Tires: how wide of tires can I put on a 6 1/2 rim, rim size, rim width

Question
I am currently using 235/85/16 tires on a 6 1/2 by 16 rim.  I am looking to go to a wider tire and am wondering how wide I can go till I have to put a new rim on.
Thanks
Marlin

Answer
Marlin,

This is a but complicated, because the "235" is only part of the size, and that isn't the only thing that determines the proper rim size.

The most accurate way to do this is to use the spec charts - like this one:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Grabber+HTS&p

There will be a column marked "Rim Width Range" - or something like that.

But the short version is 255 is about the limit for 6 1/2" wide rims.