Wheel and Tire confusion??

[Socal F250]

Thanks for the help so far with questions. Still running into some issues with getting wheels and tires to fit my 72 F250 4x4.

Some say 16 wheels work but tires are limited for them and I hear the same thing for the 16.5 wheels.

I just visited Discount Tire and they stated as many have, to stay away from the 16.5's and go with 16's or 17's.

I also visited a junk yard this am and they have (4) 16.5 9.5 in the yard from a wrecked truck. Those wheels are all different colors and I will need to paint them the same and the wheels from Discount are black and also need to be painted so that is a wash. The junk yard wheels are $45.00 each and the Discount wheels are $120.00 ish.

As mentioned in previous posts I am really just looking for the stock type look or close to it.

It sounds like there are more tire choices if I go with 16" wheels but do they fit and have enough clearance. I think there are 16's on it now and my mechanic states they look tight for the drum brakes and or there is some clearance issues.....

Thoughts on all the above? Or point me to a similar thread as I am sure it's been discussed 100 times here somewhere.

Thanks in advance, new to this so feel free to state the obvious if needed.....

Brent

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[Lone Ranger]

Mine has 16 inch rims on it which I thought were stock, but now you have me second guessing The original hubcaps fit with the 16 inch rims. Maybe if you had 16 inch steel rims they would fit better than what you have now. I would think craigslist or a junkyard would be loaded with them.
Your truck is sweet I dig that color!

[Socal F250]

Junk yard had a ton of 16 and 16.5 but a quick call to Discount Tire and they said they had limited tires for either of those wheels. And not many choices of new wheels because of the bolt pattern? Just got off the phone with them again and they said to be safe go with 17's but then they had very little in the way of stock looking wheels in that size. Seems like it's a pain to go the stock looking route. Maybe that's why the majority I see on here are not stock looking for the 4x4's?

[Lone Ranger]

I've never had issues getting tires like your having. Have you called other places? Any tire place should be able to order in any size tire.

[Ranchero50]

Ditto, stay away from the 16.5 as they stopped offering them OEM in the late 70's I think. No problem getting 16" for the dually. Ford changed the bolt pattern in 97 ish to metric and the newer stuff doesn't fit.

I'd avoid discount tire and shop the local tire shop, not chain stores. I get a better deal and definitely better service with my local. Plus I don't feel like a piece of meat when I walk in the door.

[dave1972]

If stock "look" is what your after go 235/85R 16 tire on 16"wheel. R stands for radial. Not sure you can get a radial 16.5 tire. Rides sooooo much nicer.

[Socal F250]

Thx Dave, ended up going with 235/85 16 BFG KO2's.....

[XABN82]

I've found the same thing with the 16.5" wheels. You can't buy a radial tire for them and the selection is very limited to 16.5. Go 15 or 17 or 18, to make life easier, well at least in the tire buying part of life

[Socal F250]

I ended going with 16's and they worked out great with KO2 on them....