Help with 7.00X17 tires, Budd wheels, '39 3/4 ton followed me home

[jim galli]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

The 131" and 157" were 1 1/2 or 2 tons, depending on version. Only a '39-'41 tonner with hydraulic brakes would interchange. In '42 the got wider by 2 1/2". I'm always on the hunt for 7.50 x 17s and I use those rims too. I'm not sure if backing plates interchange. As for changing tires, I did one last night. You gotta make sure you can get the tire's bead down a bit below the ring. Then you see the 2 oval cutaways and a notch in the ring. It's about 3/4" wide x 1/4" . It takes the tip of a thin but very strong bar. I use some light oil and get the ring rotating easy, press downwards on it and get the prybar into the notch. Using hammer,pound the ring opposite the notch twds the center of wheel while keeping pressure on the pry bar. It looks impossible and IS difficult, but I have never lost to one. Around here they are often really rusty in there and many get rejected. Remember get the tire as low as possible. I use the forks on my skidsteer, but last nights was made much more difficult because someone used a flap that was thick and too wide. Did I mention I cut the tire off the rim with a sawzall so I could finally get it off? I was repaid by a really clean rim and ring. Hope this helps. Oh, and one side is left hand thread on the lugnuts! Look for the 'L' in the stud and little notches on the corners of the lugnuts.....

Afternoon of discovery and so far, a fail. I cut the old tire off so all I have is the 2 beads left. Flap and tube are gone. Tire sans 2 beads is gone. Shoved the top bead from the old tire down so I've got lots of room to 'see' at the ring area. The ring has 2 half moon areas where I can see that it would slide on. But there are no notches to get a pry bar under to try to get it flipped over the bead so you can start to work it around. The pry bars just slip off. Can't get under the ring to get a good bite. Need a codger that's done a thousand of these in the 1940's and 50's to show me how it's done I guess.

Saw the writing on the wall and bit the bullet and ordered new tires. Tornel traction 10 ply's. All 4. Ranch truck, it's supposed to look gnarly. Didn't like the looks of the hi-way tread.

Spending money, always the easy part. Need to figure out how to wrestle them apart and back together.