Truck Tyres 34 x 7 as 12 ply Olympics

[Tony Smith]

Another "fail" is any corrosion or lack of a sharp edge in the lock ring groove, or loss of tension in the lock ring itself.

Note that some types of abrasive blasting can change the temper of the spring of the lock ring, leading to a poor fit.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Also, clean the rims of tyre remains and strike them like you would do a bell. If cracked or severely corroded, they will not sound like one.

[rob love]

The condition of the ring and the channel are the unique considerations to these type of rims. Channel should be clean and the edge reasonably square. The rings must not be "sprung" or distorted. That is to say, when fitted back onto the rim, they should spring back flat into the channel. On top of that are the regular considerations: cracks, weld repairs, elongated mounting holes, excessive rust....any of these are a reason for condemnation of the rim.

When I was in Kandahar, the tire guys were fixing a very large (about 6 feet in diameter by about 3 feet in width) heavy equipment tire. They had it laying on the ground, with one guy holding the air hose and filling the tire. Three other guys were all leaning over the tire (ring facing up) and one guy was hammering on it, trying to get the ring back in to the groove, as it was part way out. I put a stop to their work and had them deflate the tire, which they did after putting a very large set of forklift forks over the ring.

I will always feel like I saved three to four lives that day.

[Paul Singleton]

In my opinion the most dangerous truck wheels were the centre split type used up to the early or mid 1960’s. I know that General Motors used them but I am not sure about other manufacturers. I hated working with them as they would blow apart regularly when on the truck especially if the truck was overloaded.
These rims split in the middle, there were two dimples marking where to start prying them apart. The locking part didn’t go all the way around as the rim needed a spot to allow disassembly. Also in the winter the sand and salt would collect in the rim at the split and cause rusting.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I found a set of six 8.25 R20 tyres and rims for sale at a good price on an online free classified advertising site. The tyres were just about brand new when taken off a wrecked Mitsubishi truck.

It makes you wonder why people outlay the cost of a new set of six tyres, then not very long afterwards, they decide to take sell the truck to a wreckers?

I will shortly take the Mitsubishi wheels to one of the local tyre places and get the tyres stripped off the rims. Then to sand blast, then paint my Chevrolet 1940 rims. Once this work is done I will see if anyone local will fit the tyres to the rims.

Kind regards
Lionel