255-85R16 won't fit...

[Pants]

Two weeks ago I made my first entree into the TLC world with the purchase of a '98 with 56k miles... interior was a little rough and it needs a few tweaks (including 60k service) but otherwise it's a great vehicle. One problem that needed immediate attention... it came with these ghetto-fabulous 20" chrome DVS rims.

So I go into Discount Tire Co. looking for something in a 255-85R16 and the guy behind the counter tells me they won't fit my 16X8 stock wheels (which I found on Ebay for $200 bucks). Said something about there being "some extra rim hanging out under the tire" or something like that.

What gives?

I've seen all the threads here regarding this tire size, and there doesn't seem to be a problem. Was he just misinformed?

 

[hoser]

The 255 will fit fine. If you are talking about BFG MT's, the manufacturer even lists it as an approved size on an 8" width wheel.

 

[Campfire]

I'm with Hoser. They should fit fine and there was a thread with pictures with a 100 on 255's. Ah, there it is, try looking at these, Pictures of tires-click here.

 

[Pants]

Like I said, I've seen all the relevant threads here and I'm sure they're accurate.

I guess I was just curious as to why this guy, whose job it is to know these things, gave me incorrect information...



,
Pants

 

[ridgerunner]

255/85R16 is a rather narrow tire. The drone at the shop is under the impression that the tire is too skinny for the wheel, and depending on what specific tire you were looking at, the manufactorer specification could be that 8" is just too wide for that tire. Personally I wouldn't run an 8" wheel with something that narrow, but that doesn't mean you can't.

 

[hoser]

It is also possible to narrow an alloy wheel. The face of the wheel will stay the same but they will take the backside of the wheel in--in effect making the offset less positive. A 16x5.5 size would probably be possible.