16.5 x 8 or 16 x 8 Rims?

[Archive]

HELP! Looking into new rims for my Ram, but don't know which rims to buy. Need to keep in mind that I am going to get a 27-30 foot travel trailer next year. Got a line on some used 33x12. 50/16. 5 Wild Country with 50% tread on American Racing Outlaw II 16. 5 x 8. 25 rims for $450. What do you think?

------------------
"WHITE OBSESSION" 99 Quad Cab, White, SLT, 4x4, 5-sp, 3:54's LSD, Raven cap (cab high), Rhino liner, Stainless Nerf Bars, Stainless Rocker Panels, Tow package, Pro-flap mud flaps with Stainless Cummins "C" add to rear flaps, Valentine One, Uniden PC78LTW CB, Hadley Bully Air Horns, Psychotty Air Induction, Braided SS Fuel Lines.

Things to come;
285/75R16 Cooper A/T's, Pyro,Boost and Fuel Pressure gauges, 4" exhaust system(on the way).

NRA Life Member! (Need to protect our rights and FREEDOM!!)

[This message has been edited by BIG BOB (edited 09-23-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Bob,sounds like a excellent deal,the larger tires will make your truck look a lot better. What would concern me is pulling the TT with your 3. 54 rear end and larger tires. I've never looked into TTs but I'd assume they would let you test pull one,and the fellow who has the rims/tires would maybe let you try them also. Try it out both ways, see what you feel. If the larger tires make you run in 4th a lot with the TT,you could aways put your old tires back on when you head out with the trailer. If you follow my suggestion I just hope you have an air impact wrench and a floor jack. Good luck

 

[Archive]

Bob,
If you can get a decent deal on the used rim/tire combination go for it.

I wouldn`t buy new 16. 5" wheels. The tire selection is extremely limited.

Last I heard was they [tire & wheel industry] were going to eventually phase out the 16. 5" wheels & tires completely.

 

[Archive]

Hmmm??? I bought 16X10 AR Baja rims and when I went to get some 33X12. 50's, almost every brand of tires were 15's or 16. 5's! No 16's! I saw a good selection of 16. 5" tires in the books. Either way, the 285/75R/16's are almost exactly the same as 33X12. 50's and both look good.

------------------
Mine: '93 250 LE 4x4 5spd 4:10 Pwr win/loc/mir,cruise,dual 5" chrome stacks,12cm2 turbo,pyro/boost,diamond plate tool box, CB, 16x10" AR rims, 285/75/16 Bf goodrich, US Gear E-Brake,Fuller Roadranger shifter, PW injectors, K&N. "wirenut_21529" on Yahoo Messenger
Moms:'96 Ford B-Series school bus (5. 9 Cummins!)I'm gonna Bomb it!
Dads:'94 GMC 2500 6. 5L Turbo

 

[Archive]

Big Bob,
Just went through the same dilema this summer. After much searching and asking a million questions. . It seems big mud & off-road tires are more readily available in 16. 5's. Whereas the 16's offer more high load range tires. Keep in mind. . this is only MY opinion, based upon MY search.

For me, I chose a few different style/brands of tires I felt that I would run on my truck. I don't remember any of them being offered in 16. 5". So the choice seemed obvious. Secondly, I wanted a heavy duty aluminum rim, which happened to be the Alcoa's. . And I found a full set of used 16's for a great price. . Again the choice seemed obvious for what I was looking for.

If you are going to run Swampers or large mud tires, the 16. 5's seem to offer a better selection. Especially when you get above 33" heights. If you need a Load range D or E, Stick with 16's.

I have 285-75-16. Load range D. This is about the highest load range you'll find in this size tire. Frankly, I've only ever seen Range E offered in 245's.

------------------
98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[Archive]

Cooper makes several 16. 5" tires that have about 3000lbs. rating. One is a "Super Road Service" 9. 50-16. 5LT that is E rated at 3170lbs.

