15" wheel option?

The other day, I was lookin at the passenger side of my 3A, and the spare tire wheel looked bigger than my other wheels. So I measure them and the spare is a 16" and the other four are 15". I always thought they were 16", but I guess not. They are original because they were the same color as the jeep. FWIW, the spare isn't original to the jeep, I took it off a junker. Were the the 15" wheels an option back in '53?

 

Just discussed this on the CJ-3B Bullien Board.
Here's a relative excerpt from that discussion:
Congradulations you have W/O part # 642053 .
This is an optional wheel for models CJ-2A, CJ-3A, CJ-3B,CJ-5, CJ-6, 4x4 SW, 6 cylinder 4x2 SW.
This wheel was standard equipment on FC 150's but never used on FC 170.
These wheels were designed for 7.00 x 15 tires.

 

So these wheels are wider than the 16 inchers?

Thanks for the info.

 

There were approx. 20 distinct different KH wheels used on the various models of Jeeps prior to 1972.
If your sure that these wheels were original then they will be W/O part # 642053.
You will need to verify some information for posative KH wheel identification.
Go read this for more input.
http://z4.invisionfree.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_Board/index.php?showtopic=1910