20” widow maker
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Heuvelton, NY
20” widow maker
Can a machine shop weld the 2 piece widow maker (Firestone rh5) together and make them street legal? then just mount tire like normal. Would you need a tube or could it be tubeless?
I was going to put 22.5s on the front. But after getting tires mounted to rims, and sitting next to the 20s on the front, I am not sure if there will be enough room for the tire between the fenders.bheight looks ok. Worried about horizontal from front to back distance.
I was going to put 22.5s on the front. But after getting tires mounted to rims, and sitting next to the 20s on the front, I am not sure if there will be enough room for the tire between the fenders.bheight looks ok. Worried about horizontal from front to back distance.
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No. You would not be able to get the tire over the rim, or get a tube in there.....
Are you talking about 9R 22.5s? That's about as close as you get to 8.25x20s, if that's what you were running.
Locking ring wheels are safe and available if you can't do the 22.5s.
Edit: I see you have 4 22.5s, so you're kind of committed. 7.00x20 to 9R x 22.5---Hhhmmmmm.
The widow makers are "street legal". It's just that they are dangerous to work on, and, as with any older equipment, they could be even more dangerous than they were when new even if properly assembled.
Are you talking about 9R 22.5s? That's about as close as you get to 8.25x20s, if that's what you were running.
Locking ring wheels are safe and available if you can't do the 22.5s.
Edit: I see you have 4 22.5s, so you're kind of committed. 7.00x20 to 9R x 22.5---Hhhmmmmm.
The widow makers are "street legal". It's just that they are dangerous to work on, and, as with any older equipment, they could be even more dangerous than they were when new even if properly assembled.
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
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From: Central Illinois
No, the rim lips of a widow maker are too tall to let a tire mount over them. Even then you’d need a tube. The 9R22.5” tire is the equal in diameter of an 8.25-20”. About 38-39” probably. If you now have 7.50-20s they are about 37” tall. The 9R22.5” should not rub in front. Stu
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Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Bothell & Silverdale, WA
The 8.25 x 20's (9R22.5) were only offered on F-6 & F-7 trucks, so there could be an issue with the fronts on a F-5. F-5 trucks came with 6.50, 7.00, and 7.50 x 20 tires.
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Elder User
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Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Central Illinois
To get back on topic, despite having the same suspension components, I guess it is possible that the lesser number of spring leaves of an F-5 vs F-6, and maybe some expected sag in the springs over 70 years, could yield some rubbing of an 8.25-20” or 9R22.5” on a fender wheel arch. But I think we’d have heard somebody make that complaint over the years we’ve been discussing this. This is where I wish some company would start reimporting the 8-22.5” or 8R22.5” tires that are the equal of the 7.50-20”. Stu
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