Ford F-350 Tires

Ford F-350 trucks from 1971 to 1979 use seven listed tire sizes: 700-16 for 1971-1972, 750-16 for 1971-1977, 800-16.5 for 1971-1979, 875-16.5 for 1971-1979, 950-16.5 for 1971-1979, 12-16.5 for 1973-1977, and 8.75R16.5 for 1978-1979. The 700-16 and 750-16 sizes fit 16-inch wheels, while 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, 12-16.5, and 8.75R16.5 fit 16.5-inch wheels.

That wide spread of sizes means year alone is not enough to choose a tire for a Ford F-350. Check the wheel diameter stamped on the rim, compare the size currently on the truck, and then use the year listing to narrow the correct range for your specific configuration.

A 700-16 tire on a Ford F-350 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, and the 16 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. In the listed products for this size, the tires are bias-ply designs built for 16-inch rims.

That matters because a 700-16 Ford F-350 tire is not interchangeable with any 16.5-inch truck tire, even if the overall proportions look close at a glance. If your truck is an early 1971 or 1972 application, verify both the wheel diameter and the size already fitted before moving to a replacement.

A 1973 Ford F-350 has five listed tire sizes because more than one heavy-duty wheel and tire configuration was used that year. The sizes for 1973 include 750-16, 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, and 12-16.5, which split between 16-inch and 16.5-inch wheel diameters. That is a wheel-diameter and configuration split rather than a single one-size-fits-all setup.

The practical takeaway is that a 1973 Ford F-350 owner needs to inspect the truck itself, not just read the model year from the title. Measure the wheel, read the existing tire size if present, and match the replacement to the specific wheel package and use of the truck.

Ford F-350 trucks in this range use both 16-inch and 16.5-inch wheels. The 700-16 and 750-16 sizes are 16-inch applications, while 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, 12-16.5, and 8.75R16.5 are 16.5-inch applications. Both diameters appear within the 1971-1979 span.

That makes wheel-diameter confirmation the first fitment check on any Ford F-350 from these years. A 16-inch tire will not seat correctly on a 16.5-inch wheel, and the reverse is also true, so verify the wheel before comparing tread style, construction, or brand.

A 1977 Ford F-350 can use several listed sizes, including 750-16, 800-16.5, 875-16.5, 950-16.5, and 12-16.5. Those options are not interchangeable across all trucks because they span both 16-inch and 16.5-inch wheels and represent different heavy-duty configurations. The correct size is the one that matches the truck's actual wheel diameter and existing setup.

Start with the wheel itself, then compare the installed tire size and the truck's intended use. If the truck is being restored, check period paperwork or marque references as well, since a work truck may have been changed over the years to a different wheel and tire package.

Ford F-350 tires in these listings are available in blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The truck-oriented 16.5-inch sizes are blackwall only, while the 700-16 and 750-16 sizes include both blackwall and wide whitewall options. That gives early 16-inch applications the broadest sidewall style range.

For most work-focused Ford F-350 restorations, blackwall remains the most natural visual choice, especially on military, transport, and traction-style tires. Wide whitewalls are more of a style decision and should be matched carefully to the character of the truck and the look you are trying to recreate.

The listed Ford F-350 tire brands are STA, Firestone, BFGoodrich, Lester, and Avon. STA appears across many of the truck-focused 16-inch and 16.5-inch sizes, while Firestone, BFGoodrich, Lester, and Avon appear primarily in the 700-16 and 750-16 offerings. That mix gives buyers a choice between commercial-style tread families and classic-style bias-ply options.

Brand selection should come after fitment confirmation on a Ford F-350. Once the correct size and wheel diameter are established, the next decision is whether you want a period passenger-style appearance, a truck-service tread, or a military-style pattern that better suits the way the truck will be used and presented.

Ford F-350 tires in these listings include series such as Super Transport, Traxion, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Traction Mileage, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Military, Tornel Classic Truck, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Military NDT, and Transport. Some are passenger-style classic bias-ply lines, while others are truck, highway, traction, or military-pattern designs built around heavier-duty use.

The practical difference is appearance and intended service character. A Ford F-350 restored as a work truck often looks right on transport, traction, or military-style tread, while a truck being finished in a more custom or period passenger-car style may call for one of the classic bias-ply lines offered in 16-inch sizes.

A Ford F-350 should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and other ozone sources that age rubber. Tires should be kept at proper inflation for the load actually on the truck, and a long-stored heavy-duty pickup benefits from being rolled periodically so one section of the casing is not carrying the same load month after month.

