I have heard 2 different stories about using 16.5 rims and tires one says that they are no good if you are down where the real work is done and the other is that they don't and it is not a big deal to have them.
Can any one tell me the truth? I have a line on a set for dirt cheap but I don't have rims yet I need to know it from a full size wheelers perspective, so I ask the end users for help!

there is no safty bead so when you get down to (IMHO) less than 12psi, you run the risk of popping a bead.

the TireLoc system is a DOT approved "beadlock" for 16.5's and trailready makes 16.5 beadlocks that run $250 a piece or so.

I have run my 15s at 3psi many times and never lost a bead. The tire went flat once but that was it. My buddies with 16.5s tend to break beads at anything under about 12psi. Just to warn ya I tend to spin the rim once and a while at anything under about 7psi.


Charlo

OK aftermarket 16.5's usually don't have a safty bead but the stock rims sometimes have em. I run 44's on a set of stock rims with beads. I run 5psi and have never lost a bead.
be warned 44's look funny on a stock rim

Originally posted by mytzlflick
be warned 44's look funny on a stock rim

wouldnt they look more normal on a 16.5 than on a 15 (ie the 15 has this little tiny rim with a big ballooning tire, whereas the 16.5 is more to scale) or am i overanalyzing and you really have 15's :D

I have 42/16,5 with some old rims, mabe 70s something. Actually mine are made of two rims so they are about 9" wide. And yes they have that very important safety lip and they work great

they look funny cause the rims I have are 6 inches wide. very pinched in the middle.
I can either get em widened or run locks to widen it up a bit

i would say it depends on what kind of wheeling you do,,If your going to be rock crawling dont buy 16.5 unless you go hummer rims our some other kind of beadlock

I just mounted up a set of trail ready beadlocks w/ 16.5s.The rims I took off where a set of aluminum rims w/ a bead welded around each lip about 1" in.I had a hell of a time getting the bead to pop loose.I even removed the stems and drove the truck around and they wouldnt pop the bead.

Facts about 16.5" wheels and safety beads (http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/16_5_rims_and_safety_beads.htm)


My plan is to take a set of these 6.5" wide stock Ford rims, do my own beadlock kit (like www.rockstomper.com sells) and get a beadlocked 16.5" rim that is roughly 8" wide and dopes have the inner safety bead...


Or else get some Hummer rims :p

we run 39.5's on 16.5 mt's and we drove about 200 plus miles on the interstae with little or not air pressure and we never broke the bead..]

lata scooter

Originally posted by bobstoy
:confused: :confused: what do you know:confused:


Bob This:flipoff2: :skull: :mad2: :mad3: :rainbow: :flipoff: :crybaby2:

Originally posted by bobstoy
:confused: :confused: what do you know:confused:

Who are you bobstoy?? Just because im a newbie you dont think I know anything?? Our you dont like what I wrote? At least I tried to help unlike you..And another thing if you where born in 65 like your profile says then grow up..



Back to the 16.5 ? My full size was 6500lbs and with my 16.5,s down to 10 lbs I would pop a bead alot on rocks and sand

Run a search on this topic, many opinions on this subject. I ran 16.5's with mixed experience for year, now running 15's with beadlocks.

I am switching to 3/4 ton running gear right now and bought a set of 38.5x14.5x16.5 Swamper Radials. I have some aluminum rims, but I was gonna go w/ some steel wheels and just screw the beads to the rims like you see in drag racing. Anyone know how this works in a 4x4 situation? You can buy a kit to do it from places like Summit or something for around 15 bucks I think...basically it is just some self tapping screws. Cheaper than buying bead locks!