The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 6 lug wheels

I just got done searching the archives but have not found info that I was looking for.

I am currently running 16" 6 lug stock wheels with 215/85/16 radials with tubes on front and the same on rear except they are split rims. I am looking to get rid of all tubes and split rims on the rear. What other 16" wheels can be used to run tubeless AND keep stock hubcaps?

Can my stock 16" rims run tubeless?

Chuck

A local tire shop advised me that if the rims are in good shape, a radial / tubless tire combo is no problem. The 6 bolt 16 inch wheel (four slots) is fairly common - why the split rims on the rear? Bob W.

Stock wheels will not accept tubeless tires. Don't know of any standard wheels that take the hubcaps(dogdish?)unless clips have been welded on to snap onto.

What is the problem running tubes?

moneypit - I've had tubeless tires on most of my stock rims since they were invented - as long as the rims are in good condition there is NO problem going tubeless, if the riveted rims are rotten rusty, there may be leaks

the hubcap clips are available from repro places and will work on some later rims

Bill

Chuck, I'm running tubeless Michelins on my stock 16" rims... no probs.

Bob- split rims came with the truck when I bought it years ago...never got around to changing them...I want same style rims on all four and always a little leary of splits.

Moneypit- took off my underbed spare tire carrier and I don't carry a spare..now that I drive it more I would like to carry a can of that foam tire sealer if I have a flat. How's the weather in Colorful Colorado...I lived in Winter Park and was a ski bum (just bum) from 79-84. I had also heard that tubeless produce a smoother ride??

Chuck

I have been running 215-85-16 Futura Scrambler tubeless radials on stock 16X4.5 "clip-type hubcap" rims for over a year without tubes and have had NO PROBLEMO. The ride is pretty darn good, the tires wear like iron and two of them are rated to hold the entire truck with a load! (I know where there is a complete good set of stock rims sitting behind a guy's work shed right now...just eyeballed 'em yesterday!)

I have had tubeless tires on original rims for over five years and never have to add air since I put them on. I sandblasted the rims and epoxy primed and painted inside and out. I find the 16 inch rims a little narrow for the radial tires I wanted to run, so I run 7.50x15 on stock 15 inch one peice wheels.

Grant

I've run modern radials tubeless on 15" artillery wheels for 16 years with no problems. I check the air often and rarely have to add any.

My late father-in-law had those Artillery wheels on his early '40 PU that I thought were neat. They would look good mounted on my Siver Streak travel trailer which I'll tow behind my '56 Burb next summer .
[img]http://www.tompatterson.com/Silverstreak/Pictures/195120ftclipper/04.jpg[/img]

Seon- The 15" artillery wheels were originally used on '37-'42 3/4-tons. They were wider (5-1/2") than the 16" wheels and used a tire that could carry a heavier load. In '46 the 3/4-tons became 8-bolt. I see there are some 15" artillery wheels for sale on ebay right now , so for some pictures just search ebay for "artillery wheel" or "Chev* artillery". By the way, the 15" artillery wheels are not cheap, a nice set of (4) sold for $900 last night on ebay.

Cool trailer! I have a 12' 1956 Terry that needs work.

Hows it going Barry?

Hey Jaime- I emailed you to keep from hijacking Blue 50's wheel thread.

The only problem with using the original wheels tubeless is that over time they tend to loosen their rivets where the rim attaches to the spider,causing your tires to leak down. You can either have them welded by a professional,or re-peen the rivets and hope for the best. I've only had one wheel that did the leak down gig,but I didn't care-it was badly bent anyway,and got replaced. Also,the original wheels don't have the rib to keep the tire beads seated if theres a blowout. That has nothing to do with running tubeless though. I've never had any undue troubles with stock wheels and tubeless tires aside from the one piece of crap I just replaced.
Speed