Problems replacing 1976 Dodge "16.5 rims to common size

[The76Fireball]

Hi everyone I'm having a hard time trying to replace the tires on my 1976 Dodge RV. I took it to my mechanic who said I have 16.5 inch tires that are no longer in production. He decided that it'd be best to switch out the rims to either 16 or 17 inch rims since tires for those are readily available. And cue the current problem. He found after researching that the rims have alternating "nipples" as he called it. On most wheels the holes in the rim are flat but half the holes on my rims have that nipple or lip turned inwards and half turned outwards. Apparently he can't put on the flat holed rims because only half of the 8 bolts would be secure and eventually the wheel would come loose. He also found that the rims are now hard to find because obviously it was a flawed design. I still see lots of old dodge RVs on the road today so it must be done somehow. He mentioned something about them being dually rims. My question is does anyone know of a place that would have the dually rims or know of any adapters or something to make new rims work?

[Matt_Colie]

The76Fireball wrote:

Matt_Colie wrote:
Kyle,

I had a similar problem with out 73 coach. Yes, 8.75-16.5 Transforce HTs are available, just be sure that they sell you New Ones. I was offered 3yo tires at new price before I changed the coach to 16". If you are not going strange places, either work with a local dealer (agricultural areas are best) or change out the wheels.

Did you try ***Link Removed***Southwest Wheel?

It has been years, but Dodge changed wheel sizes like GM did - a little at a time. So, work the wrecking yards and Craig's list.

Matt

Did you have any trouble with coined rims vs flat rims?

Kyle,

There I was lucky. GM used flat rims, but they are hub centered, so the PITA is finding rims with the correct bore.

Matt

[The76Fireball]

Matt_Colie wrote:
Kyle,

I had a similar problem with out 73 coach. Yes, 8.75-16.5 Transforce HTs are available, just be sure that they sell you New Ones. I was offered 3yo tires at new price before I changed the coach to 16". If you are not going strange places, either work with a local dealer (agricultural areas are best) or change out the wheels.

Did you try ***Link Removed***Southwest Wheel?

It has been years, but Dodge changed wheel sizes like GM did - a little at a time. So, work the wrecking yards and Craig's list.

Matt

Did you have any trouble with coined rims vs flat rims?

[The76Fireball]

j-d wrote:
You will have a blowout on dual rear tires if the two facing sidewalls are too close together. The "dish" of the wheel determines that spacing. The wider the tire the more offset(spacing) you need to keep the sidewalls apart. The offset distance is built into the wheel. The offset requirement is determined by the tire. It used to be easy to find a graphic showing that. Not so much lately. I'll see what I can find.

And that's why the mechanic is involved because I never would have thought about it. What exactly would I say when calling auto recycling yards?

[Matt_Colie]

Kyle,

I had a similar problem with out 73 coach. Yes, 8.75-16.5 Transforce HTs are available, just be sure that they sell you New Ones. I was offered 3yo tires at new price before I changed the coach to 16". If you are not going strange places, either work with a local dealer (agricultural areas are best) or change out the wheels.

Did you try Southwest WheelSouthwest Wheel?

It has been years, but Dodge changed wheel sizes like GM did - a little at a time. So, work the wrecking yards and Craig's list.

Matt

[Tyler0215]

Shop a little harder for 16.5" tires before you go to the expense of changing all 6 wheels and tires. Somebody must still make the size you need.

[j-d]

Maybe this'll help:


The Dual Spacing I mentioned above should be at least 10.2" so the offset for one wheel (labeled HDS in the graphic) should be at least 5.1"

There's discussion on This Page,and it doesn't matter they're Ford and you're Dodge. The tires still can't kiss!

[j-d]

You will have a blowout on dual rear tires if the two facing sidewalls are too close together. The "dish" of the wheel determines that spacing. The wider the tire the more offset(spacing) you need to keep the sidewalls apart. The offset distance is built into the wheel. The offset requirement is determined by the tire. It used to be easy to find a graphic showing that. Not so much lately. I'll see what I can find.

[The76Fireball]

j-d wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
Hi Kyle,


You can also check wrecking yards for the 16 inch coin style rims - they are out there.

