Rims Change What will work????

[pjm257]

 Hey guys I own a GMC 1979 k2500 currently running 16.5 8 lug rims. I want to either go up to a 17 or down to a 16 and was realy wanting to buy from a junk yard for cost savings. (I have a buddy who will blast them for me for painting) So what type of truck should I look for in the junk yards around here? I would like to stick with the 12.5 width as the tires I am running now are the BF goodrinch 33x12.5's and the width looks nice on the old truck. I would just stick with these rims but the tire selection for them is just to narrow and I am realy wanting to run Bridgestone dualer MT's on the old truck. As its my stump jumper and realy need more traction then the goodrinches give me.

[choptop]

Are you running the stock rims?? If so, look for a set of 16x8s from about 83 up Chevys. I dont know when the transition was, but I know our 81 still had 16.5s on it. Also look at the 3/4 ton Fords and Dodges if you are just going with a stock type wheel. I have learned that the older Ford rims will fit Chevy, but Chevy will not fit Ford because the center hole is smaller on the Chevy wheel. 2 of the wheels on our 81 were Ford rims, and the secnter caps fit no problem. I have also seen Dodge wheels from 90's Dodge trucks that fit our trucks as well, just have to do something different with the center cap. Almost all aftermarket 8 lug wheels will fit because they make them with the larger center hole so they can be universal.Maybe you can find a set of wagon wheels, blastem, paint'em and be done with it.
  I would go with the 16's because that would be alot easier to find, unless you go aftermarket, plus tires are cheaper.

[pjm257]

Yes I assume they are the stock rims as I have seen alot of these trucks online with the rims on them. I work at bridgestone and want to be able to use my discount when purchasing tires so I realy need to change them rims. Because as far as I know Bridgestone/Firestone doesn't make a MT tire in the 16.5 rim range. Thanks for the info I'll look around next week. And I will try to stick with the 16 inch rims.