blue streak 500
ohio
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Hello. This looks like a great site to get some r.v. education!! I have a 1980 Tioga class C on a GMC frame,and they just don`t make 16.5" tires anymore. I am sure many people have changed over to 16" wheels by now, and was wondering what fits good on a G.M. Thanks in advance for any info from people who have made the swap.
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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There are several threads on this. I think if you search you'll find the older GM and Dodge would upgrade pretty easily with later model wheels. Ford, not so easy till 1984 chassis year.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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CapriRacer
Somewhere in the US
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blue streak 500 wrote:Hello. This looks like a great site to get some r.v. education!! I have a 1980 Tioga class C on a GMC frame,and they just don`t make 16.5" tires anymore. I am sure many people have changed over to 16" wheels by now, and was wondering what fits good on a G.M. Thanks in advance for any info from people who have made the swap.
Try this:
http://www.barrystiretech.com/165tires.html
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CapriRacer
Visit my web site: www.BarrysTireTech.com
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Harveyj
Boise, Idaho
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Check your Cooper dealer. My previous Class C had those 16.5" tires and the Coopers I bought held up very well, were quiet and rode nice during the 23K miles we used the MH...also, a good price.
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Grillmeister
BBQ TOUR USA
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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CapriRacer wrote:blue streak 500 wrote:Hello. This looks like a great site to get some r.v. education!! I have a 1980 Tioga class C on a GMC frame,and they just don`t make 16.5" tires anymore. I am sure many people have changed over to 16" wheels by now, and was wondering what fits good on a G.M. Thanks in advance for any info from people who have made the swap.
Try this:
http://www.barrystiretech.com/165tires.html
Clicky
Show me the GRILL and STAND BACK!!!! 
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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I looked at the webpage above, and I think that to make a substitution work, you need to know the OFFSET of the replacment wheel candidates, using a chart like this one from AccuRide Wheels.com
Look carefully at the diagram on the lower left corner of this PDF page. OFFSET is the distance from the face of dual rim that would butt against the other dual rim TO the center of the tire's SECTION WIDTH. Essentially the center of the tread. You can get a close measurement of that with the mounted tire flat on the floor with the face of the rim on the floor. Then measure to the center of the tread. If all you have is a bare wheel, then measure from half the distance between the bead surfaces, to the face of the rim.
The DUAL SPACING is simply twice the WHEEL OFFSET.
Now, if you get enough DUAL SPACING, will the mounted duals clear the Frame and whatever's close to it on the inside sidewall of the inside dual, and the outside wall of the outside dual?
And, If you go to more offset for the rear duals, that same offset will bring the inside of the front steering tires closer to the frame there as well.
From the AccuRide chart, it seems the 215/85R16 would play well in place of 8.75R16.5 and then of course the smaller 8.00R16.5. But even with this information you would want to check the diameter of the two.
Enough have done this that you should be OK if you understand OFFSET and how the wheels are "Piloted." If you have Hub Piloted, then the lug stud holes are sloppy and the wheel center hole fits tight to a ridge on your hubs. Lug nuts are flat where they tighten to the wheel. If Lug Piloted, then there's a centering feature built into the wheel (a tapered seat for the lugs) and the lugs have a matching wedge surface.
That's the problem I mentioned with Ford. Their 16.5's through 1983 where Lug-Piloted and the newer 16's are Hub-Piloted. I don't think you face that with GM (or Dodge).
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blue streak 500
ohio
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Wow,thanks guys for the replies. J.D.,you hit it right on the head. I didn`t think I could just walk into a bone yard and grab just any old 16" wheel for a replacement. Offset and piloting were a concern,of course. That`s why I was hoping someone would chime in with "Ya,I did that swap,I used 16" wheels off a 19xx Chevy xxxx, and they fit great!! I will do as you suggested and measure it right. Thank you very much,and have a safe summer!!
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magik235
Central Wisconsin
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I just bought 8.75 X 16.5 Power King tires today. $1040 for all 6 installed.
1985 Sport Coach http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseac........d/tid/26101292/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
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grandpa123
Alberta Canada
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Try Firestone Transforce. They worked for me good solid 10 ply great
handling, and fairley reasonable. Went the route of changing last motor home over to 16 inch rims. And found it a pain in the butt, a lot of the old rims would not take radial tires as biase was the tire of the day back then. So watch if you are leaning in that direction. Still think its easier to just buy the 16.5 and be done with it.
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Matt_Colie
Southeast Michigan
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Blue - Hello from an owner of a coach with the same issue....
My coach has wheels that are specified as:
Size 16.5x6
Circle - 8 - 6.5"
Bolt hole dia .670
Hub bore dia. 4.567
Backspace 8.150
Offset 5.150
Wheel load pounds 2780
A replacement in 16X6 can be found. It might be a good idea to start in wrecking yards. But be sure you know that you are getting the right part. Your chassis may be either the 4-9/16 hub or the later 4-3/4. If it is the larger, wheels are pretty easy to buy. Just be careful as there are two wheel shapes GM used in that period. A round and a conical. If you have the round, the conical may not fit all locations.
If you buy used, the going price is about 30$ for a wheel that shows no damage at all. If that is what you find, look up Wingfoot Commercial Tire, they offer a cost effective refurbishing.
There is now only one US manufacturer of 16.5 tires and the only of those that they produce in any quantity are the 8.75x16.5 LRE. That would be Firestone - The Transforce. There are some Chinese tires available and I am told that Cooper moved the tooling for 16.5 to China. Whatever... They are getting harder to find.
If you are going to travel, I suggest you start collecting 16" wheels. If you need a 16.5" tire on the road, it may be difficult to find. If you do find one it is likely to be significantly old already.
Safe Travel
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dog going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
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