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Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:23 pm
by 1953M-37
I remember when my dad had a car with split rims. Boy the tire guys hated to change the tires. Well now it is my turn with split rims on my M-37 [9.00x16] and they are heavy as sin....It takes two guys to put a rim and tire in the back of a truck. I found two guys to change my tires one at $45 and the other at $25 . So how hard would it be for me to change the tires my self? I have heard of horror storys of split rim tire changes... Should I do the job my self or take it to a tire guy and how much should I pay? Miles.....
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:26 pm
by Cal_Gary
Don't kill yourself trying to do them yourself-find a shop that handles truck rims-they'll have them off and on in minutes. I had a set of new NDTs done in 2009 for $25 each and of course I provided the new tires, tubes and flaps. I will share that those heroes aired them up laying flat on the ground-another way to get killed. Insist that they use a tire cage when airing them up, for the technician's sake....
Gary
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:55 pm
by Master Yota
Or if they don't have a cage, at least tell them to wrap some chain around the tire through the holes in the rim. It'll deflect most of the energy should the ring decide to leave the rim...
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:18 am
by 1953M-37
So I should not try to change the tires my self...Miles....
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:05 am
by HingsingM37
Miles, P/M sent

Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:02 am
by 1953M-37
Thank you HingsingM37 ! ...Mlies....
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:04 pm
by 1953M-37
Got my tires on Yah! Tehama Tires put them on for $25 a rim . They did a GREAT job!!!! Split the rims with a big hammer and pry bars then pulled the tires off with out damaging the tubes . Then he aired up the tubes and checked for leaks in a big tub of water. Sperad the new tires and put powder inside then the tube and flaps. Went back to the rims and cleaned them up . [Rust & dirt ] The tire guy put the rims & tires back togather and aired them up in a cage. I gave him a $5 tip. I wish I could of did more but cash is tight. I put the tires back on [in the mud] and my truck is coming togather. P.S. I don't know how to post a picture in a post please help....... Miles......
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:14 pm
by m-37Bruce
Before you hit the post/submit key, under neath the entire post there is a pair of tabs, one says "Options" the other says "Upload attachment". Click the Upload attachment tab, click browse and chose your file from your cpu, another way would be simply cut & paste, using webshots or another web foto hosting site.
This one is cut & paste;

Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:16 pm
by m-37Bruce
Hope I helped out some, let me know, we all want to see your new tires!

Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:13 pm
by 1953M-37
I just can't post pictures or add....
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:28 am
by m-37Bruce
Send them to me or MM, we will host & post 'em for you? Either thru pm or let me know, I'll pm you with my addy?
Regards,
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:25 am
by Tanner
Great news that you got the tires mounted on the rims! Good to hear more success stories...
I guess I could be called anal-retentive, but I prefer the term 'technically accurate' - I know that you & others refer to the M37 rims as 'split-rim', but this isn't correct.
The proper term for the M37 rim is a Goodyear style 'Type LTS 6.50 Size', which is quite different from a 'center split-rim' design, also known as 'Widow-maker rims'... the Firestone RH-5° style wheel earned the dubious moniker of being a 'hand/face/body part remover' / 'Widow-maker'...
Firestone RH-5 photo attached -
Rim styles:
http://stovebolt.com/techtips/wheels/im ... atalog.jpg
If you call a tire shop that has older-guys working there & refer to your rims as 'old truck split-rims', they will likely say 'run, hide, we don't do those rims, because they aren't safe!' But the heavy truck/farm equipment shops know the Goodyear LTS-style rim & usually have the proper equipment & cage to breakdown/reinstall the tire. It goes without saying that you should do a rim/lock-ring visual inspection to thoroughly check the lock-ring edge & rim grove where the lock-ring engages the rim to make sure that there are no heavily rusted/eroded away surfaces that could allow the rim to come apart later when tire is at proper inflation pressure & supporting weight of truck.
Post some pics & congratulations again on your success!
Bryan
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:33 am
by MSeriesRebuild
The photo Tanner has posted is a split rim; it is very dangerous; but it is not THE SPLIT RIM. The split rim that is illegal is split across the rim width from bead to bead, and not around the circumference like the Firestone RH-5.
1953M-37 Pic's
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:02 pm
by m-37Bruce
Here's the other one;
Let me know if you've got anymore?
Re: Split rims what a pain.....
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:02 pm
by 1953M-37
Bruce
Thank you so much. I did some more work on my M-37 to day so I'm getting closer to driving it some time. There is alot of shabby work done on this truck and it is going to take time and money to fix ...Wish me luck to get another M-37 on the road...... Miles....