Collectors who store a Ford F-350 for long periods often reduce stress on the tires by keeping the truck unloaded and moving it occasionally. If the truck will sit for a season or longer, inspect for sidewall cracking, flat spotting, and bead-area deterioration before putting it back into regular service.

Tires on a Ford F-350 should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times خلال the year if the truck sees regular use. A proper inspection includes tread condition, sidewall cracking, embedded damage, bead condition, valve stem condition, and inflation pressure. On an older heavy-duty truck, wheel condition deserves equal attention because wheel mismatch is as serious as tire mismatch.

That routine matters even more when a Ford F-350 is used only occasionally, because collector trucks can age out their tires long before they wear them out. Frequent inspections help catch storage-related deterioration, underinflation, and casing damage before the truck is put under load or taken onto public roads.

Tires on a Ford F-350 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, separation, or persistent air loss makes continued service questionable, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector and work-style truck tires often spend far more time aging than wearing, so appearance alone is not a reliable guide to serviceability. Any tire that shows structural deterioration belongs off the road.

That is especially important on a Ford F-350 because load-carrying demands can expose weakness quickly. A truck that hauls, tows, or spends time at road speed should be running on tires that are sound in both casing and bead, not merely attractive enough to pass a quick visual check.

Ford F-350 trucks in this 1971-1979 range use several period-style tire families rather than a single universal pattern. The size spread includes 16-inch and 16.5-inch applications, and the available series range from classic bias-ply passenger lines to truck, transport, traction, and military-style designs. That means the original-type tire for one Ford F-350 may differ substantially from another truck in the same model family.

For restoration work, the best approach is to match the size first, then the tread character and sidewall style to the specific truck you are restoring. Factory literature, surviving original trucks, and marque-specific references are the right checks when the goal is authenticity rather than simply getting the truck rolling.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Ford F-350 is judged and how convincing the restoration appears. Wheel diameter, section width, sidewall style, and tread pattern all influence whether the truck reads as an honest period restoration, a working survivor, or a modified build. A truck on the wrong diameter tire is usually obvious to experienced judges and enthusiasts.

That matters most when a Ford F-350 is being restored for shows, marque events, or serious collector resale. Matching the truck to the proper 16-inch or 16.5-inch configuration and choosing a period-appropriate sidewall and tread family helps preserve both historical accuracy and visual credibility.

Ford F-350 tires in these listings are offered in blackwall and wide whitewall styles, but the available sidewall choice depends on the size. The 16.5-inch truck sizes are blackwall only, while 700-16 and 750-16 include wide whitewall options along with blackwall versions. That means sidewall correctness is tied closely to both wheel size and the character of the restoration.

A working Ford F-350 or one restored in commercial trim generally looks most natural on blackwalls. Wide whitewalls can suit a more stylized or non-commercial presentation on early 16-inch applications, but they should be chosen deliberately because they change the visual message of the truck.

These Ford F-350 tires can be appropriate for public-road use when the size matches the wheel correctly, the tire is suitable for the truck's intended service, and the tire itself is in sound condition. The main safety issue in this model range is avoiding a mismatch between 16-inch and 16.5-inch wheels, since those diameters are not interchangeable. Construction choice and overall condition matter just as much as size.

Before road use, make sure the Ford F-350 is being driven within the capabilities of the tire fitted and within the condition of the rest of the truck. A careful pre-drive inspection and a realistic understanding of braking, steering, suspension, and loading are essential on a heavy vintage pickup.

Before driving a Ford F-350, check the tire size against the wheel diameter, inspect inflation pressure, look for sidewall cracking or bulges, and make sure the tread is free of obvious damage. On a heavy-duty vintage truck, also inspect the wheel itself, the valve stems, and the general condition of the suspension and brakes. Tires are only one part of the roadworthiness picture.

That checklist is especially important on a Ford F-350 that has been stored, recently restored, or only driven occasionally. A truck that looks fine parked in the garage can reveal problems quickly once it is carrying weight, turning sharply, or spending time at road speed.

Appropriate speed for a Ford F-350 on period-style tires should be conservative and matched to the construction, condition, load, and wheel setup actually on the truck. A heavy vintage pickup on bias-ply truck tires should not be driven as if it were a modern one-ton, even when the tread is new and the truck is mechanically sound. Stability, braking distance, and heat buildup all deserve respect.

The safest approach with a Ford F-350 is to build speed gradually, keep loads sensible, and judge the truck by how it feels rather than by modern traffic expectations. If the truck wanders, vibrates, or feels unsettled, slow down and inspect the tire, wheel, and chassis combination before continuing.