Split rim, wide 5?
 

I came across a pair of wide 5's I've never seen before, is anyone familiar with the model and year truck that utilized them?

Would jalopy/dirt track cars have used them?

Dimensions are 16" x 5"

Thanks

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

That’s an odd one all right, I’ve never seen one. But I would assume as you did that it was for a big truck use.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

take a closer look but i will bet the wide five centers have been re-rimmed so better radials can be used

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

But who would choose a multi piece rim to run radials? OK, maybe a heavy truck enthusiast like myself. There was a 3/4 ton starting in maybe '39 that used 16's with a full floating axle. Maybe from one of those? I do think tey were wide 5.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I think truckdog62563 mentioned one time they were military.
I have a set marked Goodyear L.S.T. 1-44 5.50 F 16

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Stu would know without looking it up. I find in Wagner's FTS'05 that the 39-41 3/4 tons used the same hubcaps as a '39 passenger car, so yes, they were wide 5s. I found perhaps 5 photos of 39-41 3/4 ton trucks, but the photos are small and the wheels are painted black, so the split in the lock ring would be mighty hard to spot.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I had a 1941 Ford 3/4 ton many-many years ago and it
had 16 x 5, wide 5, regular steel wheels all the way around.





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Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

They do look like a factory made wheel but, a question might be, what factory, as in after market.

I would say that, because of the off set, they maybe for, rear axle only use, maybe even a trailer?

If they came from Ford, I would, also go with a military application. Other than that, a odd, low/limited production, commercial.

More questions than answers!

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Thanks for the replies, some interesting data provided, I appreciate it. At first I thought they were home made but the quality of work (rivets hold the centers to hoops) ruled that out.

The wheels came with very old military tires mounted, I believe I do have photos somewhere... if I can locate them, I'll share them here.

Ive seen more 18" wide 5's than split rims, this pair is the first I've seen in 25 yrs which is why I posted them here. I bought them thinking they were 15" 3/4 ton wheels, but the seller and myself neglected to read the tire markings and frankly I thought they were 15" until I had the tires removed.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Searched the books but don’t find it. The Goodyear split ring/rim combined with the wide five pattern isn’t listed anywhere. Probably means it was a military wheel which didn’t normally appear in civilian references until many years later. Even there I didn’t find it in later years listings. Kinda in the same category as that mentioned 16” x 5.5” Dodge/IHC military wheel having the Goodyear LTS rim. Dated 1944 but was the 1950s before they appeared in Budd listings. Stu

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

The 3/4ton rims was a bit different in design to the slots are a bit less wide i think ?
I have 2 real nice 3/4ton wide 5 that came with a dirt track...only when side by side with a normal the design difference is clear.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I have one of the split rim wide 5 wheels as well. They are not 39-41 3/4-ton, as those are 16x5 and 16x5.5 standard drop center rims. Those wheels do look like they used the 3/4-ton center.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Neal - yah, the centers led me to think they were the 3/4 ton variety. Where did you pick up your split rim? I believe mine came out of the central coast.

Some additional photos of the wheels with tires mounted.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Hi; appears to be an outside edge locking ring and those are safe. All my military trucks use them. There were Marmon-Herrington 4wd '39 wagons made for the British in WW2, as well as 40/41 wagons. A selection of those wheels sold at the Portland Swap 2 yrs ago; snapped up by some 'Downunder" fellows. Newc

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

Thanks for the information Newc, you wouldnt happen to have some images of the wheels in use?

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I have 3 wide 5 split rim wheels that are similar, but different to the ones posted in the pix. The wheels I have, have the split ring on the inside portion of the wheel.
I have a big interest in early 4x4 vehicles. Anytime I see an EFV8 4x4, pickup, car or station wagon I stop and look it over.
I know where there are two '46-48 Ford club coupes in Montana that are Marmon-Harrington 4x4, both vehicles were bought new by the current owners of the vehicles. The wheels on the coupes are the 36-39 wide five which I have read MH continued to use through '48 on their 4x4 conversions.
I would make a WAG that the split rim wheels were made by an aftermarket manufacture and therefore do not show up in the Ford parts books.
The wheels I have came off of a '37 pickup that I bought as a parts truck, ergo 3 wheels, which I parted out for a '37 pickup I was rebuilding in the mid '60's. I have had the wheels for over 55 years.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I had a pair, Homemade, was told it was an outside set of dirt track wheels. Don’t think I still have them, they were not perfect straight, and heavy
How bad do you want to make that outside pass and risk eating the split ring?
Nah, I understand the theory of “ low un-sprung weight

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I saw them and almost bought them without a need. I tried to find truckdog in my phone but didnt have my glasses as usual....,.,.

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I wouldn’t have been able to help, Gary. Except to confirm they are special. The Marmon-Herrington connection here interests me too. Wheels like this now show up for which there is no reference, and conversely I have references for Marmon-Herrington wheels that no one has ever seen. Sometimes the more you know on a subject you learn that there’s a lot you don’t know. Stu

Re: Split rim, wide 5?
 

I have a pic in my collection of early Ford trucks that shows a '37 Ford 4x MH. The article attached to the pic says the truck was special built for an oil company for use in the middle east.

The basis for the truck was a 1.5 ton chassis, shortened to 1 ton with MH suspension and running gear. The bed was from a pickup, tires appear to be General Jumbo's on Ford type wheels/hubcaps.
The truck is really cool looking, looks like a modern 4x, however the pic was taken in '37.
I have attached a few pic's of EFV8 MH 4x's
If you look very closely at the '42 MH 4x pic you can see the 36-37 style of hub cap on the L Front wheel.