Thanks to all for your info on widowmaker rims. Just bought a 1952 f-6 firetruck not knowing about these rims. Say goodbye to the new paint and parades for a while, untill I get the "come and get your candy kids" wheel explosions under control. I did my homework, and found a 5 bolt-budd motorhome being parted with 19.5 rims, that I am happy about, but found that the tallest tire is a 8r-19.5, which is about 33.5 inch diameter. This truck has a 2-speed rear that is geared low already. The 20's on it now are 36 inches, and I dont want to go lower. I have found a few dodges from the 40's that have the locking ring 20's but have to buy the whole truck. My question is will these dodge rims work. When I got my firetruck home, the tires had about 20 pounds of air in them, and not knowing better, I puffed them all to 70 wondering what the tick-tick creaking sound was coming from the rims. Lucky me. Now Im going to run like a schoolgirl when I remove the valve cores. I am willing to throw 2 grand at my newfound wheel and tire project, but want to be happy with it when im done. I may have to have some air in the tires if I can find an inoperative dodge or international with an owner willing to swap wheels with me without buying his whole truck, but this widowmaker thing gives me the creeps, even putting 15 pounds in them. Also, I checked stockton wheel for new 22.5's, but that is 2 months and 4 grand for new tires and rims, which is not an option. Advice on this is appreciated. Thanks-Ron

 

First of all, welcome to the group. Glad to have you hanging around.

Your F-6 likely has 20" x 6" wheels with 20" x 7.50" tires. They likely are, as you said, the "widow maker" style that have outer rims that are technically termed Firestone RH-5°. Your tires will have about a 36" outside diameter. An 8.25" tire would have been optional back then and would be about 38" tall. The tubeless equal to your wheels are 22.5s. There were three 22.5" width wheels made (5.25", 6.00", and 6.75").

Today the narrowest 22.5" tire available is a 9R22.5 that will be about 38" tall, similar to the 8.25" tube type. That tire was designed to fit a 6.75" wheel but was approved for use on the 6.00" wheel. It is technically too wide for use on the 5.25" wheel, but we have members that use them on the 5.25 rims and say they work fine. We have two members that have sets of 22.5" wheels for sale. Some I know are the 5.25" width, and some IIRC are the 6.00" width. If you want to connect with those sellers I can have them check in here.

I should add mention that these wheels all date from between 1956 and 1982, and few were warranted for use with radial tires. If you were intending to use your truck as it was originally intended, this might be a concern. But since you are talking parade duty, I doubt the wheels will ever see lateral loads like they would have when the truck was still in fire service.

The other optional tubeless wheel is a 19.5". These are technically the equal of a 17" tube type, but will fit your truck and work well. We have several members that use them. They will take an 8R19.5" tire that will be about 34" tall. The newest and most common of these wheels were warranted for use with radial tires. The below chart will show you why a 20" tube type and 22.5" tubeless are equals. The same concepts apply to the 17" tube type and 19.5" tubeless.

Hope this explains things well enough. If you have other questions, please say. If you want to be contacted by the members with the 22.5s, please say. Stu

 

Stu- Thanks for your info. On this truck with a big pump on front, and limited tire clearance, I will probably use the 19.5 rims I found with 8r-19.5 tires,unless I can find a set of lock ring 20's. I will assume 1940's dodge will work for this purpose, because that is all of the options for old trucks for sale I have found around here. Anyone want to buy a dodge flatbed with firestone widowmakers on it? I'll make a sweet deal.

 

Lock ring 20s will work well for you. Dodge and IHC donors are good sources. Look for the Goodyear (GDY) split ring kind if you have a choice. The 19.5s are also a good/better option. I wouldn't buy a whole truck to get your wheels. Here are some Craig's List adds for sets of 19.5s. Also, our friend Josh Madsen has a yard near where he lives in Salt Lake City that has a treasure trove of 19.5s he says. Maybe he'll check in. Stu

8r 19.5 tires 6 total
19.5"-5 bolt budd wheels
6 - 8R x 19.5 TIRES ON WHEELS

 

Just about anything you do is an expensive proposition.

I have the 20" lock-ring wheels I got from Les Schwab. THey came from American Wheel in Pasco Wa. I then had Les Schwab put new Toyo 9.00-20 radials on the front and New(recapped) 9.00-20's on the back.

It was about $2800 for the wheels ($225 ea blasted/powder-coated too) + the tires, new tubes, flaps, mounting etc.

You can see pictures of them in my gallery.

I would have LOVED to have found 19.5" or 22.5" wheels!!


Cheers,


Rick

 

I have a line on 6, 22.5 X 5.5 one piece-5 lug wheels that will fit F-4 to F-6 ford trucks. E-mail me and I will get you his info. The wheels are in CA. my e-mail, haddixhouse@frontier.com

 

Thanks 4-speed. I looked at my truck again, and found I have to have 36 inch or smaller tires on front, or get new springs. A 22.5 tire would be too much. I'm going to go with the 19.5 wheels I found, but now the wrecking yard has mega snow on it. They are on a rv full of junk, which is going to get eaten and squashed by a large loader. There are still tires on it, but the fronts have popped the beads and are down in the mud.

 

I'll keep this in mind if nobody else is interested first.