The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts are 3 piece split rims legal?

I've been told that the rims for my 49 1-ton dually aren't legal anymore and I won't be able to get new tires mounted. The rims are 18-inch 3 piece split.

Does anyone know; 1) is what I've been told accurate; if so, 2) are there rims that can be used in place of the originals (the brake drums are 14-inch inside diameter); or 3) can the rims be modified (welded?) to be legal? Or am I looking at replacing the axles so I can use legal rims?

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Jim

I have the same rims on my truck and was told the same thing by several tire dealers. However I found one of the older tire shops around had no problem working on the rims and mounting tires.

It might take some looking but their is somebody who is willingto work with the three piece rims in your area. I'm not replacing mine as I like the original look.

"Legal" isn't the problem. The problem is finding shops who will still work on old rims. If you mean you have wheel, bead rim, and lock ring, most big truck or ag shops should do those. Old shop manuals have instructions, but w/out big tools and bead breakers, pretty hard to do. Most of my old tires had to be cut-off with sawzall they were so rusted onto metal parts. Breaking that wire bead is hard. I used grinder discs on air tool to cut them. The wheels also have to be pretty rust free where parts go together. Sandblasting is best bet.
Are these the 8'lug? I found some 19.5" off a delivery van ( like bread or chip truck) that had same lug pattern. The 19.5's should clear any drum and still fit your truck. Mine was a 49 One-ton dually.
You can't weld the rims, then you won't be able to get tire over edge to mount them. These wheels don't have drop center outers to allow tire to fall into when changing, which is needed on a tubeless or one-piece rim.
Changing rear axles isn't too hard, it's the front that can't be changed most cases. Sometimes spindles went many years with no changes, and you can change back plates and hubs to newer style. 8-lug pattern went many years, all the same, don't think you should have problem. Problem is usually the rear large drums that won't clear newer tires. You can sometimes get 16" on front, but not back. Mine had Hydro-vac brakes, even bigger than stock drum in rear. 16" wheel didn't even come close to going on. Fronts were OK. These are dually wheels I am talking about. That's why I went with 19.5's. Not much out there in 18". Tires are hard to find in that size also. The new style 18's won't fit. You'll need tall and skinny size.
Good Luck!

Look for a big truck tire shop.

I have found that the people who sell and mount Coker tires will work with these rims. The term "legal" where I live refers to the fact that in some areas it is illegal to have an employee working on the rims.

I had a roadservice guy from a truck shop come by and fix a flat one time. All he used was a big hammer. He was a pro but I watched from the other side of the truck...

The standard tools are a spoon-shaped hammer to break the bead down, and a couple of pry bars to remove and replace the bead ring. A big slide hammer helps with the bead-loosening chores, too. A heavy chain to wrap around the wheel during inflation, or a cage is an absolute necessity. Before my back went south, I changed split-ring tires on the side of the road as a matter of routine. As long as the parts fit, and there's no serious rust at critical points, these rims are perfectly safe. Never mix and match components. Once parts have established a running fit, they need to stay together. However, "Nothing is foolproof, to a sufficiently persistent fool!" I've seen enough accidents, and near-misses, to have a very healthy respect for multi-piece rims!
Jerry

They call those rims "widowmakers" and when they air 'em up after putting new rubber on them they do it with the rim secured in a cage.

My father in law who worked at a tire shop when he was a boy said he saw a guy get ripped in half when one of them came apart as he was inflating one.

Once again, please don't confuse the two-piece split rims that lead to most of the horror stories with the three-piece lock ring rims used on most big bolts. Second, securing a stout chain through the wheel holes and around the rim and tire - along with a latching air chuck and not standing over ANY tire while seating the bead - will solve the "exploding rim" concerns. The comment about ensuring that the parts and especially the lock ring grooves are not damaged by rust is also very important.

Everybody else pretty much told you the right stuff about the rims - and it isn't illegal to run them. It's just illegal for a tire shop to change them without the proper equipment. Just go to a big truck shop, they can take care of it for you.

You can get new rims made up for you in a couple of places if you want to. Stockton Wheel, Vintiques and others can make custom one piece wheels that will fit modern radial tires. They can build to any tire size, so you could even run Semi-truck tires if you want (probably cheapest). The basic steel wheels are not that expensive, probably the same as for custom wheels at any tire store.