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16.5 inch wheels vs 16 inch wheels


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My 85 F350 has 16.5 inch steel wheels with mismatched tires and I am looking on CL for a set of wheels and tires to replace them.

Most of the posted Ford wheels for F350's are 16 inch.

What are the variables to consider on this change?

These 265/75r16 load range e tires and aluminum wheels with 5k miles are going for 400.

https://images.craigslist.org/00D0D_cnxdjmPCEHt_600x450.jpg

https://images.craigslist.org/00U0U_lQqLPEgJ9lI_1200x900.jpg

These are 800. 235/85r16 mounted on 16x7 f350 Steel wheels

https://images.craigslist.org/00A0A_aqLQccEHJHN_1200x900.jpg

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Main problem with 16.5" is the lack of tire options. Some guys want the 16.5 rims so they can run relatively cheap tall bias ply military tires, but most of us want more normal sized radials, and for that the 16" rim offers far more options. The steel rims I believe are 7.5" wide and are meant to be mated with the 235/85R16 tires. I like these a lot. The aluminum rims I believe are a bit wider.
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Main problem with 16.5" is the lack of tire options. Some guys want the 16.5 rims so they can run relatively cheap tall bias ply military tires, but most of us want more normal sized radials, and for that the 16" rim offers far more options. The steel rims I believe are 7.5" wide and are meant to be mated with the 235/85R16 tires. I like these a lot. The aluminum rims I believe are a bit wider.

The options are probably even more slim now that they have quit making the 16.5. That tire size was causing safety issues due to the tire being mounted on the wrong size rim too freqently.

I would just go 16.

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The options are probably even more slim now that they have quit making the 16.5. That tire size was causing safety issues due to the tire being mounted on the wrong size rim too freqently.

I would just go 16.

Didn't Mr. NumberDummy recently post that one way for a solution to this is to find a later model [2008?]Ford Van [E250 or E350?] and take the wheel and possibly tires? I believe he said the bolt pattern was the same [not metric].

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