rim size to replace widowmakers

[jarheadsgt]

Just a quick question, What rims should I look for to replace the widow makers on my 8 lug 64 d200

[65david]

I believe that same bolt pattern was available for a while on later 3/4-1 Ton Dodges.

I'm hoping I can still find someone to change my tires when I finally need replacements. With the early 6 lug setup I don't think there are any non-split options.

[MikeMc]

Why do you call them widow makers? Are they known for breaking?

[hampstead38]

My great uncle ran a tire shop. A bad split rim messed up his jaw pretty good back in the day. Nowadays... well, have you ever seen Ron White do his bit on getting his van tires changed at Sears? If you haven't seen it, well, it pretty much sums up the sad state of many modern tire shops. I suppose it's just easier all around to move away from split rims. As for the original question, I'm thinking 16x6 or 16x7 with an 8 by 6.5 bolt pattern sounds about right... if you want to run a tall skinny tire like 235/85/16. If you want something wider, I think have some in my shop.

[MikeMc]

Oh split rims....I C why u call them widow makers now.

[sweptliner]

David, I know how to change widow maker tires, its dangerous (killed one of the guys at the shop a few years before I started) but I can do it. The reason why they are so dangerous is because the grove for the lock ring can get rusty making it so that the ring wont seat properly so when you start to get to higher psi that ring can slip out of place and fly up and kill you, it will also be closely followed by the outer rim lip ring.

Every time I take them apart I take a wire wheel to the rim and all of the corresponding parts, to get off all the rust and then use a cleaning compound to get the dust off of it. Then to air it I lay it flat on the ground and start to put some air in the tire to get the ring to seat lightly. After the ring is seated I roll it over to a cage that encloses the rim on the sides so that if it blows it will catch everything. (where I work if you look and the cage the tubes (3" round steel tubes) are bowed out slightly from a few exploding tires).

[PatS]

After the ring is seated I roll it over to a cage that encloses the rim on the sides so that if it blows it will catch everything. (where I work if you look and the cage the tubes (3" round steel tubes) are bowed out slightly from a few exploding tires).

For me, that's enough information to be switching out my widowmakers. I've never had a tire explode and it's an experience I'll be happy to pass on!!!

[FredM]

Widow makers were the split rim, it really splint in the middle and had a lock ring to hold the two
halves together.

You have lock ring wheels, not safe for most of todays tire people.
some truck and old time tire shops still work with them,
clean the rust & pay attention when changing, which does not happen now days.

The one advantage is you can remove the tire & repair the tube,
and be back on the road/trail if you have a compressor.

They can be very dangerous

[Hobcobble]

Why do you call them widow makers? Are they known for breaking?

Its because you have to spend so much time working on them, the flaps and the tubes that
your wife shoots you dead out of neglect.

Really though.... split ring wheels have been known to blow the ring off if not installed
properly [and in the mounting cage ] and kill [or maim] folks.
John

[Hobcobble]

Just a quick question, What rims should I look for to replace the widow makers on my 8 lug 64 d200

If you're trying to stay original... the '64 D200 could have come with a 16", 17.5" or 19.5" steel wheel.
All of these [original] wheels would take the "male" dog dish hubcap that snaps into the hub ring.

If you're looking for a quick and inexpensive wheel..... a 16" stock steel wheel from a Sweptline up through
the LifeStyle era Dodge truck [through '92 or '93] will work and most boneyards will have them.
John

[junior]

Stockton wheel company in Stockton,Calif. can custom make tubeless type wheels to replace the widow makers for you.

[BigAL]

Yeah Stockton wheel can do any combination you want. In finding wheels ... 16" wheels, you can use Ford 16" wheels with the 8 lug pattern on 3/4 ton and 1 ton 4 wheel drive Dodge trucks, and 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive trucks as well. The center hole is big enough to fit over the rear and I believe the front hubs as well?
Chevy 8 lug wheels will not fit the the 4 wheel drive Dodges, 3/4 ton and up, I think? I think this is right? Anyone can correct me if this is wrong it won't hurt my feelings.

[Trailmaster]

Chevrolet/GMC C20/30 & K20/30 and Jeep J20 wheels won't fit Dodges and Fords unless you spend some time with a roto file enlarging the center hole. Most aftermarket wheels for the older 8 lug trucks will fit all of them. Somewhere along the line in the last 15 years or so they changed the backspacing on the wheels, I had a friend who tried some newer wheels on his 82 and didn't have enough clearance on suspension components. To my knowledge, none of the newer wheels will allow the use of te older style hubcaps, but Ford and Dodge newer style hubcaps are the same, so a hubcap change will be in order.

My 70 has 16" tubeless type wheels on it now, but when the first set of tires has to be purchased, I'll probably be putting the lock ring wheels back on it, just because being the cheap skate that I am, it's easier for me to do them myself. Same deal if I ever change the 16.5s on my 76 D300 and 77 J20 to 16s. Lock ring wheels are perfectly safe if you treat them with the proper respect and make sure everything is right when working on them. Considering some of the semi-trained monkeys I've seen working at a lot of tire shops in this country, I'm not surpised a lot of shops won't work on them, I probably wouldn't want them working on mine if they did.

[uffdaphil]

If I remember correctly the most important part of fixing a split rim (if you don't have that cage) is to make sure the retaining ring is facing down when re-inflating. Our army 2 1/2 tons always had the ring in the dirt just in case. Never had one blow, but heard tales of "Deuce" tires popping up quite a ways and they ain't light. My biggest problem with split rims was the midnight swappers who would sneak into the motor pool and trade my good 'uns for flats. Fixing one isn't too bad - four in a row under the asian sun is not a joy.

[Trailmaster]

Never had a cage, I always snaked a 15' 3/8" chain around the tire and through the center hole in 4 or 5 places before airing, then air it with a clip on chuck so you don't have to hold it while airing. I never had a rim failure, but have had tire failures on both lock rings and tubless. Tire failures can kill you just as easily as rim failures. The most important part is cleaning and inspecting all the pieces before reassembly to make sure you don't have damaged parts or things where they don't belong, and getting everything back together the right way. The other thing I always did air it to about 20 psi and let it back out 4 or 5 times to make sure the tube is straight and the rings are seating right, and then stop airing and check it 3 or 4 times as it's aired up to final pressure.

[BOOMERS69]

Here's a website that cross-references bolt patterns. I hope it helps you out. I've used it many times; http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/hot-rods ... tabase.asp