This is a little off topic. One of my co-workers is a Studebaker guy....his daily driver is a 50 half ton pickup. He recently bought another Stude. This one is a 50 1-ton. The wheels that he described sound like the dreaded widowmakers.

Can any of you help me with some links to some of the threads that have a good wheel identification description?

Thanks!

Dan

 

It's real possible you are right that your buddy has widow maker issues to deal with. There were three wheels optional on 1950 Studebaker one ton models 2R14 and 2R15. One was a 17" x 5.5", one a 20" x 5.0", and the last a 20" x 6.0". All three options were hub piloted and made by the Motor Wheel Corporation. The 17" has a Firestone R5° outer rim, while both 20" options have the widow maker Firestone RH5° outer rims. The three optional wheels could have been fitted as singles or dual rear wheels. Below are cross section diagrams of each, and pictures of the 20" widow makers on a similar Studebaker truck.






If your buddy's truck has the 17" wheel option he should have no issues with finding service at real truck type service centers. The 20s will be another matter, especially in CA.

I should add a mention that wheels over the life of a truck can be damaged and replaced. There were non-widow maker hub piloted wheels made by Motor Wheel Corporation that could have been swapped on to the truck. They just aren't listed as OEM options.

The hub piloted aspect of Studebaker wheels make them more challenging to replace than the stud piloted wheels common to Fords. Few modern replacements are bolt on remedies. If your buddy has 20s there is available on eBay right now a set of tubeless 22.5" hub piloted wheels. At a very fair price. I have no connection to the seller.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/studebaker-truck-wheels-22-5x5-bolt-wheels-lot-of-7-motorwheel-steel-/321917593479?nav=WATCHING_ACTIVE
The other option is to have his centers pulled and remounted into safer tube type or tubeless rims at Stockton Wheel or another of the custom wheel shops.

Last, I'd recommend your buddy get to know the guys at the Studebaker Truck Talk and Studebaker Truck Farmer forums. I lurk at both and help them with wheel issues. Stu

Studebaker Truck Talk
STF Forum

 

Hello Stu,

Thanks so much for all of the data! I'll pass that on today.

It's great to have all of the links & pics in one place!

Dan