looks like 8.75 might fit if your rims are wide enough (stamped on rims- should be in sight on outer drives)- no rim swapie necessary

[rvpopeye]

MC

I hear your concerns.
Getting a 16.5" tire that has a DOT build date code less than a year old is a huge problem these days.
The few mfg's that were still making them don't (didn't) make a batch very often (if ever ?) anymore...buying an aged out tire new off the shelf is a big issue that has to be looked out for carefully..

That and the huge variety of fresh minted tires of most every brand available in 16" is the reason so many people do the 16.5 to 16 change.

Yes , finding one that has steel belts throughout can be a bit of a search.
But the E range tires seem to have enough capacity for my 10500# 23' class C rig , GARY's is probably a good bit less GVW.