15" vs. 16" steel wheels

i just came accross a set of 5 KH steel wheels (the same style as on ANIMAL), except they are 15". Is there a reason to go with 16" over the 15"? I'm going to run the 34 x 9.5/15 swampers on them. Will the 11" brakes work on the 15"? The price is right on the wheels, trade for the wagon wheels that are on the '66 now!

 

No, they look much narrower than 8". Maybe around 5" or so. They have tires on them so I cant get a good measurement right now. Interco's web site lists both 16" and 15" 34's.
The OD on both is 33.8, and the tread width on both is 8.0.

 

www.Intercotire.com
Narrow S.S.
They show a 34x9.50x15

 

If I had my choice between the same tire except on 15" or 16" wheels, I'd choose the smaller wheel. I'd expect a taller sidewall to be more flexible. Plus the 15x6" wheels are fairly common - Bill has a set for sale right now.

 

They are more for Dually set ups but they would work.

Be to tall and skinny for me, but hey.

 

Someone say skinny tires???

I love 34x9.50s




Actaully the 34x9.50 is used mostly for dirt drags around here, it's a great way to fit a larger tire, and I like the traction better than the 33x12.50 TSL (I'm big on contact pressure)

 

BTW- I have found that when you get around 36" and bigger with a Swamper, you start to have bounce problems when climbing waterfalls and ledges with 15" wheels- my TJ will wrinckle the tire like a drag slick at 8 lbs, and then the tread will deform, unloading the tire. At those sizes, a larger wheel may be a better idea. (I still will run 15" wheels on the 38.5" Bogggers on Untamed, because I am cheap, and I was able to get 15" weld on beadlocks for $20 ea shipped- I may have to raise the air pressure some to compensate for the larger sidewall)

 

Maybe I'm incorrect in the assumption that the wheels are KH. They have the smooth inners that have no provision for hub caps.

 

These are the original wheels off a '55 3B.

 

Not to highjack the thread, but how wide of a tire can you put on the stock rims. Can you/do you want to go any wider than 9.5?

 

I prefer to have as much rubber as I can between the rim and the ground
therefore, I like 15"
1/2" difference isn't much between the two sizes, I just prefer 15"

 

Read somewhere that KH made more than 90% of the wheels for the auto industry at one time.

 

Depends on how willing you are to defy conventional wisdom- I have a friend who runs Q78x15 (35.5x10.8, but then run over 36" on his app) Swampers on a 5.5" rim on a fullsize Blazer.