1971 F250 Wheel Identification

[7-T-1Gold]

Hello Ford truck enthusiasts this is Alex with a newly acquired 1971 F250.

Recently mounted new tires and noticed that the rear wheel center bores were torch cut to fit around the axle hubs. The wheels are 16 x 7 with a 4.5" center bore. The axle hubs are 4.75" outside diameter.
The bead stamps read: T 16 x 6.5 K DOT K195 1 12 14 A.
Weight limit: 3042 Lbs. My next concern is that Ford may have some odd half size like my spare, a 16.5' x 7 in which my tire options become next to non-existent. Wondering what the make and year of wheel these are plus some knowledge of what should be on the truck.

Thanks for your insight.

Alex

[DuckRyder]

I think those are perhaps chevy wheels.

The spare is probably one of the originals, but folks change them to 16” vs 16.5 because as you noted 16.5 tires are hard to come by.

Later model Econolines are a good donor for 16” wheels IIRC and also wheel vintiques makes some.

https://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels/t ... 8-lug.html

Hopefully some of the F250 guys will be along to elaborate.

[basketcase0302]

"7-T-1Gold"]Hello Ford truck enthusiasts this is Alex with a newly acquired 1971 F250.

Recently mounted new tires and noticed that the rear wheel center bores were torch cut to fit around the axle hubs. The wheels are 16 x 7 with a 4.5" center bore. The axle hubs are 4.75" outside diameter.
The bead stamps read: T 16 x 6.5 K DOT K195 1 12 14 A.
Weight limit: 3042 Lbs. My next concern is that Ford may have some odd half size like my spare, a 16.5' x 7 in which my tire options become next to non-existent. Wondering what the make and year of wheel these are plus some knowledge of what should be on the truck.

Thanks for your insight.

Alex

Alex,
and please stop by the welcome mat when you get a chance and say hi to everybody.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

The wheels look to me to be either Dodge or chebby wheels as they had different center bores than our Fords:
The D60 eight lug rear axle and front wheels could be either 16" or 16.5. I had the "white elephant" 16.5 wheels on my 71' F-350 DRW when I first bought it and immediately changed to the 16" rim size due to availability of more choices and tire combinations. The 16.5 is also typically a bias ply tire size, (I'll never run bias ply tires ever again in my lifetime-only radials) so I'd advise junking the 16.5 ASAP if it were my truck, (you will get different opinions on this here).
Look for used early 60's thru I believe 1997, (after 97' Ford changed to the 16" metric bolt circle) for the Ford 16" X 7 rim size to save some money, (which are available in several different styles/options) or shop new at almost all tire stores/companies like Summit and Coker tire. Your truck is a SRW drive isn't it, (not a dually)?

[7-T-1Gold]

Hello B.C.

Yes, rear wheel drive. There is a salvage yard close to home that has several F250's with decent wheels, I will look at them this week. Does one measure bolt pattern the same as for five lug . . edge of hole to center of opposite?

Thanks!
Alex

[basketcase0302]

Alex,

Yes it should measure 6.5" from stud center to center. You do have the single wheel aspect of the rim in your favor as our dually 16" X 6.5 (coined rims) are much harder to find.

There is also a very valuable "tool" (I've always needed to buy one for our 8 lug as they are harder wheels to find than 5 lug sometimes) that can be bought cheaply to help ID wheels called a bolt pattern template.
You can also print one off on the computer and take it to the boneyard with you.


https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=wh ... &FORM=IGRE

[7-T-1Gold]

Cool, good to know.

Thanks for all the helpful information!

Alex

[basketcase0302]

Glad to help Alex.