From 16.5' to 16' wheel and tire.

[KLASS6]

My truck is all original.
According to the SPID sticker the wheels are 16.5' and 8 lug as it is a C20 (see photos).
As my truck is on his way to France and as I don't know these truck at all I wondering what are my options to swap from 16.5' to 16'.
I want to keep the stock look and use the original hubcaps.
I read somewhere on the site that 16x8 with 245/75/16 is the closest to original.
Where can I find oem 16x8 8 lug steel wheels?

[Mike C]

For those of us in the US the easiest is a set of rims from a square body truck. From late 70’s through end of the line they used 16” rims. Overseas, at least you know what to look for from a donor.

8 lug 6.5” bolt circle was shared by Ford, Dodge, and GM through the 1998 Ford, the GM trucks through 2010 and Dodge until just recently.

[Joesjunk]

16x7 Ford wheels are pretty easy to find, they were mostly on vans up to around 2000. Here’s my 72 with the Ford wheels and LT245/75/16 tires.

[DeadheadNM]

Why not add 16.5” Transforce tires and keep the wheels?

[chevmn]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Why not add 16.5” Transforce tires and keep the wheels?

The answer for me is that 16 inch tires are much more available, you can obtain a lighter duty tire (ride much better, and Transforce are Load Range E), and the used Ford rims I purchased are 1 inch wider, allowing better look and slightly wider tire. In my instance, my wifes truck uses a 265-70-16 tire, and I am going with some tires removed from her truck (free tires are good). These tires are just passenger rated tires, which should ride fairly decent, and i have no plans on heavy loads or towing that would require the E rated tires. But, others may need the heavy load rated tires.

[KLASS6]

Thank you for replying so fast!
16.5' Firestone Transforce aren't available in Europe and shipping cost from the US and taxes are expensive.
Finding 16x7 or 16x8 ford, chevy or dodge wheels is not easy as truck weren't officialy sold in Europe.
Wheels vintiques make 16x7 8 lug wheels...I asked them a quote to buy 5 wheels plus shipping.
I will have to have them painted white as they are only available in satin black.

[DeadheadNM]

I wrongly imagined that size was available in Europe. Double check the WV wheels will accommodate hub caps. Cheers!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by KLASS6

Thank you for replying so fast!
16.5' Firestone Transforce aren't available in Europe

Time to move to TX! Congrats on the C20, nice truck - remember to be kind to those little Peugeots...

[KLASS6]

I finally found a shop online in the UK which sells Firestone transforce.
The price hurts a bit, 300€ or $330 each delivered to my door.
Noob question but do I need inner tube with the original wheels?

[DeadheadNM]

Good question. I don’t believe so but let’s hear others chime in. My 16.5” oem wheels do not.

[72c20customcamper]

I have the transforce tires on my 72 . They ride just as nice as the passenger tire they replaced . Just dont Jack up the pressure to 80psi that's for when you load it to its max load. I use 55 psi.


I used 16x8 Ford rims from road ready wheels . My factory caps fit fine. D9nt think the 16.5 need tubes

[Joesjunk]

Originally Posted by KLASS6

I finally found a shop online in the UK which sells Firestone transforce.
The price hurts a bit, 300€ or $330 each delivered to my door.
Noob question but do I need inner tube with the original wheels?

I have the transforce 9.50 x 16.5’s on a 71 pickup, no tubes needed.

Dang those tires are expensive over there!

[jocko]

When you consider you don't have to buy wheels, probably money well spent.
Firestone Transforce HT 9.50x16.5 on a truck I used to own.

[KLASS6]

Thank you all for your input.
I like the look of these transforce...despite the price my choice is made to keep it as original as possible.
Now I wondering if my hubcaps are original to the Cheyenne trim.
Did they shouldn't be chromed?

[Joesjunk]

Originally Posted by KLASS6

Thank you all for your input.
I like the look of these transforce...despite the price my choice is made to keep it as original as possible.
Now I wondering if my hubcaps are original to the Cheyenne trim.
Did they shouldn't be chromed?

Your hub caps are correct, chrome hub caps were optional on a 3/4 ton even with the Cheyenne package. I learned this on a low mile 71 Cheyenne I bought several years ago.

[KLASS6]

Ok, good to know.
Thanks.

[factorystock]

If my '72 had the original 16.5 wheels, I would just take my time finding the best deal on the 9.50- 16.5 tires. C20's with the 9.50's-16.5 tires came with wider rims than C 20's with 8.00 or 8.75 16.5 tires. If you give up on 16.5 tires, I agree with the others the wider 16X7 Ford Econoline wheels ( mid 90's to mid 2000 with BUMPS for hubcap rentention ) have the closest resemblance to the original wide 16.5's used with 9.50-16.5 tires. Here is a photo ad from back in the day of an ochre C 20 with 16.5's and painted hubcaps.

[KLASS6]

I am offered five 16x7 8lug steel wheels from a dodge b250 van.
Do these wheels fit my C20?