Farm-skinnies and split rims?

[BiggSixx1970]

The farm truck I purchased a year ago came with a sweet new pair of 'god knows what' brand tires on the back, on a pair of split rims, with inner tubes. Where I'm from people either call them tall-skinnies, or farm-skinnies. My trucks 2wd and the wheels/tires on the back are much bigger than the ones on the front, I'll say with those hooks back there it really digs down and got me through a real snowy winter and out of a few muddy fields.

I plan on eventually switching to some 90's or 2000's GM 16 inch wheels because I've been told split rims aren't exactly the safest, and the 8lug 15 inch wheels on the front are hard to find tires for unless you want something not for a 3/4 ton truck or you wanna buy Cletus' old mud tires. Not to mention some new chrome would look nice farther down the restoration process.

Now, I have seen a couple cutouts from old truck magazines from the 70's and early 80's with these gnarly looking 4x4s on split rims and those zig zag tall skinnies..

My question is does anyone have pictures of their rig or any other pictures of these old trucks on skinnie tires and split rims? I think they look pretty sweet

[Lou Boffa]

These are 16"s and the back is the old bias ply that came w the truck. Not sure if this is what you are looking for. It was definitely a farm/ranch truck.

[BiggSixx1970]

Originally Posted by Lou Boffa

These are 16"s and the back is the old bias ply that came w the truck. Not sure if this is what you are looking for. It was definitely a farm/ranch truck.

That truck is dope! I was thinkin' more 4x4, but that is certainly a good example!

[BiggSixx1970]

Also where the hell can I get ahold of some of those hubcaps? The silver/amber/bronze looking ones are a dime a dozen in my area at swap meets and on craigslist, but i've never seen those for sale

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by BiggSixx1970

I plan on eventually switching to some 90's or 2000's GM 16 inch wheels

Don't do the 90's- 2000's wheels! The best way to kill the character of a farm truck is to add the wrong wheels. Use the 80's version of the 16" 8 lug wheel. These have bumps for the original style hubcap. The closest size to the original 7.50-16 would be the 215/85-16 (tall and narrow) This is a period photo of a 3/4 ton with original 16" lock ring wheels and painted hubcaps.

[Lou Boffa]

yup. 7.50/16s are what I have on the rear of mine. Mine is a 1/2 ton, so it takes the smaller 10.5" hubcap rather than the 12" 3/4 ton ones.

[Spartan]

I put my split rims in the garage and mounted some Chevy 8 lug rims. Then went to power king or universal tires and went with 7.5-16 super tractions. Keeping the tuff old look minus the split rims. I like it. Haven't had a chance to test em yet but I think they keep the period look.
Good luck and nice rig!
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[Skips]

https://www.universaltire.com/truck-...r-traxion.html

[LMREESE]

I own several vehicles with split rims. Every one has a different style of split rim. Bottom line is if you don't know what you are doing DON'T mess with them!!! They can kill you
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[1972RedNeck]

https://www.universaltire.com/truck-...uperlug-1.html

[MusicMan70]

First one (19.5 steelies) is not mine, but the 2nd one (16 lock ring rims) is...

[factorystock]

GM never used the split rims on pickups, GM used lock ring wheels on pickups. THey are not the same. I agree "split rims" are a bad design ( 2 halfs of a wheel connected together in the middle) but they were only used on some medium duty trucks with dual type wheels. The lock ring design which was used on pickups is a completely different design and usually there is not problem when installed by trained wheel people. The problems I have heard is when people interchange rings from different wheels. Here is a period photo of a GMC with "lock ring wheels"

[prostreetC-10]

Originally Posted by factorystock

GM never used the split rims on pickups, GM used lock ring wheels on pickups. THey are not the same. I agree "split rims" are a bad design ( 2 halfs of a wheel connected together in the middle) but they were only used on some medium duty trucks with dual type wheels. The lock ring design which was used on pickups is a completely different design and usually there is not problem when installed by trained wheel people. The problems I have heard is when people interchange rings from different wheels. Here is a period photo of a GMC with "lock ring wheels"

You are dead on. The true split rims are "widow makers" and scary as hell to work on. I did tons of them back in the 80's for a major tire store. We had both a cage and a another devise for catching a ring if it came off. The rings did have different lips on them so it was important to not mix them. There are also 2 piece lock rings as well where the big ring is one piece with a little split ring that holds it to the wheel. Those spilt rims had a flat spot in the center of the lip that allowed you to slip the two pieces together then you could center them up. Makes me shiver just thinking about how dangerous they were.

[c10seth]

I want those 19.5" steel wheels bad.

Seth

[JointTech]

ive read about the widow makers on this forum but didnt know what they were.
heres a cool old video

Ken-Tool: Why Tire Cages are Important - YouTube

[LMREESE]

Around here all rims that are not solid one piece rims are referred to as split rims. Some are safer than others but they are all still dangerous if you dont install the lock ring correctly. Doesn't matter if its a split rim that comes apart in the middle or a two piece lock ring rim or a three piece lock ring rim ,if they can still fly apart if not done properly or if damaged.
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[Chrome8]

The stock look on a 4x4 is what I'm looking for too, actually I was going to start a thread asking about pictures of trucks with Stock Steel wheels and hubcaps on 3/4 4x4 trucks. So if you guys have any more pictures that would be great. The look I'm after doesn't have to be super skinny but not sticking out past the fender in the front. I do have a set of 69 rims with the metal ring. Always called them split rims, we took them off the truck years ago because no one in the shop wanted to work on them without a cage. Very dangerous.

[harrydunn]

235/85-16 on original split rims. I've since replaced them with one-piece wheels.