VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Replacing Split Rims

My 51 1 Ton has 17" split rims which I would like to replace. I think that I could get near the outside diameter with a modern 16" rim and tire. The problem is that the modern rims with the 8 lug pattern have a backset that causes it to hit the tie rod ends. The only way out that I can see is to use a good spacer with it's own set of lugs. Apparently there are some areas of the country where working on the old splitters is forbidden. Does antone have any suggestions ?

Johnny F,
thanks for the reply. I used to work on them myself when I was a student. My problem now is the lack of people that are willing to tackle them. I think the old bias plies are probably a more stable platform. However, there is a outfit called "Correctrack" that makes adapters to shift the wheels out some. They are used on some fairly heavy trucks and motorhomes. They do not change bolt patterns, they bolt on and they have their own set of studs. They have a website which can be found by searching for "Correctrack"

I have been looking closely at the splitrims that I see at old car and truck shows. It seems that a lot of folks run on less air, probably out of concern, and this causes the ring to move within the rim. You can see this because there is always a wider spacing at the top. I don't think this is a very good idea do you ? There must be a minimum air pressure to keep them stable and I am huessing that it is around 40 lbs.

Johnny,
I was talking about show trucks which probably arrive on trailers. When I get around to using some webspace, I'll post some photos of this. I know what you mean about truckers. I had a close relative that drove truck and he taught me well about many things including tires!

If a truck driver is worth half his salt he checks tyres at every stop. Generally prevents changing them beside the road and the cost of the tyre.

A note about spacers, I used spaces with their own lugs on my 3/4 ton '55 and about 3 miles after going over a small pothole my right rear wheel came off. The only thing that saved me from a major disaster was the odd noise caused me to pull off the road just as the wheel came loose. The wheel stayed inside the fender along with part of the broken spacer, the missing lug nuts were on the road for about 100 feet. When the spacer broke the lugs were too loose to stay on and the rest is history.

I guess that one of the reasons that I posted this topic is to see if anyone has found a modern rim that does not have too severe a backset. I am kind of thinking that there must be something out there. The tire folks still make 17" tires, for a price of course!

OLD216 @ OTHERS
I havent posted befor but ive been reading about old216 tyre thing. I have a 46 1ton/ 18 inch dulee and found that a local tyre dealer sold 18s afew years back, I bought 2 , then wanted more they no longer sold them. Out of 500 in stock I got 2. And now the only place i can find is a place called m.e.Miller WAUSEON OHIO/ www.millertire.com . only prob is OHIO.shipping is same as tyre cost. 115.00 x2 each 700-18 load range D . I havent bought any,Sence I have some good used ones to start rolling on im ok. BUT if anyone is close to them and could look at them ??? ANYWAY hope this helps. REGARDING THE USE OF LOW AIR FOR SAFTY SAKE. NOT haveing the correct air presser, WILL LET the tube move/ wrinkle/rub inside the tyre/ THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENS :( YOU SHOULD stay close to rated press,when you assenble use TALC-EM POWDER IN TYRE and on tube/ a dusting. this will let the tube move/ slide when in service and when you assemble it. HOPE THIS HELPS ALSO .
REGARDING DISASSEMBLY/ If tyre is not good enought to keep/ cut it off/ buy new tube. IF A GOOD TYRE/ BE CAREFULL-------- BECAUSE / YOU WANT TO KEEP TYRE/TUBE--- RIGHT---- RIGHT. BUT there is a strong desire to put a little bit of air in to move tyre beed off of rim. AFTER LOCK RING IS REMOVED THIS WORKS, BUT USE CHAIN AT LEAST THREE , AND NOT LITTLE WIPPY CHAIN EATHER. I have done this/ AND WHAT FALLOWS IS NOT RECOMENDED, BUT should let you know about what can happen. IT WAS A WORM SUMMER DAY. Old truck lover / me get up early , decides to remove GOOD TYRE FROM 18 RIM, I remove lock ring, try to remove outer beed ring/ NO WAY/ SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- I beat/ pound/soap . And i dont know why my other brain cell turned on but it did. trying to be safe/ chain/ big chain/ much chain/ YEA THAT SHOULD DO IT. That ring ant going anyware. OK ADD AIR/ NOT VERY MUCH. 10/15 PSI MAX YEA RIGHT MY BRAIN CELL SAID. Start low . OK 10 psi in / let stand / go away/ do something else ok ----come back NOTHING / CHECK PSI. BRAIN CELL SAID AD, RIGHT/ WRONG------------------- :eek: The rest of this is in slooooow Mooooooow/ AD some air 2/3 psi take about 4/5 steps turn JUST INTIME TO GET THE FIRST SHOCK WAVE [BEAD MOVEING OUT TO CHAIN] AND THEN OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE I SEE THIS BLACK BUBLE COME OUT AT BEAD-----------THEN IT TURNS PURE WHITE AND THEN SHOCK WAVE 2 [TIME STOPS]hi velocity rust flake stings my face TAKES OUT WINDOWS IN GARAGE DOOR OVERHEAD , ROLLING THUNDER, AND IM NOT JOKING. :eek: :eek: THAT GREMLIN ANT EVEN CLOSE/ NO FLYING PIECSE JUST AIR. WIFE COMES OUT AND BEATS BRAIN CELL BACK INTO COMA, Neighbor comes over with cell phone in hand [91 dialed said he felt it in his house,and figerd the worst. WHAT AH WHAT WHAT ? OH NOTHING.
WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOW ANYWAY. NOT INDOORS, NOT CLOSE TO HOUSE, WORN NEIGHBORES, USE STAND-OFF AIR CONTROL- 50 FT+, EAR PLUGS, FLACK JACKET,EYE PROTECTION,SMALL BUNKER / PIT.
IT seems that air expands when heated/ [sunny day]THAT DARN BRAIN CELL.
NO MATTER WHAT STOP AND THINK

