Badly rusted, worn, or damaged wheels with a removable bead ring can be just as deadly as a RH-5, especially if one is a bit careless when assembling them. If the wheels you're using have tapered lug nuts with a corresponding bevel in the wheel, oblong holes are a definite problem. If the lug nuts fit flat against the wheel with a built-in thrust washer, a slightly elongated hole isn't as serious, but they need to be checked for tightness frequently. Elongated holes on a drive axle will be more of a problem, as the torque load of accelerating and braking will let the lug bolts move back and forth no matter how much the nuts are tightened. If you have a choice, put the better-condition wheels on the drive axle(s).
Jerry
Yes the AR type rims can be really bad too if they are damaged from what I understand or not put together right. I won't mess with them myself, I don't have the necessary tools and are tough for an older guy to mess with. I guess some of these tire guys consider any of these multi piece rims split widow makers but they will still work on them. The ones I have are the hub pilot type so aren't maybe as critical with slightly worn bolt holes as it would be in the case of wheels with the tapered holes. The holes are only slightly worn at least. All the wheels I have seem to have some type of wear on these holes so can't switch wheels around. My front wheels have the 7.55s on them and the back are 8.25. The tire guy seemed to think the slightly worn holes wouldn't be a big issue as long as the truck isn't used a whole lot. It will probably never haul any real loads either. These were on really tight when I first started working on it, it took my 3/4 drive 40 inch breaker bar and a 4 foot pipe to break them loose. The old farmer even had 2 nuts on some of the bolts, ended up replacing the lug bolts and nuts. As I posted above many of these old grain trucks up here were badly overloaded, am thinking that led to the wheel issues. I found one wheel I took off a 51 6400 in a junk yard down in SD that looked pretty good so am using that to replace the one that is cracked around a bolt hole. I will have to watch these I guess.
Another wheel question: I have noticed two different types of these AR rims. One has a flat front ring and the other has a rounded ring. This is the ring that goes around the main rim and is locked onto it with the snap ring. My truck has two of these round style on the front and the flat type on the back. My parts truck is a mix of both types and even a couple of what I think are RH-5s. I am wondering if the one having the rounded profile was intended for the front for appearance sake? I have never seen anything about this difference.
Thanks guys.