------------------
99 2500 QC, LWB, 5spd, 3. 54 limited slip, Intense Blue, 275HP Injectors
Tow Lite trailer
96 KTM 360 EXC
99 Durango 4x4 360cid

 

[Archive]

I concur with Hemi, I wouldn't buy new 16. 5 wheels either. The 5 degree bead seat angle is not conducive to airing the tires down for off-road traction (if you are into that sort of thing). In addition, the wheel offset places the wheels WELL beyond the fenderwell, necessitating the addition of LARGE fender flares (i. e. , the LARGE Bushwacker or Warn flares) to comply with state and local laws (maybe not in Idaho though). Additionally, the offset mounting of the 16. 5 wheels is hard on bearings and front end components. Been there and done that before... . (learned before I bought my Ram).

BFG Radial All-Terrain T/A tires are only offered in load range D for the 285/75R16 and 295/75R16 sizes although, they are rated at 3305 lbs. and 3415 lbs. respectively. This far exceeds the stocker 245s (on my '98. 5) which were rated at 3042 lbs. (load range E).

[This message has been edited by John (edited 09-26-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Thanks for adding the info John. I remembered there was something about the bead on the 16. 5" wheel that wrong.

When my truck was about a year old I bought 16. 5" wheels and 33" tires. I ran the combo for about a week. Tires stuck way out (looked silly). The 33" tires appear much smaller on a 16. 5" wheel too.

I ended up selling them.

 

[Archive]

BIG BOB,

I think I'd try to find a set of 16X8 factory alloys and put 295's or 315X75X16
BFG's on it. The new wheels are 8" wide and will support up to 315's. I too have a set of 9. 75X16. 5's that I REALLY wanted to use on my new truck but the backspacing isn't right and they DO stick out a lot. Don't want to go that wide with my flares.
BTW I found a killer price on the BFG 315X75X16 AT TA's at www.etires.com Check out this subject... . https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum3/HTML/001195.html

Mick2500
<font color=blue>


------------------
2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Totally STOCK!!
On Order 4/28/00
Arrived 9/14/00 !! #ad


[This message has been edited by Mick2500 (edited 09-26-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

I can't believe you bunch of wussies and your skinny little metric tires!

Bob don't listen to 'em,put them big meats on a set of 9. 75x16. 5's Weld wheels and take charge of the road! Nothing looks better than a fat a$$ set of tires on our rigs!

$450 sounds like a good deal and I think you should go for it.

My 35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG KO's have the D load rating. <font color=blue>

------------------
'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4, Intense Blue Pearlcoat, Fully loaded w/Agate leather interior, 5-speed, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Skyjacker Leveling kit, Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual End to End steering stabilizers, 35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG/AT KO's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels, 9004 Cool Blue's, Silencer Ring removed, Fog Lights relay pulled, No muffler, No resonator, 4" straight pipe, Northwest Customs Stainless Steel Rocker Panels, Steel Horse Stainless Steel Nerf Bars, K&N Filter,Custom POWEREDGE W/HOT#3 Program, Grover Air Horns, Autometer Ultra-Lite Gauges. <font size=-2>



[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 09-26-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Want to thank everyone for their input. At this point I think for the winter I will buy a set of 285/75R16 and put them on my factory wheels. Then next summer get some 16x8 rims and maybe some 315/75R16 to run in the summer. I don't do any off roading or mud boggen so I don't need any swampers. Just want something that fills up the wheel wells and look good.
Thanks again!
Big Bob

 

[Archive]

Wussies huh, those 35" meats on your Ram couldn't handle or corner nearly as well as my 285s do! Period!

Sooner or later you'll get it out of your system... then you'll grow up. #ad

 

[Archive]

Now how are those skinny tires gonna get you outa that side ditch when you figure out that Wider is Better.

I just don't think that I'll ever grow up enough to be satisfied with the Stock look. Being satisfied with the Stock look is one step closer to having to eat food puree' and wearing Depends undergarments for bladder control problems. NO THANKS!! <font size=-2>



[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 09-27-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

285 just wern't big enough for me, (I ran them for about a year on stock rims) but they were the bigest you could get in 16" at the time.
Now that 315's are out, (they = 35" almost) I think I'll switch back to 16". If your going to 16. 5 try 8. 25" rims, they don't stick out near as much as the 9. 75" rims.
BTW you woud be surprised how well 35's handle in the corners.

