split rims

[Jeremy_5]

What makes split rims so dangerous? What years did they make split rims? It looks like I have split rims on the back but not the front of my truck is that normal.

[Longhorn Man]

They are dangerouse becouse no shop (99% of them anyways) won't touch them, and so the owner will do it. No one I know of has a cage to put the wheel in when inflating it, and if the ring pops off when you inflate it up, it'll cut anything in its way in 1/2...including you.
It is not normal to only have 2, someone probably wanted to update them and only found 2 rims. Posably, when it went in for front tires, the shop refused to do it onless the rims were replaced. (The rear tires are much older than the front aren't they?)
If it were me, (and I know how to do split rims) I would take them out into the woods and burry them to where no one would ever use them again...or at least toss them in a junk yard anyways.

[Jeremy_5]

So are they just dangerous to change or are they dangerous to drive with too? My truck is competly original and I would hate to change the rims. Maybe I have split tims up front too, all the tires are about the same, as far as wear goes, and the rims all look like they are orginal.

[1969 GMC]

my truck has splits and i have put about 10,000 miles on them in the last year, no problems. when i get tires, the rims are hitting the scrap heap.

[da-burb]

split rims are dangerous because the ring can fly off and take someones head off when you are airing the tire up for the first time. Tire shops are supposed to put it in a cage or wrap a chain around the rim to keep it from flying off and hurting anybody. Most will not take the chance anymore and refuse to work on them.

In adition to that you must run a tube in this style which will make a tire run hotter than a tubless will.

[72bigblock4wd]

I wonder if a set of the weld-on beadlocks would work on the split ring rims. That would be the only thing I would use them for!! Like everyone else said, there's a reason they haven't made them in years.

[69k5]

my friend gave me 4 last week and i was gonna use but nobody would touch em so i took there advice and now theyre behind the shed. i guess ill make some stands or something out of them. i had never seen them before.

69k5

[Mechanic]

If you need a split-rim serviced, it's best to go to a truck tire shop. Like tubeless tires on one-piece wheels, multi-piece wheels can cause injury and death if not handled correctly. The load carrying capacity of 750X16's is a good feature. So find out where the truck or farm guys go, and you'll do just fine.

[Maximum Overdrive]

Still places here that deal with them. I got rid of mine though because it was a pain in the a** to find 16.5 tires around here.

[Doug M]

There is a difference between slpit rims and suicide rims. I'm to young to know the difference. My local big truck tire center changed the tires on my 1954 GMC without issue since they told me they we split and not suicide. He also gave me a lecture on the difference but I coudnt really follow. It has to do with the way the outer rim locks on.

[69k5]

i dont know the difference. mine are 8 lugs off a 77 dodge. one side has less of a lip and like a snap ring. maybe the suicide ones are the kind with a split all the way around the middle? 2 sides or whatever

69k5

[Longhorn Man]

Heck, in PA, you can't get an inspection sticker if you have them on there.

[70cst]

To me the conclusion is simple...What is your life worth? Do you like to gamble? Do you want an early trip to the Chevy/GMC Highway in the sky? Are you willing to risk getting someone else hurt or killed?

I use to work in a tire store when I was going to school...I agree with the other comments...bury those rims!!! Just my .0002 cents worth.
Good Luck.

[Sweet72]

Many heavy trucks have split rims. As someone stated above the real danger is during the initial inflation when the tire and ring are reinstalled. Run 'em if you got 'em and don't worry about it. People have become overly conscious of the "dangers" of split rims just as some people would ban guns because "guns" kill people. I work on heavy military aircraft with split rim wheel and tire assemblies capable of carrying 50,000 lbs each, and yes they do use a box to inflate them in initially, but after that they're inflated on the aircraft with a inflator that screws onto the stem so you don't put any part of your body near the ring. My 2 cents

[Zeke]

The split rings are damaged when someone who doesn't know what they are doing take the rim apart. They grab the ring and pull up on it twisting it instead of working it around the rim to remove it. Ive dealt with 2 piece and less common 3 piece. 3 piece is safer has solid outer ring with a snap ring when you inflate it outer ring pushes snap ring into lock on rim. Saved me from 30-40 mile walk hunting southern AZ can fix a tire anywhere(back in the day before cell phones)never had one blow apart on me.
Use screw on inflator with 6ft hose, wrap a chain thru center hole and bolt it, I use a padlock,partial inflate tap split ring with deadblow or piece of 2x4 and ball peen to make sure it is seated then finish inflating.
I is hard to find tires, tubes and flats.

