Forum Discussion

Rhapsodee's avatar
Rhapsodee
Explorer
Jul 16, 2014

16.5 8.00==> 225 75 16E - What Wheels?

Hello RV.NETler,

I apologize if my question is in the wrong topic (I am new) or the answer was already posted somewhere (I didn't find it).

Here's the situation: I purchased an '84 Class C Motorhome last year and want to hit the road. The tires, 16.5/8.00 are old and worn and I don't trust them. I already figured out that many of you recommend to use 225/75/16E instead so that's what I am trying to do.

My question: Can I still use the steel wheels (8 lug) from the 16.5/8.00 tires? Or do I have to get new wheels, too? Sorry if that question may seem dumb to some of you, but I really have no idea of tire/wheel dimensions.

:h

Thank you!

5 Replies

  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    A good tire shop should be able to help you. Possibly an auto wrecker with an interchange catalog. You can also download Accuride's Catalog. One thing you need to understand is "OFFSET" which works out to be the spacing between the sidewalls of the dual wheels. Page 47 of the Catalog has a chart explaining Offset and telling you how much Offset is required by Tire Size. Then you should be able to look up the vehicle you have now. Get the Piloting and Bolt Circle. Then from there find a vehicle with corresponding Piloting and Bolt Circle. Then check the Offset (and other dimensions) for the tires you want against your 8.00/16.5's. Southwest Wheel is another popular vendor and probably has a catalog or online lookup. Hopefully you'll find a Donor Vehicle that's popular and you can start scouring wrecking yards.
  • Good morning and thank you very much!

    I own a Chevy Shasta of 1984 but have no idea about the chassis. I'll try and check it. I am still torn between "just getting new 16.5" and "get everything new".

    And now that think about it it is logical - 16.5" is no 16". But thanks for pointing that out! ;)
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    First, WELCOME!!! Many of us started out with no idea what was what in many areas of RV's and RV-ing.

    Correct. Different Wheels. To the point that many 16" tires have a sidewall marking "Do Not Mount On 16.5 Rim."

    What is the Make and Model Year of your actual Chassis? We had a "1984 RV" and it was titled that way but the Chassis was 1983 Ford E350. I'm pretty sure that 1984 Ford Chassis was the year they went from COINED wheels to the Hub-Piloted wheels they use to this day. On Coined Wheels, the Lug Nut Surface (that tightens to the Wheel) is Tapered (like part of a funnel or cone), the hole in the Wheel is Angled, and the Wheel is actually Centered by the Lug Nuts. Hub Piloted Wheels have holes straight through, no taper. And the Lug Nuts have a flat washer-like surface to tighten against the face of the wheel.

    I gave up on swapping wheels and put new 8.75R16.5D tires on our 1984. But that was 14 years ago. That size tire is still available, but quite uncommon. Finding COINED 16" wheels was too difficult, even then. But if you Have Hub Piloted Wheels, it's easy at least for FORD. Just get the wheels from a later model, so long as they're DUAL wheels. You can possibly use the tires. Just be sure the Date Codes aren't more than a couple years old. Date Code is stamped into one sidewall at the end of a string of DOT information. Format is WWYY. Two Digits for Week of Year, Two for Year, so 2612 would be the 26th Week of the 2012 Year.

    If it's Ford, and 1984 or newer, junkyards should have something you can use, from "Cube Vans" but if you're near a firm that converts vans to 4x4, they may have sets of brand new wheels with brand new tires on them...