Front wheel size

[aghead 72]

I have new  firestone 16 6.50-8 tri ribs for my '78 C-101. I have some 8x 3.5" WH wheels that are too narrow for the tires, I think, are they too narrow? The tires call for 5 3/8" wide wheels.

If not, I want NEW wheels in the wider size. What hub width will I need? I measure 3 3/4" wide x 3/4" bearings. Is this correct and if so where can I source new wheels? 

 

Firestone Tire Details:

Overall Diameter:

16.4"

Overall Width:

6.3"

Ply Rating:

4 ply Tubeless

Rim Width:

5-3/8"

Tread Depth:

17/32"

Max Load:

620 LB @ 28 PSI

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

Have you tried eBay Amazon or Surplus Center...

[aghead 72]

What I have found is that they state the hub width and I am not sure how long the hub should be. (from inner to outer bearing)

[The Tuul Crib 7,338]

 I just got some tires that are 4.80 4.00 x8 for the front of my 855. I thought at first they were going to be a little bit narrow for the rims  but once mounted and aired up they look great! 

[aghead 72]

^ Those do look very nice! My prob is I have wider tires and narrow wheels. 

[The Tuul Crib 7,338]

3 minutes ago, aghead said:

^ Those do look very nice! My prob is I have wider tires and narrow wheels. 

The 16 6.50 x8 should work . I don't like to put a larger tire on a rim than what is supposed to be. Like the 23 8.50 x 12. While the 10.50 would look cool you don't get the full effect of the tire.

[aghead 72]

^ for the 6.50 width tire,  they recommend a 5-3/8" wheel width. My wheel is 3.5". That's almost 2" difference. 

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,338]

2 minutes ago, aghead said:

^ for the 6.50 width tire,  they recommend a 5-3/8" wheel width. My wheel is 3.5". That's almost 2" difference. 

 

JMO I would stay with 4.80 4.00 x 8 then like I just installed on mine

[oliver2-44 10,456]

Post an add in the clasified section here and someone will probably have the rims you need. Miller tire has a selection of new rims $$

 

An important detail is how long your spindles are?   My C81 C161 and C16o all have 16 by 6.5 by 8 tires on original wide front rims.  So I would think you spindes are long enough, but it would be a good thing to check 

[Lee1977 7,073]

My 312-8 the front spindles are 3 3/4". I used Wheel Horse trailer wheels that the hub  measured 4 1/2" with the bearings installed I had to remove 3/4" to make them fit. The rim width was 3" and worked great with The 400 x 8 tri ribs.

[aghead 72]

1 hour ago, The Tool Crib said:

JMO I would stay with 4.80 4.00 x 8 then like I just installed on mine

Problem is I already have the new tires (16 6.50-8). The narrow  wheels arrived after tires and were not the wide wheels, but 3.5" wheels. 

I figured mi 1978 c-101 had the wide rims.

The beads on the narrow wheels are too rusted to clean up and mount tubeless, so I need/want new wheels. Even if I used tubes, I am unsure of the tire & narrow rim ability to work.

I don't have any other wheels to measure the hub width (outside bearing to inside bearing?) I need this measurment to ensure correct new wheels.

These narrow wheel's hub width measure about 3-3/4". 

[aghead 72]

5 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

My 312-8 the front spindles are 3 3/4". I used Wheel Horse trailer wheels that the hub  measured 4 1/2" with the bearings installed I had to remove 3/4" to make them fit. The rim width was 3" and worked great with The 400 x 8 tri ribs.

 

Ok, 3 3/4" hub width. Thanks! My rim is 3.5", My tires are 6.50-8" tri ribs. I assume tires are too wide for the rims. 

Thank you...and good engineering on  adapting your wheels.!

[Pullstart 65,085]

You could always try to mount them to see if you like the look...  the rubber won’t be able to tell you that the wheel is too narrow, it’ll be your preference on how it bulges...  a set of tubes will be cheaper than another set of wheels most likely...

[ericj 1,579]

 

1 hour ago, aghead said:

Problem is I already have the new tires (16 6.50-8). The narrow  wheels arrived after tires and were not the wide wheels, but 3.5" wheels. 

I figured mi 1978 c-101 had the wide rims.

The beads on the narrow wheels are too rusted to clean up and mount tubeless, so I need/want new wheels. Even if I used tubes, I am unsure of the tire & narrow rim ability to work.

I don't have any other wheels to measure the hub width (outside bearing to inside bearing?) I need this measurment to ensure correct new wheels.

These narrow wheel's hub width measure about 3-3/4". 

 

I have the Firestone tri-ribs 16x6.50x8, they came on my loader tractor. I replaced them with 18x8.50x8 I believe 5 ribs on the loader. I then put the tri-ribs on my  utility 520 that I plow snow with and use the garden plow on. I can tell you you will need another set of the wider rims to put your tires on, I don't believe they will fit on the narrow rims that you have. Check the classified adds on here. I might have a set of rims, but it would be awhile till I could get a chance to even look for them,, and if they are off a tractor not sure what length spindle they would have come off of.

 

The C101 should have come with the wide rims, could you check the rims on the B80, maybe swap rims if they are

 

 

 

 

 

 

eric j

Edited December 9, 2018 by ericj

[WildmanC120 613]

I bought the narrow rims from Miller's the other day and the wheel hubs ate too narrow for my tractor spindles.  I had to make a spacer to get them to fit. 

 

[aghead 72]

1 hour ago, WildmanC120 said:

I bought the narrow rims from Miller's the other day and the wheel hubs ate too narrow for my tractor spindles.  I had to make a spacer to get them to fit. 

 

Thanks for the info. Exactly what I needed to know! The wide rims at Millers are also 3/4" too narrow at only 3" wide hubs.

[aghead 72]

2 hours ago, ericj said:

 

 

I have the Firestone tri-ribs 16x6.50x8, they came on my loader tractor. I replaced them with 18x8.50x8 I believe 5 ribs on the loader. I then put the tri-ribs on my  utility 520 that I plow snow with and use the garden plow on. I can tell you you will need another set of the wider rims to put your tires on, I don't believe they will fit on the narrow rims that you have. Check the classified adds on here. I might have a set of rims, but it would be awhile till I could get a chance to even look for them,, and if they are off a tractor not sure what length spindle they would have come off of.

 

The C101 should have come with the wide rims, could you check the rims on the B80, maybe swap rims if they are

 

eric j

 

Perfect info, what I've been needing to know!

The B80 has the wide wheels. I thought it did. (I finally got home to check) Its tires are too good to break down to use the wheels, and the narrow wheels I received are way rusted/pitted where the tire beads. I hate to even spend time on them to try them out on the b80. I guess a tube would work?

I also assumed the C101 had the wide wheels. (it came with little yellow wheels)

Thanks!