Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

[Karl C.]

I recently acquired four very nice Kelsey-Hayes 15 X 5 1/2 Steel Wheels. The Wheels have the Kelsey-Hayes Logo, and are marked 15 x 5 1/2 JK. There is also a small 12 stamped at an angle under the size. I find no date code, but the wheels do have the bumps at the valve stem hole, and are riveted, not welded.

I intended using them on my 65 Convertible, but would like to know what year they were actually intended for.

[John D.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

Klauss,Do you think they will clear the calipers? I can't believe your posts has been on for 20 minutes and the guru's haven't answered. I see the forum is missing a lot of the regulars lately. Must be the holiday blues or something.
If the wheels don't clear the calipers they may be the ultra rare and valuable solid axle rims for the big brake cars. Look again for a date though. SO the center section-known as the spider-just has the bumps. Not springs, etc. I bet you may get an offer or two to swap them for the correct 65 wheels. Yeah at least one from Dipstick. John D.

[John D.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

Klauss,Do you think they will clear the calipers? I can't believe your posts has been on for 20 minutes and the guru's haven't answered. I see the forum is missing a lot of the regulars lately. Must be the holiday blues or something.
If the wheels don't clear the calipers they may be the ultra rare and valuable solid axle rims for the big brake cars. Look again for a date though. SO the center section-known as the spider-just has the bumps. Not springs, etc. I bet you may get an offer or two to swap them for the correct 65 wheels. Yeah at least one from Dipstick. John D.

[John H.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

The C-1 RPO 276 wheels were 15x5-1/2K. Riveted "JK" wheels may be from a passenger car.

[John H.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

The C-1 RPO 276 wheels were 15x5-1/2K. Riveted "JK" wheels may be from a passenger car.

[Wayne M.]

2 possibilites 12_64 or 12_65

Karl - here's a '65 rim dated 3 and 65. The year stamp will be found somewhere in the vicinity and at a possibly different orientation to the month, as shown in the pic.
Of course no one sees the date stampings after the tire is mounted.

[Wayne M.]

2 possibilites 12_64 or 12_65

Karl - here's a '65 rim dated 3 and 65. The year stamp will be found somewhere in the vicinity and at a possibly different orientation to the month, as shown in the pic.
Of course no one sees the date stampings after the tire is mounted.

[John D.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

John, I once had a NOS set of 15X 5 1/2 steel wheels. The outer part of the rim was dead nuts perfect for the C1's. But the centers lacked the nubs for holding the hub caps. In lieu of them the wheels had big time springs held on by rivets. The nice thing was the rim part was NOS and perfect. Heard they were a commercial rim but never really found out the application. Joe Cacagno has written articles on the 5-1/2 rim and told me he had picked up a set of rims like mine but never really knew what they came from. Nice rims for the repro wheel guys though.JD

[John D.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

John, I once had a NOS set of 15X 5 1/2 steel wheels. The outer part of the rim was dead nuts perfect for the C1's. But the centers lacked the nubs for holding the hub caps. In lieu of them the wheels had big time springs held on by rivets. The nice thing was the rim part was NOS and perfect. Heard they were a commercial rim but never really found out the application. Joe Cacagno has written articles on the 5-1/2 rim and told me he had picked up a set of rims like mine but never really knew what they came from. Nice rims for the repro wheel guys though.JD

[Mike E.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

Definitely not solid-axle 5 1/2inchers. JK is incorrect for those, as is the bumps by the valve stem hole. Valve stem hole is also too small for C1 application, as is the center hole over the hub. Plus more.

[Mike E.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

Definitely not solid-axle 5 1/2inchers. JK is incorrect for those, as is the bumps by the valve stem hole. Valve stem hole is also too small for C1 application, as is the center hole over the hub. Plus more.

[Edward M.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

I also have a set of 15x51/2 JK wheels that are of riveted construction. My wheels still have the part number tag on them, and my parts book says they are 64-65 Corvette wheels. They have a date code of 8 64 (as I recall) on them.

Speculation is that they may be service replacement wheels for 64-65 Corvettes. No one I ask has ever seen a riveted wheel originally installed on a 64 - 65 Corvette.

I am thinking about using them on my 56 rat rod, but I need two more.

[Edward M.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels

I also have a set of 15x51/2 JK wheels that are of riveted construction. My wheels still have the part number tag on them, and my parts book says they are 64-65 Corvette wheels. They have a date code of 8 64 (as I recall) on them.

Speculation is that they may be service replacement wheels for 64-65 Corvettes. No one I ask has ever seen a riveted wheel originally installed on a 64 - 65 Corvette.

I am thinking about using them on my 56 rat rod, but I need two more.

[Karl C.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels *NM*

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/kclauss_1965/

[Karl C.]

Re: Kelsey-Hayes- 15 x 5 1/2 steel wheels *NM*

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/kclauss_1965/