The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Big wheels and tires

Happy New Year, Bolters.

My old truck is nearly roadworthy after 30 years. The next effort is on the wheels/tires. I spoke to Steve at Nebraska tires. He believes that in the near future, OSHA will make it illegal to work on split rims in all states. It is already a challenge to find a wheel technician who will do the job, which limits how far I'll drive in my truck.

Anyway, he suggested converting the 20" splits to 22.5 rims, and that the rim width be between 6 and 7.5 inches wide, to mount a 9R22.5 tire, which measures 38.1 inches high, nearly the same as the 8.25 X 20, which are already mounted on the back of my truck. The front has 7.50 X 20, so it isn't clear there will be enough clearance for the front.

He also suggested Cross MIdwest Tires, a truck fleet tire service, may be able to either match or manufacture wheels that will fit the bolt pattern.

Can anyone else weigh in on this and the general subject of the 20" splits and what to do about them? Is it possible to go smaller, is there a one piece modern rim that will mount and clear the hub and brake lines in an 18"?

When I first researched this 5 years ago, there was a company, I believe in Colorado, that had a single piece rim in the 20" size. Unfortunately, I don't have the information anymore. But Steve said the 20" tires are all bias ply, which means they don't last as long as a radial, and they are made to mount on splits.

I just found the Accuride Web site. They have a rim that is 10 hole, 7.25 bolt circle, 5.25" Bore. It is a 19.5 X 6" wheel, described as 'light truck,' for what it's worth.

Thanks for any info you can offer.

Joe

Just to be sure you have wheels that split in the middle as opposed to split lock ring wheels. Try a search on this site it has come up numerous times.

Hey Joe, Try this link, it is very informative.


http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/

Good luck!

Thank you, og55, for the link. That page spells it out. I had a feeling there was a FAQ that addressed this problem.

If you have the Firestone RH5°, you should look for replacements. However if you have the lock ring type and they are in good condition, I wouldn't worry about them. Tube required semi drop center wheels with lock rings are still being manufactured and are very popular with container trailers. These trailers are commonly parked on the bad side of large cities, and no one steals 10.00x20 tires.

I just received my new rims for my 1948 two ton. I had them made at Stockton Wheels in California. It is expensive, but I didn't want to waste a bunch of time and money looking for good replacement lock ring wheels. Guys want to sell you old rims with old tires and you can't tell if they not rusted to pooh inside like my old ones. If you ask them to take off a tire to check the condition of the rim they just quit communicating. I now have solid rim wheels that fit my truck and I can get them serviced anywhere. That's worth it to me. I have safe wheels, brakes and steering and piece of mind. I just have less money. I didn't buy my truck to make money off of it, just to have fun working on it and bring it up to safe drivable state.

Thank you all for helping me to avoid reinventing the wheel.

Does anyone know if a spacer is available to take up the half-inch gap left when wheels with the 5.25" center hole replace those with 4.75?

Thanks again for your all's help.

Super 55 Do you mind disclosing the price,and were they for 750X20 or 825x20.

JoeH, I don't think they are produced, but they were commonly made in the late 50's and early 60's by bending a piece of 1/4" strap in a circle. Those who wanted to be a little more sophisticated had them turned on a lathe and shrunk them on like a flywheel ring tear. I used to make them by taking a 4" pipe with 1/4" wall thickness and splitting it and driving it on the hub. The gap doesn't hurt anything. If a person wanted to he could fill in a gap from a piece cut out of a pipe.

They are for 9R22.5 which gives you about the same height as the 750X20 or 825X20s. I don't mind telling you it was $295 a wheel... you can get up off the floor now. And I bought 7, you can get back on the floor. But when you think of it it isn't close to what guys put on their cars these days.