Steel Wheels

[dean hanson]

Tyler;

I have over 300,000 miles running radials on our steel wheels. I used to pay
attention and seek out the info but I have NEVER heard about a catastrophic
failure of one of our wheels. Leaks caused by weld breaks yes but no
failures. And I run the aluminum/plastic covers that are light weight and
good looking. And yes you can get brand new 16.5 tires. Just saying. Put the
$2000 plus monies somewhere else.\



Dean the don't fix it if it ain't broke Hanson

75-26 Avion with twin beds in the back because I'm not crawling over you
wife says so.

 

[CGeils]

For those that are new / unaware; There is a potential safety concern when running radials on certain OE steel wheels. The original wheels on all
'73, '74 and some '75s were not designed for radials. What's that you say? How can this be?
The original tires in this era were belted bias plies. Radials exert substantially different loads on the rim, and non radial rims can fail with
radial tires.
Midway through '75 GM switched to radials and the rim design changed slightly too. While the late '75-'78 wheels look the same they will be stamped
"radial" on the inner rim surface (small type - only about 3/8" tall).

--
Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; Headers, PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 50k mi

 

[tyler]

I totally get that, and have chosen that option for nearly five years...
Five impossible to get rid of the imbalance or unknown bent wheel years...!
One was bent we found at Bean Station with lots of eyes (and opinions!) on it.
I have replaced the front two with gmc 2500 16's, then stole 4 rear alcoas off my 78 to go to Florida spring break and voila! imbalance seat shaker
under certain conditions gone. So, doing a permanent solution of some sort.

My steelies are not only pre-radial rating, they are not in that good shape in general, rust around the bead being the clear indicator of 43 years.
And they sat for at least one 6 year stretch with a previous owner. Folks told me they can literally sag out of shape in one place that long, and as I
have no way to prove why mine are not round, they are not round.

So, with my normal tire replacement cycle due, and the fact that I found some new one and two year old 16" tires half price recently, and I got the
two gmc 2500 wheels for $50, and I am looking at four new 16 steel from southwest wheel...I'll be out $400 for the wheels and $425 for the tires, and
I'll gain a whole lot more peace of mind.

And, man alive, I hope I get to a point where I can rack up 300K on my coach! (How many engines is that?) Roll on my friend...
--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC

 

[Matt Colie]

My coach came to us with steel wheels that were not marked for radial. Before I got changed over to 16", two of those had cracked such that the tire
lost pressure.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[jim kanomata1]

Dean,
Call us, we have several.

> My coach came to us with steel wheels that were not marked for radial.
> Before I got changed over to 16", two of those had cracked such that the
> tire
> lost pressure.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[gene barrow]

If you would prefer 16" Alcoa Classic Aluminum Wheels, a neighbor in Red Bluff, Ca has 4 new in the box never mounted he would like to sell. H edoes
not use the GMCNET so I will be posting them on the swap meet for him.

You can PM or email me if you have any interest.

Gene
--
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach

 

[thomas phipps]

When messing with 16" steel wheels, I found that some radial rims had the letter "R" inside of a circle, instead of the word, radial, stamped on the
inside of the rim. I also discovered that there is a variant in the OEM 16" rims. One has round rubber valve holes. The other had the oval metal valve
holes. I'm betting the oval valve design would hold higher pressures.
Tom
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG