Radial tires on heavy trucks

[Todd B]

Has anyone attempted putting radial tires on the bigger wheels. I have 8.25 x 20 tires and they are starting to weather check. I am considering radials because without the weight of my trailer on my truck it is a very, very rough ride.

[Dodgeb4ya]

I bought them for my 4 tonner and also put four on the back of my 1 ton. Love em.

Bob

[Todd B]

are you able to keep the same wheels??

[Dodgeb4ya]

Yes. I used the original split side ring wheels.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Dodgeb4ya

[MBF]

Big trucks have been using them for years on both Budd and Dayton style rims. I had them on the drive axles of my road tractor back in the early 80's. What a difference in the ride and fuel mileage also increased. With the locking ring style rims, the rim needs to be in good shape as far as the groove and ring. There have been discussions on other forums about using radials on trucks that sit a lot. I believe the consensus was that for those type of situations, a bias ply will last longer before it needs to be replaced due to sidewall checking.

Edited May 1, 2012 by MBFowler

[Todd B]

My tire guy (Olie) that I really put a lot of trust in claims that the original wheels are never in good enough shape, he claims the ring area always rust and they should be replaced if I want to put radials on. I really don't want to spend that kind of money but I certainly want to be safe. Do you guys agree with Olie?

Todd B

[Dodgeb4ya]

Severe lumpy rust flaking is a good reason to not use the rims with any tire. Light surface rust can be easily removed. If your wheels are not too rusty I'd certainly use them. common A lot of tire shops will have nothing to do with old truck wheels these days. They really need to break them down and inspect them before a decision is made to use them. I like the look and design of these old truck rims, especially the cast spoke designs. Todays rims are quite plain looking- three hand hole compared to six ect.

Bob

[Todd B]

I have my stainless simulators I had ordered just for that wheel. I stressed the fact that I will not gve them up. He said he was going to order one and we can fit the wheel and simulator.

[MBF]

I'd be looking to a tire shop that does truck tires. If the locking ring fits snugly, and the groove on the rim is straight and clean there shouldn't be a concern. I just did new bias plys on the front of my 1 ton. When I took them apart to paint several years ago I cleaned the ring and groove very good before painting them. I also put some corn starch inside the tire and worked it around before I installed the tube and flap. I was amazed how cleanly they came apart, and how easily the tire was to remove. I freshened up the paint, mounted my new tires and tubes, chained them up and slowly inflated them in stages. Mike

[PatS....]

Rural small town tire shops see the old farm trucks alot and are not afraid of split rims. There are a few designs of split rims but only one design is the "widow maker" and even these are simple if you do it correctly and the rural guys still do them regularly. Call first and make a nice day drive of it

[MBF]

Todd-where did you find stainless simulators that fit over the 6 lug wheel? Mike

[Todd B]

This is how the simulators work on my truck.

[Todd B]

I found radial tires that will fit my original wheels, what is a fair price for 6 new tires, stems, mounting on the wheels and I think he said I need to go with tubes with the old wheels. I buy a lot of 16" tires for my job but I have never purchased a big tire like this before.

Thanks, Todd B

[ggdad1951]

I found radial tires that will fit my original wheels' date=' what is a fair price for 6 new tires, stems, mounting on the wheels and I think he said I need to go with tubes with the old wheels. I buy a lot of 16" tires for my job but I have never purchased a big tire like this before.

Thanks, Todd B[/quote']

yah that's what they did with mine...I think the toal bill for the 5 tires was about $1200.

[MBF]

You may want to go to a tire dealer or a scrapper and see if he has some 20" takeoffs that you can buy reasonably, but look them over good. You'll need radial tubes too.

[Rusty O'Toole]

If you want to keep your original wheels for looks but they are split rims and/or rusty to the point of being unsafe, it is possible to cut the center loose from the rim and weld on a new rim. Without going into too many details, hot rodders have been doing this since the fifties.

[ggdad1951]

If you want to keep your original wheels for looks but they are split rims and/or rusty to the point of being unsafe' date=' it is possible to cut the center loose from the rim and weld on a new rim. Without going into too many details, hot rodders have been doing this since the fifties.[/quote']

if you have the 16" split lock ring rims you WILL NOT find a hoop that is a direct direct drop in replacement to the center hub. I spent WAY lots of time trying to find a hoop, talking to the rim vendors, closest I got was 1/8" too small on diameter, so without taking the center down it won't fit.

[Todd B]

Thanks for all of the input, this is what I came up with.

I first found new wheels that have the identcal look of my original 20" wheels, except they don't have the locking ring. We mounted one new radial tubeless tire and it fit the center hole and all 6 lugs perfectly. However the outer diameter of the wheel was a 1/4" wider then my original one, that made my simulators sit out on top of the wheel. My simulators were made to cover the wheel, the new wheel was visible and I just did not like the way it looked. I took my tire guy in the office and showed him this thread and asked if he could look a little more for the tire that would fit my original wheels. 2 days later he called and I brought an old tire and wheel to him and he mounted the new radial tire on my old wheel. I took it home and installed it back on my truck and everything fit perfectly. Yesterday he came and picked up they other 5 and he called today to tell me they are ready. I am going to get them tomorrow night and will install. I am happy with new safe tires. The old ones had great tread but had several weatherchecks on the side walls. My grandaughter loves to ride in the semi so I felt it was time to make it safe.

Thanks for everyones input, if it wasn't for this site I would have settled with the new wheels, (an extra $1,500 just for the wheels) Thanks again, Todd B

[Todd B]

I got them all shined up and hope to be back on the road by nightfall. It feels like Christmas!!!!!!

[Todd B]

Forgot the picture.