We used to use a tool that looked like an axe with the blade turned sideways. You would swing it and hit the bead of the tire to separate it from the rim. That is with no air in it of course. It was hard work and i wasn't a very good aim.

YA 216
I know that tool,IT CAN WRECK a good rim with one blow, The lock ring side, hit the lock grove and yer done, they dont bend back very well and can brake off/after assembly. This is why i do the air thing/ at least on lock-ring side. But when they are all cleaned up they come apart much easyer. And I think the 46 1 ton does not look correct without them.

I agree that the truck would not look right without them. I saw an perfect 46 Chevy PU at a swapmeet this summer and I had to be careful not to leave drool marks on it! It was green with black fenders and I am sure that it did not look that good coming out of the factory!

A good truck (semi) tire service will be able to service your split rims. I strongly reccomend dis-mounting, sandblasting and a thouough inspection. Go over to the stove bolt site. Mother trucker in Arizona had new 17" split rims and has old one too!

Thanks Dave. I have dealt with MT before and have been quite satisfied.

Thanks Dave. I have dealt with MT before and have been quite satisfied.

You should be able to get tires through COKER TIRE CO. They are located in Tennessee somewhere. They do have a web site.

COKER TIRE CO. Chattanooga, TN 1 800 251 6336

Redracer3d,
thanks. I have seen their site. I was looking to find a modern rim to fit, but I might just stay with the split rims.

20 years ago I took the orginal split rims off of a '55 3/4 ton pu, 8 lugs and put them, tires and all in the overhead of my shop, if anyone can use them let me know.

I would be interested in those rims hanging in the attic !! Nothing beats the original look of 3 piece split rims & hubcaps on a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I have been told by a few old time tire guys that the 17" 3 piece split rim was one of the best truck rims ever released. The only reason any tire shop would refuse to mess with them is because they dont know a darn thing about them. Fear of the unknown. I have been rolling of a set of 17" 3 piece splits on my '49 3/4 ton for 7 years now with no problems !! & the rims are 50 years old !!.

Ok, here is a question for all you split rim fans. If I had split rims on the truck and let's say I found one to be down quite a bit in air, would it be safe to just add air or would it be possibly unstable ? Now normally being low in air means some re and re work is required but what if it was just the valve insides that were faulty ?

Ok, here is a question for all you split rim fans. If I had split rims on the truck and let's say I found one to be down quite a bit in air, would it be safe to just add air or would it be possibly unstable ? Now normally being low in air means some re and re work is required but what if it was just the valve insides that were faulty ?

if you are in doubt when reinflating the tire buy a lock on air chuck (has a little lever that locks it on valve stem so it is not necessary to hold by hand) hook up air hose and inflate while standing at a distance.I would say ,if I remember correctly reinflating poses no problem but seeing that this is recorded I don't want any law suits from your widow

Thanks for the reply. This is a what if question that I am posing so that when the day comes that I put my truck on the road, I will be making a decision on whether to use the old split rims or not. I think that when the pressure is down, the locking ring tends to shift and that is the situation that I am thinking about. Besides that situation, not every shop around here will work on them. I understand your concern about leaving an opinion on here and I do appreciate hearing from your experiences.

Back in the '40's>'50's & '60's when the split rims were common tires were removed and replaced as a routine process and there was very little thought of any danger. With a little caution these were never dangerous to service.I my self never heard of any accidents but I'm sure that they could occur.The problems did appear when the tubless size (such as 17.5 & 19.5 sizes) came along and they were accidently put on the tube size wheels.Thats when accidents happened & cautions were brought out.I remember the tire shops having inflation cages made out of pipes for safely inflating tires.