[SilverStreak] Pretty rims

["Eddie" <Eddie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ralph,
Split rims were used because they were and are strong. Split rims are on new 
vehicles made right now today. You will see the application on super heavy 
trucks and all my cranes. Mostly that is because the tires cannot be removed 
over a rim lip and the extra strength is needed. On heavy forklifts the 
solid pneumatic tire cannot be pried over a lip either. There are many types 
of heavy equipment split rims that are tubeless and use no liner. My 
roll-back truck has spoker Dayton wheels. Extremely strong versus the bud 
lug. Just a Chevy. My Ford has them too.

I like split rims....maybe. I have mounted many and statements they are 
inherently unsafe are just wrong. What is unsafe is people don't know what 
they are doing. There is a lot less danger bead-seating a split rim done at 
a pressure as little as 5 pounds, than a modern car tire which will 
sometimes not seat until 30 or 40 pounds. Anything can be dangerous. See 
Houston Clearlake Dentists Clara Harris in a Mercedes for reference.

My Ferguson 245 tractor uses tubeless tires. Huge. Operating pressure is 12 
pounds. Bead seat is deadly above 15 pounds. You just need to know what your
doing. Many people just don't. You don't guess. Read the tire. All tires 
have the info printed right on the side of the tire.

The major drawbacks to split rims are you can't get anyone to repair or 
mount or service them. Typical tire shops don't allow the work, don't stock 
any tubes,
the liners, the specialty offset and bent stem tube is usually required. 
Their insurance prohibits them on the property. Contrary to what you may 
have heard, typical trailer tires can run modern tubes. It is a fact that a 
tube in a tire runs hotter than tubeless due to side wall flex constant 
friction. The split rim requires a liner. The liners and tubes are all 
available and cheap. The integrity of the liner is very important to the 
health of the tube and can be bad needing close inspection especially at the 
valve stem area. Non tubeless tires get wet inside and stay wet.

Generally people don't like split rims and are afraid of them so the split 
rim can be considered a big value negative. Split rims can have very odd 
sizes such as 14.5, 15.5, and 16" like on Spartans. All those size tires and 
tubes are much less available and can get expensive since there are much 
less production runs. There does exist one type of split rim that is 
extremely dangerous and should be junked, but that type rim separates in the 
center and is only used on big trucks of the 60's, 70's, and early 80's. No 
tire man will mount or even air that. The tire size was typically 10:00 x 
20. Ask any old tire man what is a suicide rim. He will know the rim.

There are varied opinions about split rims good and bad. Most all of the bad 
opinions have merit. All of the good opinions are generally limited to the 
value of
originality and the application of original wheel covers. None of the size 
arguments have merit as any size wheel can have a tire size application that 
meets the size diameter and profile you want or need. See 22 inch wheels on 
a Navigator for that. You need the spinners to go with the boat load of LCD 
TV's with that.

The great trailer tires of old are mostly gone. All of the good old name 
brands like Carlisle are mostly made in China now and are truly junk. Most 
tires are short lived at about 5 years if your lucky. After that your 
looking at the little fine cracks and unpredictable structural failure. 
Tires are a constant discussion of which are the best or the worst of what 
is available. There is good argument for radial versus bias type tires for 
less required air pressure and less abuse on our ancient trailers from the 
rock hard characteristics of bias ply typical trailer tires. That is a 
discussion of ratings, handling, and a smooth ride for the trailer. No tire 
dealer will warranty a tire with less air pressure usage than is specified 
on the tire. They will decline the warranty. Ask!

Ralph, you can't begin to even air up a split rim of the types discussed 
here without a tube! Ralph, it just won't begin to hold air at all! It has 
to have a liner and a tube!. The only multi piece rims I have seen that can 
do that are huge mongous on two of my cranes and they use a giant O ring. It 
takes a forklift to move just the tire casing without the rim. They are 5 
foot tall.

This is very simple. Go to Discount tire, or the  great shop in Houston that 
Tom Patterson goes to and get pretty aluminum wheels and your choice of 
tire. Or do like I have done for at least 8 sets of 4 and get the white 
wheel from Discount Tire. Strong, not quite a spoker, the nice looking 
inexpensive tubeless rim comes in colors. Discount can also sell a typical 
looking wheel real pretty in total chrome, or just painted. That is what is 
needed, not something that cannot be serviced on a trip.
-Eddie-
Houston, TX