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| | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 | I keep reading about "Widow Makers", what are they? The wheels on my truck seem to have a center that's riveted to the outer wheel.
Last edited by jon6.0; 10/16/2008 11:29 AM.
1955 Chevy Dumptruck
2003 Chevy 2500HD: Crewcab, Longbed, 2wd, 6-speed manual
2005 Pontiac GTO: 500hp and a transbraked TH400
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Here you go: http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/Do you have a picture? Riveted centers were used on all types of wheels even in the 60's, possibly a little later, so that detail does not tell you anything important. Grigg | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 92 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 92 | The fronts appear to be split ring, which are not the "widow makers", can't tell on the rear. If the rears also have a ring or two, they're not widow makers either,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 |
1955 Chevy Dumptruck
2003 Chevy 2500HD: Crewcab, Longbed, 2wd, 6-speed manual
2005 Pontiac GTO: 500hp and a transbraked TH400
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 | If they are split ring can I run radials?
1955 Chevy Dumptruck
2003 Chevy 2500HD: Crewcab, Longbed, 2wd, 6-speed manual
2005 Pontiac GTO: 500hp and a transbraked TH400
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,101 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,101 | Hy jon6.0 and guys, those are three piece "Kelsey" style wheels peculiar to Chevrolet, five studs for front mount, while the rear uses the full ten studs, there is actually a plate which goes on over the front wheels/studs before you put the nuts on, this plate covers the five unused holes. As for radials, yes you could use them, if you can find any made in the size you need, hope that helps. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 34 | Thanks 3B. So now I should be good to go as far as taking it in to a tire shop and getting new tires mounted, correct? They aren't going to refuse to work on them are they?
1955 Chevy Dumptruck
2003 Chevy 2500HD: Crewcab, Longbed, 2wd, 6-speed manual
2005 Pontiac GTO: 500hp and a transbraked TH400
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 | If it's a truck tire shop, you probably won't have any problems. Some of the "Farm & Garden" centers, etc. won't touch a split ring wheel of any kind. Find an oldtime truck tire shop with people who won't panic at the idea of a tube-type wheel & tire assembly. Some of the youngsters out there don't have any real tire experience.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Fronts are fine.
If all the rears look the same, with the two removable rings (or even one ring) at one side of the rim, like the fronts, then you are good.
It's hard to tell, but the one picture of the inside rear wheel looks suspiciously like a two piece true split rim, the kind to stay away from.
Radials are probably not available, they have to have the same angle as the old tires where the bead seats on the rim, I believe this is 5 degrees, and most radials will be 15 degree (If I remember correctly). A good tire shop will understand this and recommend the right tires, probably bias ply, which on an original truck are more than OK.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 | got me wondering about the tubetype 8.25 radials i put on I figure since they were tube type there was no problem. none have slipped the rim but haven't done any highway miles with them | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 115 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 115 | As long as they are 5° design you're fine. I didn't think they sold them anymore, though. I know they sold them back in the '80s when radials were first coming on the market, but I haven't seen them in the catalogs lately. Of course, maybe I'm not looking for them either. How long ago did you buy them? I do hear every so often of the Dodge motorhome folks using an oddball tube type 7.50 x 17 radial with their "lock rings" that Michelin I guess still makes. Stu | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 | these wre nos late 90's yokohamas looked up tire model number they were still listed on yokohamas site | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 115 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 115 | Egg on my face! I've had it in my head that radials for 20" tube type rims were a thing of the past. Not so. Like you say, Yokohama still shows them in their on-line catalog. http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires_commercial/truckBusRefGuide.pdf. Probably the others do too. This raises the issue about whether radials should really be run on old bias rims. While new rims of all kinds are rated for radials, old rims obviously were not because radials didn't exist yet. This arguement generally focuses on car and light truck wheels that are more prone to flex than are big truck rims. You hear stories of rims fracturing or having hub cabs come off under the loads radials place on rims. Probably not a problem on big trucks, but it might not hurt to ask your tire guy next time you go in. Stu
Last edited by truckdog; 10/18/2008 4:13 PM.
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