9.50 x 16.5 Tires??

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bucket

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Are all the hubcaps universal to 16.5 and 16" wheels?

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For the most part, yes. At least as far as GM trucks with 8 lugs are concerned.

What is the difference between a car tire and trailer tire? A few of them said they were E rated even though they were trailer tires.

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Trailer tires are built to carry loads without excessive heat buildup and keep the trailer tracking straight, with really no other needs taken into consideration. Things like steering stability, drive traction, etc that are important for a pickup.

With that said, a good quality trailer tire would probably work fine as a steer tire on a pickup. But if you kill a bus load of nuns in a fiery crash, you didn't get that advice from me. Lol
 

thecantaloupeman

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For the most part, yes. At least as far as GM trucks with 8 lugs are concerned.



Trailer tires are built to carry loads without excessive heat buildup and keep the trailer tracking straight, with really no other needs taken into consideration. Things like steering stability, drive traction, etc that are important for a pickup.

With that said, a good quality trailer tire would probably work fine as a steer tire on a pickup. But if you kill a bus load of nuns in a fiery crash, you didn't get that advice from me. Lol
Well I won't be killing any nuns because I have Firestones. Come to think of it that should be their slogan. "Don't kill nuns. Buy Firestones."

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78C10BigTen

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Well I won't be killing any nuns because I have Firestones. Come to think of it that should be their slogan. "Don't kill nuns. Buy Firestones."

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Not if theyre on a ford.....
 

Silverminer

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Anybody tell me what the correct p metric tire replacement size is for the 9.50 x 16.5" that came on my 1973 GMC 3/4 ton truck?

I called Discount tire and they have no idea. Tire rack doesn't list a size either?

Radials in 16.5 may be extinct, but some choices in bias ply still exist. Check out the "Super Traxion" tire from Specialty Tires of America - https://www.stausaonline.com/tires/sta-super-traxion/. They have all of the traditional sizes, and for exotic large tires Interco sells a bunch of 16.5 sizes including a couple radials that are just way too large for my tastes.

According to the chart from STA above, a 9.50x16.5 should be ~31.1" tall by 9.5" tread width. No need to find a metric equivalent for 16.5 because they simply don't exist, but if you go with 16" rims as others suggested the closest metric size I find is 265/70/16 at 30.9" tall by 8.7" tread width. I'm using the chart from my favorite tires, a Cooper Disco S/T Max. Different manufacturers will likely report slightly different specs.
 

halbert09

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Walmart has the 16.5 Firestones, not too bad a price.

Firestone Transforce HT Tire 9.50R16.5/10
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Firestone-Transforce-HT-Tire-9-50R16-5-10/17790921

16.5's are somewhat obsolete but there are still many sources around.
TIRE RACK:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...d=AL!3756!3!304470776802!b!!g!!&affiliate=HM5

Just Google 9.5R16, there's a lot on eBay, etc for cheaper:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=7...j46i131i275j46j0i67j0i131j0i22i30.Gt8HTI2pj20

If you want greater choices and don't care about original look, then as others said go for 16 inch used wheels, you might luck out and find some with good used tires.
 

73cheyenne

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My '73 started out with 7.50-16, then 9.50-16.5. A couple years ago I put on 265-70-R17, due to lack of choice in the 9.50s. I like the look of the new aluminum wheels and the tires are great. Glad I switched.
 

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