I have posted this question on several other strings and apologize for the repetition. I wonder what tires will fit a 22.5 X 5.25 rim? I hear I can have them widened. If I can, what would be the optimum width? And does anyone know what white color paint number I should use?


Thanks for all the great info folks have shared on this subject. That especially goes for Truckdog. I followed your advice and called Chuck but his price was pretty high. Then I found these others nearby and hope I can make them work.

 

Since new tires are sized differently than the old ones, the best I can do is tell you what width tires were recommended for a 5.25" rim back in the day. Your rims I'd bet are from the late 1950s, maybe early 60s, and are the narrowest of the breed. The books say that a 7.00" or 7.50" is recommended. You might get by with an 8.00" width. Narrow is better, though. I'd suggest finding a good truck tire shop and have them give guidance on comparable sizing of modern tires.

If you decide to have yours widened, I'd bet Stockton Wheel could do that. Not cheaply, though. Wheels Now could also do it, as could Century Wheel. Optimum width is something you'd have to work out with the company doing the work to make sure it fit your application. They can make them any width you want. To me, though, I'd keep them stock unless you're asking the truck to work like a modern truck. Which might not be real advisable given modern speeds, braking issues, etc.

Sorry, I can't help on paint.

 

Almost all of the old five lug 22.5 rims will be 5.25" wide. There was a 22.5 X 6.00 rim manufactured but are really really hard to find. I think they were mostly used on buses.

9RX22.5 is about the only tire size available anymore that will fit the rims and wheel wells. Charts will show the minimum recommended rim width for these tires is 6.00 but they are the narrowest 22.5 truck tire available. They will mount without problems on 5¼ rims and the rear duals have adequate spacing. As far as I know that's what everyone with the old 22.5 rims is using for new tires.

8X22.5 (Bias Ply) and 8RX22.5 were commonly used with these rims but I don't think they have been manufactured in the USA for more than ten years. In searching the web for tires I found some newly manufactured Chinese vehicles with 8RX22.5's. I think maybe they got a good deal on the molds. Up until about five years ago there was a metric size being produced 225R70 that was a nice fit, but are no longer available.

The problem with 9RX22.5's is they are really tall. Some folks think they look like circus wagon wheels. Here's an old picture of my short wheel base F5 on 22.5 rims. I had mine powder coated black semigloss.

Craig

 

Thanks Craig, that's great information. Like you suggest, this bolt pattern got phased out as industry moved to wider wheel profiles. The latest five lug 22.5s that I show from Budd (1979) and from Accuride (1981) were 6.75" wide.

 

Thanks Dmptrkr for your information. I will pass it on to the fellow who is helping me at American Frame and Alignment in Kent Washington. He is the one who put the fear of god in me about my widowmakers and is doing leg work to see what can be done with my junk yard wheels. I'll keep this list posted as I make my way through this maze.

Whoever said you don't need to reinvent the wheel was wrong!!!!!!!!!!

 

So I am really bummed. I found 6 Budd 22.5x5.25 wheels, had them sand blasted and primed only to find that two have cracks from the handhole toward the rivets. I hope the pics are properly attached.

American Frame would not mount wheels on the bad ones and were worried about the bead holding on the others. In the meantime I was told that American Wheel in Pasco Washington (see posts above) would sell me new 19.5s for $230 apiece so I think that is the way I will go. The tires are alot more reasonable too but the circumferance is smaller.

Has anyone had experience with welding rims? What about removing bad hubs and putting them on good rims that are not too badly rusted? I was told that American Wheel would cut out my hubs and put them on new wide 22.5s 6" rims but it was going to cost me $300 or more each. Then the tires were going to be $350 or so.

I should have bought up all of these wheels in the 80s instead of those damn junk bonds!

 

Man I'm sorry to hear that you've got cracks in two of them. I guess I'm sort of amazed that we don't hear this more often in view of the life these wheels lead. I've had two welded at the rivets because after blasting I found rivets coming loose. I'm mixed on whether I'll actually ever mount them, though. And if I do they'll only be for show.

Another option if you want to stay with 22.5s is to check with Wheels Now (800.782.5145) (Wheels...Now!) or Century Wheel's Montebello, CA, location (800.624.1715) (http://qtrailer.com) to see if they'd make you a couple of new ones. I spoke with a field rep from Accuride a month or so ago that told me that these two companies can custom stamp our bolt pattern into the centers of new 22.5 wheels. He said they'd even have five hands holes like the originals.

The Accuride rep said too that these companies can also do 19.5s but that they'd only have two hand holes. The American Wheel Specialist 19.5s would no doubt cost less and look better having five hand holes.

Also, in follow-up on the 8R22.5 tires, I did some Googling a week or so ago and found companies that do have them. Unforturnately they appear to all be from China. Stu

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm really disappointed to hear stories like this one. I thought we were on the road to the ultimate solution with Rickson Truck Wheels. I've let this project slide because I'm overwhelmed with all the work I have on my plate right now. Money is also tight and so I was hoping that others would pick up the ball and run with it. Personally I just need about another six months before I'll be in the market for a whole new set. Why is anyone fooling around with this old !@#$ when Rickson is willing to produce brand new rims according to OUR specs and for a very reasonable price? If every person who's going to all these lengths to fix up tired old dangerous crap would just call Rickson perhaps they'd make that run.

