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I know. I'm stupid.

RustyRatRod

RustyRatRod

Head Flunky In Charge
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Gladys, my 75 F250 has a mismatched set of factory 16" wheels. Not only that, but ALL FIVE are incorrect for the truck. I guess I am OCD about some things and that's one of them.

She originally came with those 16" lock ring type wheels. Despite what people say about them, they are quite safe if they are still in good condition, the rings are not sprung and they are not rusted all to heck.

One of my regular customers and I got to talkin a couple of weeks ago and he said he had a whole set in real good shape. He brought them to me yesterday and they are in excellent condition. For 30 whole bucks. I am probably the only guy on the planet who actually WANTS a set of those wheels. I have an extensive tire service background, including winning the Georgia tire rodeo three years in a row in the manual changing class, so I know how to change them right. I will just not be as fast since I am old. LOL
 
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Even though they can be aired without a cage it would be advisable to use it if you have one. It only takes that one time, but you should know all about that by now. Tubes are getting expensive and hard to find here.
Surprised that did not come with 16.5 wheels! When did Ford quite using lock rings? I do not remember them being used in 76.
 
I am not sure when Ford stopped using lock rings. I would think 1975 would be close. Although some of the larger medium duty trucks still use them today. I never have used a cage. I use a length of chain and a padlock with a long air hose.
 
I have nevér seen a ring go but have seen the after math. Broken arms, ribs and such. So be careful.
 
Oh yeah, they can tear some stuff up. Kill hell outta you if you ain't careful.
 
Wow , split rim's . I haven't seen those in a "while" . I've worked at a few tires shops way back when . One of them you might have heard of was M&H Racemaster . No split rims there though . lol I remember one of the other shops I worked at . There was a guy doing a set of those and just after I walked by him , I heard a BANG and turned real quick to see what it was . The ring had popped out and flew across the shop and imbedded it's self in the cement wall . Luckily no one was hurt . Scared the crap out of me , I'll tell yah . lol
 
They certainly can be problematic, but these are in excellent condition. Once the rings are installed and locked all the way around, it is impossible for them to come off.

Also these are not split rims. Split rims are exactly as the name implies. The wheel unbolts in the center into two halves. These wheels are lock rings. They have a removable outside bead lock that is made from spring steel. They are really foolproof unless they are damaged.
 
RustyRatRod said:
They certainly can be problematic, but these are in excellent condition. Once the rings are installed and locked all the way around, it is impossible for them to come off.

Also these are not split rims. Split rims are exactly as the name implies. The wheel unbolts in the center into two halves. These wheels are lock rings. They have a removable outside bead lock that is made from spring steel. They are really foolproof unless they are damaged.
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The rims with the split rings is what I was talking about . We always called them split rims as well . Nothing against them other then they were a pain in the but to mount and no one wanted to do them so I normally got stuck doing them wherever I worked . A few of the shops I worked at didn't even have a safety cage . Just wrestling with them on the shop floor , normally covered in mud and dirt .
 
bear said:
The rims with the split rings is what I was talking about . We always called them split rims as well . Nothing against them other then they were a pain in the but to mount and no one wanted to do them so I normally got stuck doing them wherever I worked . A few of the shops I worked at didn't even have a safety cage . Just wrestling with them on the shop floor , normally covered in mud and dirt .
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Yeah, now THAT is dangerous. And stupid.
 
Yeah , but you have to remember that was a loooong time ago and I'm definitely not saying it was safe or to smart , it was just the way it was done back then around here .
 
I actually thought they were easier to work on??? I had a 1978 F350 dually and easily changed my own tires since you didn't have to fight the tires over the bead and just wrapped it really good with a log chain before inflating. Never had any trouble at all with them.
 
They are easier to change. Also, the wheels themselves are much thicker metal than the one piece wheels. They are heavy duty, like the rest of the truck.
 
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