------------------
'97 2500 LT 4X4, WHITE,3. 54, AUTO, A/C, 35/12. 5-16. 5 BFG A/T, NO LIFT, K&N, 50K MILES, BOUGHT NEW, NO BOMBING... . YET!!!

'69 SIX PAK B 4SP DANA - SCORCH RED

 

[Archive]

I'll chime in with the 16's as well. As a couple of guys have said if you off-road and air your tires down you WILL pop a bead. I see this all the time at the sand dunes, whereas I've never popped a bead on my 16's (I run down at 18 front, 13 rear). Also 16. 5 tires are rapidly disappearing from the market because of this. Manufacturers are currently moving to 17's instead of the 16. 5's for on road handling.

-Steve

 

[Archive]

So who makes a high load rated 17". I would rather have a 16. 5 or 17 so I could have a stock backspacing and still clear the rear drums.

 

[Archive]

I was runnin' 35 inch BFG Mud-Terrains when you were in grade school! They don't corner too badly however, nothing like a tire with a "shorter" sidewall. Just plain physics here.

Jetson, I was intrigued with the 17x8 M/T Alcoa wheel with the 8 on 6. 5" bolt spacing (Classic style only) prior to purchasing my wheels/tires. I was only able to find one tire that was compatible with the load rating I required (and I performed a VERY thorough search) ... the BFG Radial Baja T/A... all 37" diameter of it! These are Hummer Tires. For those of you that don't know, the Baja T/As are REAL spendy; can you say $450. EACH? Come on WOWZY, be a real man... step up to the plate! Kids! #ad
#ad
#ad
#ad

 

[Archive]

I run the Denman Coyote LT305/85R16 (note 85 series) tires on stock 16 X 6. 5" wheels. Tires measure 36" x 8. 5". I have "leveling" springs in front. They don`t rub anywhere, anytime.

I can`t really recommend them. They are only a load range C. Like John said, with a real tall sidewall , they give new meaning to "Drift & Wander". They are really meant for a wider wheel than 6. 5". They`ll crown in the center with too much air pressure. I found a good alignment tech that set up the front end to compensate for the drift. It tracks nice & str8 now. I don`t tow either.

I have had them for 2 years. The tread still looks real good. I`m used to vague steering #ad
, so it does not bother me anymore. At $135 a tire, I`d probably buy them again. #ad
#ad


------------------
Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket,Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 09-27-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Steve you're right about the ease of the bead of the tire getting knocked off the rim. If I decide to do more than average trailing with this truck,I'll go with a set of bead locks. I haven't seen any tires for the 16. 5 leave the market. I have seen alot of new tires for the 16" rim become available. I don't think that the 16. 5's will ever be replaced because of the rim width that's available and not with the 16's.

John In 1981 when I bought my first set of big tires they were 17x40 Grand Prix's for my 1980 Toyota 4x4. I don't recall any 35" BFG's available back then. I think the 37" BFG's are over priced and overrated,but I wouldn't know because i skipped over them when I purchased my 46x18. 5 Goodyear Terras for my 2. 5 ton Blazer because they are 14 ply and were only $525 a piece. The Blazer is an ORV only and 36's woud be about my limit on my daily driver. Oh and about the holding a curve nonsense,all the physics in the world won't make a truck look good with little tires.
I get alot of e-mails on guys who want to put the same combo that I have and want more info. That means that they're not afraid to better they're truck. I assume that they need to grow up also,right?. To each his own. If you like your truck with a certain size of tire then more power to you. Why would you even consider the 37's.
You won't put them on your truck,you don't like the big tires remember?<font size=-2>



[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 09-29-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Hemi Dart, That's one beautiful truck!! Have you thought about some 16x8 Weld wheels to correct the tire crowning? I don't think that you'll have any problem with clearance.
<font size=-2>

[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 09-27-2000). ]