16.5 clarification

[COCHEV]

So is it the tires or the wheels that make 16.5s slip off the bead? And is it all 16.5 wheels? Cause the burb I picked up has decent 16.5 wagon wheels on it but will need tires soon so I'm trying to decide which way to go .

I also have a decent set of 16" stock steelies laying around too...

 

[nvrenuf]

It's the wheels. 16.5's do not have a rib on the barrel of the rim to help retain the tire bead. I've seen posts where folks weld in a 1/4" ring to fix this but IMO its probably not worth the effort.

 

[80' 427]

The rim is the problem. I run them on my truck but I have had my 39.5 slip off when at low under air and crawling.

 

[Fordum]

Yep, wheels. The 16s have a "square" shoulder that the bead seats on, the 16.5's have a gradual slope.
Back when I got my '89, the only mud grip tires made in 12.50-33 were for 16.5, so that is what I went with.
Until they got many years of wear on them, I actually had to glue the beads once a year.
They would not leak, but would rotate on the rim and get out of balance just from driving down the street.

 

[imiceman44]

So is it the tires or the wheels that make 16.5s slip off the bead? And is it all 16.5 wheels? Cause the burb I picked up has decent 16.5 wagon wheels on it but will need tires soon so I'm trying to decide which way to go .

I also have a decent set of 16" stock steelies laying around too...

If they are wagon wheels they do not hold a bead. But I have seen some stock wheels with the safety bead rib.

 

[COCHEV]

Thanks for the replies. That's what I expected t hear. Looks like its the stock steelies when the time comes

 

[82355]

Not all stock steel 16.5's have the safety bead, but some do.

I have not had as many problems with 16.5's as other people mention. In fact I have only lost a bead once, and there were other contributing factors. I also have lost a bead once on a 16" tire with a safety bead.

Martin

 

[COCHEV]

I just like the looks of a little wider wheel and tire sometimes. But I'm also a fan of the tall skinnies. Don't know how much crawlin the ol' burb will ever see, but I would like it to see snow, mud and sand