16" radials???

[38plymouth]

During my quest for a set of 15" rims I ran across a set of 4 16"x4.5 wide rims that fit early mopars, they even have the hole for the pin. They have light surface rust and the guy said they are brand new and never mounted. He wants $25 a piece for them. I am thinking about buying them since I can't find any nice 15" wheels. We looked thru dozens at his yard. Can I fit a radial tire on these? What size could work?

[grey beard]

38,

I use this same rim and have radial 215 x 85.16's installed. They work very well without tubes and ride and handle well. This size is a very tall tire - 31 inches in diameter. You may not want or need this height, depending on your axle ratio.

One suggestion - take those rims to a tire store and ask them to spin each one on a balancer before you paint or mount any new rubber - to make sure they are not bent. I powder coated five rims only to find a bent one AFTER a new tire was mounted.

Tire store guys are used to working with 7 and 8-inch rims. Ours look pretty skinny to their eyes. They won't beleive you until they see a radial actually mounted on them that they will fit and work well, but you can convince 'em if you try.

JMHO

Good Luck

If you don't use those new rims, let the forum know where they are. Someone will be glad to find a new set.

[greg g]

Problem with 16's these days is you get a choice of light truck tires tall narrow and 6 ply or those silly skate board tires that are on everything from subcompacts to high performance cars. Those wider than tall deals that teh rice rockets like so much.

here is something at tire rack

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=185%2F&ratio=75&diameter=16&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&RunFlat=All&x=73&y=11