[70cst]

I guess my comment was aimed at our trucks. I realize the heavy duty equipment uses these rims but gee...How much does a used rim cost? $5.00. I guess I'm a little over safety minded. As it has been said correctly..If your careful and you know what your doing all should go well.

[Zeke]

Jeremy_5, latest year I have ever seen factory split rims was on my dad's 69 C10 4x4, it had 15" splits. Have seen 16.6 splits on 3/4 ton into the late 70's.

70cst is right they are dangerous. I had them on a 65 4x4. I have had two flats in the middle of no where and the splits allowed me to limp back to the highway.

If you don't need them you should replace them. If you want to keep them learn how to change and inspect them yourself, don't let anyone who doesn't know what they are doing touch them.

[junkyardjohn]

I JUST CHANGED THE RIMS ON MY 69 1 TON TOWTRUCK. THEY WERE SPLITS ON THE REAR & SOLIDS ON THE FRONT. IN 69 THEY HAD 1/2"-20 STUDS. TROUBLE IS..... THE MODERN RIMS THAT I HAD AVAILABLE TO ME HAD .685 LUGS HOLES, SO I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE STUDS IN THE AXELS WITH 5/8" STUDS. OH-WELL ANOTHER $125 FOR STUDS & LUG NUTS. BIGGER IS BETTER I GUESS. JOHN
ORIG. POSTED BY 70CST
but gee...How much does a used rim cost? $5.00.

JUST TRY & FIND A DUALLY RIM FOR $5.00 JOHN

[Class of 69]

Keep the splits for the "authenticity" factor, but run tubeless on the truck. I change all my own truck tires and had splits on semi's, and never had one blow apart during inflating, but I watched very closely and inflated it slowly to allow the ring to seat. If you can't find a shop to change or repair them, just keep em for originality.

[Longhorn Man]

junkyardjohn, while on a daulie truck, I would chainge out the lugs, but for a regular rim with the acorn lug nuts, I eouldn't bother. I've done it twice with no problems at all.
But technicly, you are 100% correct though.

[Cruiser71]

I have seen them fly apart and go through the wall of a shop years ago. Very dangerous. Just my .02 worth

[67cst]

my step dad lost his brother when they were just young guys, his brother had an old truck...not sure the year or anything but one exploded when he was putting air in it and cut him right open, i only heard the story once and didnt pay much attention to it at the time

[junkyardjohn]

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
junkyardjohn, while on a daulie truck, I would chainge out the lugs, but for a regular rim with the acorn lug nuts, I eouldn't bother. I've done it twice with no problems at all.
But technicly, you are 100% correct though.

ON DUALLY TRUCKS THE LUGNUTS HAVE A FLAT LOAD BEARING SURFACE, SO IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STUD & THE HOLE IN YOUR RIM. NOT TO MENTION THAT I ROUTINELY HAUL TRUCKS THAT WEIGH OVER 8000 LBS.
PERSONALLY.... I WOULDN'T DRIVE ANY TRUCK AROUND THE BLOCK, WITH AN EXTRA .150 CLEARANCE AROUND EACH WHEEL STUD NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF LUG NUTS I HAD.
I NEW A GUY THAT JUGGLED RUNNING CHAINSAWS FOR YEARS WITHOUT CUTTING OFF A HAND, BUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT A SAFER PRACTICE. JOHN

[jcab]

Does anyone have any pictures of what a split rim looks like? I didn't know what they were until I read this thread. Now I am a bit curious as to what is on my truck...

[Longhorn Man]

Here you go, the stock ones on our trucks don't have the holes, solid rim, but the part being pried off is the offending split ring.