Rickson
Rickson
Rickson

Rickson Truck Wheels and Accessories

 

Jeeptirx - I've not chased Rickson after having left my number, and gotten no return call. Instead, we have found another source. American Wheel Specialist, LLC, of Pasco, WA. They have in stock NOW about 100 new 19.5" wheels having our bolt pattern. No need for special group purchase deals with them since their standard price is about the same as Rickson was said to offer for the group, and their wheels are claimed to be stonger than a standard motor home/pickup product as is presumably offered by Rickson. Go to my thread entitled "Great Source for New Big Truck Wheels" posted a few weeks ago. If you are in contact with Rickson and learn anything new or contrary to this understanding we would benefit from having their technical data to compare to American's. Stu

 

I don't think the ball was dropped at all. Stu has been doing a lot of work in search for wheels. Stu, Dmptrkr and I have done a lot of work in trying to find an answer to the problem we have with our big trucks. I have fallen off the subject for two reasons, like you, I just don't have the time because of work, and second Stu has done extensive research, buying catalogs and contacting vendors, and has become what I concider the expert on the subject of all wheels that are bolted to all of our old trucks, F-1 all the way up to F-8. I don't think, from this point on I could add any more to subject than what Stu has already come with.

I'm just stating the above because I think your statement does a disservice to Stu. I know it's not that serious but I would hate to see credit not be given when it's due.

 

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the kind words, but I didn't take it that way. Since the survey, and since my offer to Rickson to go over sizing/technical info with them, a lot has happened. Like I said above, I talked to a guy name Jim Durand from Accuride to see if they'd do a special run. He explained that they produce 10,000 wheels per hour, PER HOUR, and that stopping the line to do a special run wasn't in the cards. He is the one that suggested Century Wheel and Wheels Now since they are authorized Accuride facilities.

Then I got a call from a guy as a result of the Vintage Truck letters looking for rebuilt 20s. That led to the call I made to American Wheel Specialist. And with them I think we have found a workable answer to the problem. So, I don't see a need to go further with Rickson, but sure don't want to slam the door on a source if they can provide the service. I just don't want to feel like I'm harrassing them to accomplish that end. Stu

 

Stu, I didn't mean anything from my post, I just didn't want anyone to think this subject is dead. I know, we beat the he out of the subject.

I can see a need for both, Rickson and American. With the cost of shipping maybe the cost would balance out for the guys in the western part of the country going to American, and the guys in the eastern part of the country going to Rickson. I would hope a place like Rickson would realize there is a market for these wheels, not only from us old Ford truck guys, but from the IH, Studebaker, Dodge and the RV guys. I realize the demand wouldn't justify the 10,000 per hour production of Accuride but I would think there could be money for a smaller operation.

 

This is one imperfect method of communication. Best darn thing we've got that's for sure but it can be hard to get a point across without misinterpretation. I certainly didn't mean to scold anyone. I just hate to see anyone wasting time and money, especially when a little cooperation can save everyone plenty of both. I'm a huge fan of restoration but not where wheels are concerned. It's just too easy to have one fly apart after fifty seven years in service. I'm on about Rickson because when I spoke to him a year ago he sounded very positive about being able and willing to produce rims in 19.5 and/or 22.5 and just needed bolt pattern, offset and handhold info etc. I thought that it would take one call from someone with Stu's extensive knowledge and they'd be off and 'running'. I contacted Rickson because I found his reference on this site, not because I thought I have any business speaking for the group. I'm a rank amateur when it comes to these 'Big Trucks'. At this point I don't even know if it's 19.5 or 22.5. I remember Rickson saying something about the old 20's and the new 19.5's being virtually the same dimension. 22.5's would probably look very stylish with a lower profile tire.

As far as which company to deal with - American sure would work for me being a west coaster and as close to WA as a Canuck can get. I just wish I had more time to devote to this project. Right now 'Lucy' is working hard and earning her resto with each load of topsoil and gravel I haul. It's a little disconcerting to know that one flat tire will sideline her. If that happens I'll probably run to the bank to borrow the money!

Corey

 

Corey,

I agree, without being able to talk face to face sometimes the feeling of our message can be taken slightly the wrong way. No harm, just wanted to make sure everyone knew Stu does a lot of work on researching the subject. Stu is retired and has a little more time to dedicate to this subject than the rest of who have to spend our time with work. I really appreciate the time he uses for this stuff, it's benefits everyone.

 

No harm, no foul guys. Much of the problem is that we've always got more than one thread going on the subject. Sometimes something gets said in one thread and not in the others.

I think the comments made by guys over on the "48 F-4 Stake Bed Replacement Rims" thread apply here too. Cost of new is absolutely an issue that guys must decide whether they can accept. If not, finding used wheels is the only other option if the truck is to be put back on the road. I'm glad EWATNESS has taken the step and ordered new, and am eager to hear how he likes the American Wheel Specialist's 19.5s. We already have Rick (HT32BSX115) giving positive input on the reconditioned 20s that he bought from them, so I'm hopeful that we hear the same about the 19.5s. The fact that a big outfit like Les Schwab has hooked up with them also speaks to their reputation and quality.

Looking at the map, Pasco, WA, is only an hour or so north of I-84. This fall when we go west to visit our son and his family I'm gonna take a detour north to visit the facility. Stu