Agreed, but with this warning: Be sure you understand OFFSET (also known as Dually Spacing) and get wheels where that number is adequate for your 16" tires. Using Barry's Tire Tech as an example:

From 8.75R16.5

To 225/75R16LT

Required Rim Width 6.0"

Required Offset 10.2"

That 10.2" is if you find a pair of wheels you can set rim-face-to-rim-face. Find the center of the 6" rim widths and measure between both. You need at least 10.2"

If you find one wheel to try, then 5.1" from C/L of the rim, to the ground it's sitting on, face down.

Makes sense to go with a common size, especially since you're trying to get away from a not-so-common tire. The LT225/75R16E is very common on Class C's so it's a strong candidate. Some here like the 215/85 and Barry has it on his page also. I don't know what's popular on pickups and cube vans, but for me, popularity'd be the tie-breaker.

Thanks for the response but I know nothing about tires. What does that mean in simple words?

[The76Fireball]

gbopp wrote:


Is your 76 Dodge a Class C or Class A?

It is a class c American Clipper

[j-d]

toedtoes wrote:
Hi Kyle,


You can also check wrecking yards for the 16 inch coin style rims - they are out there.

Agreed, but with this warning: Be sure you understand OFFSET (also known as Dually Spacing) and get wheels where that number is adequate for your 16" tires. Using Barry's Tire Tech as an example:

From 8.75R16.5

To 225/75R16LT

Required Rim Width 6.0"

Required Offset 10.2"

That 10.2" is if you find a pair of wheels you can set rim-face-to-rim-face. Find the center of the 6" rim widths and measure between both. You need at least 10.2"

If you find one wheel to try, then 5.1" from C/L of the rim, to the ground it's sitting on, face down.

Makes sense to go with a common size, especially since you're trying to get away from a not-so-common tire. The LT225/75R16E is very common on Class C's so it's a strong candidate. Some here like the 215/85 and Barry has it on his page also. I don't know what's popular on pickups and cube vans, but for me, popularity'd be the tie-breaker.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

NEWER Dodge wheels. To really confuse things, Dodge wheels can be used on other 8-lug applications, but not the other way around. Be ABSOLUTELY certain that your new wheels are the same width and the hub center line is the same as the old wheels. Been there done that with an early GM pickup. The 16" sacrificed a bit of stability for improved ride comfort.

[toedtoes]

Hi Kyle,

I responded to your question on the clipper site but will repeat here for sharing.

I believe there is a company in Oklahoma that sells the coin style rims - a fellow clipper owner was dealing with them. If I get the name i'll post it.

I use the transforce on my clipper and they work great. No need to change out the rims, etc. Check online for best pricing and then call your local shop to see if they'll match it - most will.

You can also check wrecking yards for the 16 inch coin style rims - they are out there.

I have never heard that they are flawed - they're just an outdated design (our clippers ARE 40 years old after all).

[j-d]

I saw a "B" series (cut-away Van "Nose") Dodge chassis under a Class C out in Oregon and it had the 16" wheels. I wanted to catch the owner and ask what he'd used, but I didn't connect. Suffice, it CAN be done.

You have what's known as "coined" or "keyed" wheels. Every other hole is either recessed or raised, right? And there's a pin in each rear hub that lines up with a small slotted hole in each rim...? That's to make sure the rear outer "coins" line up recesses and raises with the inner.

Unless somebody here just jumps out with the interchange info:

gOOgle "dodge coined wheels" and you'll see pages of hits, with the answer buried someplace within, I'm sure. Just beware that Pickups may have different wheel specs than cutaways/cube vans, and may have switched away from coined in different years.

A salvage yard may be able to help if they'll take the time to look up the interchange. There used to be a book or service "Hollander Interchange" and maybe there's something on line.

You have to match

Centering: Lug, Piloted or Coined

Number of Lugs

Lug Circle

Dual Wheel Offset

Rim Width

... and probably more

That said:

Firestone Transforce is a very good tire. gOOgle 8.75R16.5LT and you'll get lots of hits. Transforce seems to be one of the few (if not only) name brand among acres of off brands and cheapies.

A member here, capriracer, has a site called Barry's Tire Tech and it has the 16.5 page I linked. Helps determine a good 16" tire to swap into.

[gbopp]

Welcome to the forum.
I don't have the answer, hopefully another member will have the info you need.

Did you search online for a Dodge Motor Home Forum?
Someone has your answer, it's just not me.

Is your 76 Dodge a Class C or Class A?