16" 5 on 5 1/2 wheels - What tires?

[Benjo]

I've got these old wheels for my 49 single axle trailwind. they are 16" 5 on 5 1/2 lug pattern with the baby moon hub caps. I am having them sandblasted and painted. Has anyone heard of using truck tires with size rim? Perhaps it is a Dodge of Ford pattern. What size tire would i be looking for?

[vswingfield]

If they are 16”, wouldn’t they be 16”?

[SteveH]

I think the original size was 700/16.

[Camp Kilgore]

5 on 5.5" in 15" and 16" was Jeep and GM, as I had both. I would prefer to roll 235-85x16" on AS instead of the modern 15".

7.00x16 was skinny.

[Melody Ranch]

The 235's will not fit the wheel wells on my older Airstreams. I do have replacement Henchens, so that my compound the fit.

[Ganaraska]

Trailers of that vintage usually used truck tires. I don't think trailer tires were made back then.

Bias ply truck tires are probably your best bet. Be careful of the width. Today's 16" tires are much wider than the old ones and are too wide for your narrow wheels. They will not work correctly. You need the old skinny straight sided tires.

If this trailer is to be used and not a museum piece you might be better off getting 15" wheels and radial tires.

[Pillow]

There is a 7.00R15 available that is a radial from Yokohama. Check Tire Rack.

But unless you want to go back to bias ply I have not found a radial "bias" size.

Tire Rack carries a biasply tire in a 7.5R16 from Yokohama Y785R... It says tube on the description, but really I think it is a radial???

Or try this: 700-16 TORNEL LITE TRUCK 6 PLY - Coker Tire

I have some vintage 7.00x16 tires/wheels in the back of my truck right now that are headed to the dump so I know they were made for trucks in that size back in the day. And off of 5-5.5 wheels no less.

For a Spartan in the 40s it came with 7.50x16s. So I plan on switching to 235/85R16-Es.

Hopefully that is possible help. It is hard very hard! I am still stumped on how to get rid of the split rims and make it look right...

I would love to see you wheels setup if you have a picture to share!

[Pillow]

Sorry, the bolt pattern is off of old trucks. Ford and Jeep. Also the 07+ Jeep Wranglers have the same bolt pattern in a 16" stock steelie wheel, good for a quick fix... But not vintage looking at all.

Also you can have wheels custom made for vintage steelies. I got a quote for 16x7 custom made for about $100 each. Then add the cost to powder coat and add caps + beauty rings. It gets pricey.

If you do not need steelies try the American Eagle 058 line of wheels PN#0589-7757. 16x7 8mm ET 5-5.5. This is what I ordered but not sure how it will look in the end. Might change it later. Made in the USA

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Pillow

For a Spartan in the 40s it came with 7.50x16s. So I plan on switching to 235/85R16-Es.

Hopefully that is possible help. It is hard very hard! I am still stumped on how to get rid of the split rims and make it look right...

My 1950 F1 had 16" wheels, and they weren't split rims, either. I think they were 5 lug, but after nearly 30 years, it's getting a little fuzzy. Maybe you could run that question by the people on the Ford Truck forum. Somebody may even have some surplus 16" tubeless (non-split) wheels.

[Pillow]

Update: Check out a tire in this size 215/85R16-D Should be a little more narrow for your fitment.

Also I found a set of International truck wheels that should work, going to the junkyard tomorrow and getting them.