Help I.D. wheels (rims), please

[Eddie Petty]

...helping a widowed lady and her daughter clear some clutter from out buildings, found a pair of rims/tires I'd like to find out what they fit, if possible.

The daughter said that they had been in the same spot for at least forty years !!

The Gum Dipped Firestones are 5” x 30‘s mounted on the older truck-type rims for dual wheels. The ‘locking ring’ is NOT split so I would imagine the tire would have to be completely collapsed to allow the locking ring to escape the rim at an angle. The rim’s bands are riveted to the centers. The five lug pattern is on an 8” BCD with the bores measuring 1-1/4” and chamfered on both sides for either single or dual wheel application. The apparent original color is red (International perhaps?). They are heavy as homemade sin !!

Anybody got a clue what they fit and perhaps a year range??

Ed in ‘ol Virginny

 

[truckdog62563]

First off, you've given a good description which helps a lot. Thanks.

Sounds like you've got Budd wheels from 1934 or later. Ford switched to the 5 lug x 8" bolt circle in 1934, and IIRC Dodge Bros did the same a year or so later. I can't say what other companies did. But I can say that I don't find any catalog references to the 8" bolt circle before 1934. The earlier Ford AAs and Dodges used a 5 lug x 6 7/8" pattern.

You might look to see if you can find Budd part numbers on the wheels themselves. Budd stamped their numbers into the metal on the rear rim lip (concave side). Generally opposite the valve stem. If you can find numbers I might be able to look them up and give you more detail. You won't find any useful numbers on the ring, only on the rear rim lip.

That solid locking ring is probably a Firestone "RH" style that was real common even up through the late 1940s. You are correct that the tire must be deflated, bead freed, and the ring squeezed past the rim at the two indented areas on either side of the ring. They're a p.i.t.a.

The 30" x 5" tire is an older variety from the era when the standard of measurement was the outside diameter of the tire. By 1934 the industry was changing over to sizing tires based on the rim diameter. So you've got a couple of 20" wheels. The width is probably 3.5" or a little more. Stu

 

[EddiePetty]

Thanks Stu for the leads. Bet ya" boots I"ll be lookin" for a Budd number later this morning.

Any idea who might be interested in these things??

Ed in "ol Virginny

 

[truckdog62563]

You might post an ad in the classified sections at the Antique Automobile Club of America's (AACA) web site and at the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) web site. Below are links to both. Stu
AACA, ATHS

 

[truckdog62563]

That second ATHS link didn't work it appears. Try again. Stu
ATHS