16" factory option Bronco steel wheels and tire options

[Beer and Fish]

I have miraculously acquired a set of (5) true factory K/H Bronco wheels 16" I am going with a Wild Horses 3.5" suspension lift and a 1" body lift on the build. What would be the tallest tire I could run on these very narrow (5" I believe) wheels? Please provide me with available sizes that would look nice and compliment the build. 33" or 35" would be best and the Bronco is a 1975 uncut body. Thank you in advance!

*NO THE SET OF 16" WHEELS ARE NOT FOR SALE!

 

[duffymahoney]

Lets see pictures!

 

[okie4570]

LT235/85r/16 are fairly tall (32" iirc), and they are skinny. I have a set on my crusty 66' u15, street tread.....mud tread looks much better but could pas up the deal on the street tires. They may not be tall enough for 4.5" lift though.

 

[BGBronco]

I didn't even know they existed!

 

[DirtDonk]

You should measure them (inside the bead) just to be sure of the width. I would have thought them 5.5-6 inches wide, but I've never had a set in my hands to check. Maybe there are even some markings on the back to indicate the size?

If they are 6 or 6.5 inches, a 255 would fit pretty nicely. Might even fit a 5 incher. A 255 is getting pretty close into that 10.50 range. But an 85 profile can be the equivalent of a 35 inch tire. My 255x85-16's are 33.5" tall, which matched my previous set of 35x12.50-15's.
Might still have to move the rear axle back a bit to avoid that pesky leading edge of the rear wheel opening, but with over 4 inches of lift, a 35 is not out of line.

Look up member 1sicbronconut here and check out some of his pics. I forget what tire size is used, but it's got some good size tires tucked up in some nice suspension twisting shots.

Paul

 

[okie4570]

You should measure them (inside the bead) just to be sure of the width. I would have thought them 5.5-6 inches wide, but I've never had a set in my hands to check. Maybe there are even some markings on the back to indicate the size?

If they are 6 or 6.5 inches, a 255 would fit pretty nicely. Might even fit a 5 incher. A 255 is getting pretty close into that 10.50 range. But an 85 profile can be the equivalent of a 35 inch tire. My 255x85-16's are 33.5" tall, which matched my previous set of 35x12.50-15's.
Might still have to move the rear axle back a bit to avoid that pesky leading edge of the rear wheel opening, but with over 4 inches of lift, a 35 is not out of line.

Look up member 1sicbronconut here and check out some of his pics. I forget what tire size is used, but it's got some good size tires tucked up in some nice suspension twisting shots.

Paul

They are listed as 16x6.5 but I've never actually measured one.

 

[ford man]

Hey I know a guy in south Georgia that would buy them wheels from ya! I would say back off the suspension lift to like 1.5 or 2.5 at the most and put some 750x16 or 235x85x16 .I would guess that 255x85x16 would work but I would think it might have some tire roll or side wall flex that could get to be dangerous.I know that some one like Stockton wheel can widen your wheels or build you a new set to look like the old ford wheels maybe an option. Here is my bronco with 2.5lift no body lift and 235x85x16 BFG mud ta.

 

[fordfan]

Fordman is saving his money for more Broncos and is no longer a contributor, so I'll help him out with a picture.....

 

[trekgurl]

I saw Ford Man ‘s setup sometime in the past and I liked the skinny look. So, I went with a Cragar Wheel, Soft 8, Steel, Black, 16 in. x 7 in., 5 x 5.5 in. Bolt Circle, 4 in. Backspace.

I did the same 2.5SL, but I did a 1” BL..

Same tire

Size​	Diameter​	Width​	Tread Depth​	Tread​	Rim Width Range​	Load range​	Max Load​	Max PSI​	Weight​	Revs Mile​
LT235/85R16​	32”​	9.3”​	18/32”​	6.5”​	6-7.5”​	E​	3042​	80 psi​	50 lbs.​	650​

View attachment 876945

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[BradinEDH]

I have the same Cragar soft 8 16x7 wheels with 4" backspacing. Tires are 255/85/R16 KM3s. 3.5" lift and 1" body lift.

 

[trekgurl]

interesting,,, so searching 255/85R16 tires, its saying its a diameter of 33.1", section width of 10.0", wheel diameter of 16". circumference is 103.8" 610 revolutions per mile. approved to be mounted on 6.5-8" wide wheels. You got a 3.5 SL. so that means your 2 inches taller at the seat than me.. I'd like to crawl under that and see what the clearances look like....skinny ain't for everyone, but I like it.

 

[ford man]

I have the same Cragar soft 8 16x7 wheels with 4" backspacing. Tires are 255/85/R16 KM3s. 3.5" lift and 1" body lift.

View attachment 876952 View attachment 876953 View attachment 876954 View attachment 876955

This set up looks very nice I would think the factory wheel would look about the same but the difference is 7.5" and 5.5" wide wheel. Trekgurl your looks good too the top always reminds me of and old airplane.

 

[trekgurl]

Trekgurl your looks good too the top always reminds me of and old airplane.

yeah,, wouldn't be mine if I didn't do something bat sh-t crazy too it , I was thinking of a hood made from scratch , the same way lol,,, or wait until I get my on board air system done,

 

[Beer and Fish]

Lets see pictures!

 

[duffymahoney]

So cool!

 

[Beer and Fish]

So if I go with a WH 3.5 lift and a 1" body lift what would be the tallest tire I could put on these wheels?

 

[Beer and Fish]

UNCUT

 

[DirtDonk]

31, 32, 33, 34, 35.
Are the lifts already installed? Measure between the leading edge of the tire and the leading edge of the rear wheel well opening. All around the curve.
That will get you pretty close to what your particular bronco will fit.

Don’t know if we have ever compared Broncos to see why this is, but some seem to have their rear axles further forward, or bodies further rearward. Putting tires closer to that body panel than others.

 

[Bronco_007]

Fordman is saving his money for more Broncos and is no longer a contributor, so I'll help him out with a picture.....

View attachment 876937

Is this yours?!?! What’s the wheel/tire size?!?! So nice! Just got an uncut ‘74; 302, manual.

 

[Bronco_007]

I saw Ford Man ‘s setup sometime in the past and I liked the skinny look. So, I went with a Cragar Wheel, Soft 8, Steel, Black, 16 in. x 7 in., 5 x 5.5 in. Bolt Circle, 4 in. Backspace.

I did the same 2.5SL, but I did a 1” BL..

Same tire

Size​	Diameter​	Width​	Tread Depth​	Tread​	Rim Width Range​	Load range​	Max Load​	Max PSI​	Weight​	Revs Mile​
LT235/85R16​	32”​	9.3”​	18/32”​	6.5”​	6-7.5”​	E​	3042​	80 psi​	50 lbs.​	650​

View attachment 876945

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Get any rubbing?