Split Rims in Texas ?

[Southern Shaker]

now im not to sure if i read correctly but are split rims illegal in texas. i get this might be a stupid question but i like the look of them

[LEX]

Maybe Im just tired, but what are split rims?

[Southern Shaker]

Split rim wheels use a locking ring on the outside bead that holds the tire in place. One-piece rims have a fixed bead. With a split ring wheel, an average driver can change his truck's tire with only a jack and hand tools. The style isn't very common in North America, but split rim wheels are widely used in rural areas of India, China, and Central and South America. The rims are dangerous when misused or badly maintained.

[WIDESIDE72]

I don't think they are illegal, as I still see them on if trucks from time to time. Thy are known as "man killers" for a reason, though...There is a reason they don't make them any more. If a safety cage is not used and the split ring is not properly seated, itcan fuse the wheel to explode when inflating, killing you dead as a hammer!
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[LEX]

Thanks for the explantion. I've never heard of those.

[El Campo]

No I do not think they are illegal but like has been said on here they can kill you in one mismove. Some tire shops won't even change them. The REALLY dangerous thing that people do though that kills them with these are trying to seat the bead with ether and that makes them about a zillion times more dangerous than they already are.

[k_n_browning]

I dont think that they are D.O.T aproved anymore.I have not seen the cage in years.

[dwcsr]

The old style of split rims are illegal in all 50 states. The new style are not.

The ones that were dangerous were for 18 wheelers pre 1970 with no center mounting hub like a Budd wheel had. The ones that used wedge locks and a 5 spoke axle hub were banned.

The pickup ones that had a bolt hub were ok. But all split rims can be dangerous if you don't know how to mount them.

[pritch]

I had one come apart-in the cage-for a deuce and a half in the army. Made a believer outta me! Last ones I saw were on a 68 Burb I parted out 5 years ago. They were 17.5's, too. Odd size.

[MusicMan70]

What was the last year these were available on? I take it they were an option.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

What was the last year these were available on? I take it they were an option.

Dunno what the last year was, but they were OEM on my '72 K20, wrapped with 8PR 7.50-16s. Tube-type of course. Still have an original tire & wheel as a spare.

[Southern Shaker]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

The old style of split rims are illegal in all 50 states. The new style are not.

The ones that were dangerous were for 18 wheelers pre 1970 with no center mounting hub like a Budd wheel had. The ones that used wedge locks and a 5 spoke axle hub were banned.

The pickup ones that had a bolt hub were ok. But all split rims can be dangerous if you don't know how to mount them.

thats what i thought ive had an expireance or 2 all ready with split rims in my 16 years i worked at the bar b truck stop in gordon texas 2 years back helpin my uncle change tires an work an wash trucks ( I LOVE BIG RIGS I KNOW MORE BOUT THEM THEN I DO LIL TRUCKS ) anyway this ol boy rolls up with this beat to hell frieghtliner and a container trailer with a set of "sneakers" slip rims and my uncle told me that that would be the day id find jesus if i messed up but we tried an tried "we didint have the right tool to get the ring off service guy took it" but we tried hard to get it off even tried parkin a lexus on the tire an pryin with a crow bar finally we sent him down to the town diesel mechanic ...that guy was an A##hole haha but my uncle told me the story of them and why there dangerous thanks guys i really apresheate the help

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Southern Shaker

i like the look of them

I like the look also, but hardly any '67's look like this today, doubt if any '67-'68 owners on this site has them. If your into authenicity, this is the way a 16" 2 piece rim looked like on a '67. Ring was always painted light gray from the factory.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

What was the last year these were available on? I take it they were an option.

Around 1974 on c 20s, but still used on some special vocation heavy trucks and container chassis today. These rims built this country, if they were so dangerous they would never have been manufactured. Its like most things associated with trucks of the past, you need skilled to drive or work on them. How many on this site can drive an unsynchronized manual trans, or main and an auxilary type trans ? How many can change tires on multi piece rims ?Corporate America found it is much more efficient (profitable) to replace these skilled workers with semi skilled workers. The skill factor has been reduced in the trucking industry so it is now much easier to hire a person who can drive an automatic and change tires on one piece rims.

[El Campo]

I came from a farming community south of Houston and there are still literally probably hundreds of big trucks (usually grain or winch trucks) from the 60s on up that have the style that Mr Chapman says are illegal on them. And every year around this time you will see them hauling many thousands of bushels of grain to the elevator. Are they only getting by with it because they are claiming the truck as agriculture use? Nearly every tire shop in my hometown has the cage but some still will not mess with the split rims. From what they tell me if the rings get slightly bent or twisted which is fairly common they are a loaded weapon and can slip off with even the most careful installation.

[MusicMan70]

Stocker posted-Around 1974 on c 20s, but still used on some special vocation heavy trucks and container chassis today.

Thanks, Stocker; So these are considered more heavy duty then the 16.5" steelies I have or is it the ability to do your own tire change out in the field or...



Southern Shaker;

Thanks for the the photo. I take it you use these these rims regularly and have had no issues with them?

[dwcsr]

OK lets define what split rim was banned. I doubt most of you have ever seen a true split rim.

Split rim has a solid removable outer ring that uses a solid lock ring AND the rim it self has a split from one side of the rim to the other.

this rim below is the new style rim . The old style would has a split across the entire rim from left to right and used a non split outer ring and non split lock ring. The rim did the flexing to get it all together and air kept the locks in place.

Is it possible that there are some with the old style ... maybe... if its had a tire change in the last 20 year, not a chance it has them because they almost always explode when they get old. tire shops will not go near them . A lot of young ( under 50 ) tire guys think the rim is cracked and don't know its actually made that way.

The new split ring type is all over the place and used to this day and have taken the name of split rim because the 3 piece design.

[MusicMan70]

Thanks for the info David.

Would you have a picture of the lock ring for this wheel? Just Trying to under stand how it engages and locks in. Thanks.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by El Campo

The REALLY dangerous thing that people do though that kills them with these are trying to seat the bead with ether and that makes them about a zillion times more dangerous than they already are.

Why would you need to use ether to seat them. Don't all split rims have to have a tube?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Why would you need to use ether to seat them. Don't all split rims have to have a tube?

Yes, they do, as they are not airtight so cannot be used with tubeless tires. I don't understand his 'ether' comment at all in the context of this thread.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

Thanks for the info David.

Would you have a picture of the lock ring for this wheel? Just Trying to under stand how it engages and locks in. Thanks.

Old style split rim. See how it looks cracked. This is the way its designed. These are banned for highway use.


http://forums.aaca.org/attachments/f...it-rims-3-.jpg

http://forums.aaca.org/attachments/f...it-rims-4-.jpg

[MusicMan70]

I don't see a cage on this machine, but is this what we are talking about as far as the modern lock ring rims.

LOCK RING tyre changer GRS 926 .flv -...

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by pritch

I had one come apart-in the cage-for a deuce and a half in the army. Made a believer outta me! Last ones I saw were on a 68 Burb I parted out 5 years ago. They were 17.5's, too. Odd size.

When i was stationed in Germany we had a mechanic damn near get killed by a split rim. He filled it with air in a cage. When he rolled it out of the cage, it bounced and the rim separated. The ring hit him square in the forehead and that heavy tire flew straight up like 20 feet. He was lucky to have lived.

[Southern Shaker]

Thank yall ive learned alot from this thread gotta love how a simple question turns into a history lesson now i know to STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM SPLIT RIMS! haha thanks guys Presheate it!

[Southern Shaker]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

Thanks, Stocker; So these are considered more heavy duty then the 16.5" steelies I have or is it the ability to do your own tire change out in the field or...



Southern Shaker;

Thanks for the the photo. I take it you use these these rims regularly and have had no issues with them?

no sir this is a wheel i used as a referance its a picture off someone elses truck on this site. i barrowed it