Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
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Topic author - Posts: 892
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- First Name: Bruce
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Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
Are flaps needed on steel wheels or is the 1.5" rubber strip enough?
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Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
Well the flap issue ranks right up there with water pumps, oil and electronic ignitions. Lemme just say this, I've never used flaps, and never will. Never had a problem so long as the rim is in decent shape. On both demountables and non demountables. Go with what your gut feels is all I can say. There's another former forum poster who never ever used them either, btw, I just use Gorilla tape inside the rim as a sort of a liner. Never any problem. Knock wood of course!! 

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Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
If you are asking about the Ford wire wheels, then all is needed is the rim liner. If you are asking about clincher or split rims, I use tire flaps in both. The flaps are esp needed in the split rim (21" wood wheel rim). For the clincher it helps keep the tube in the tire when installing on the rim. Most new 30" tires do not meet at the center like the old tires, so leaves a gap the tube can slip into.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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Topic author - Posts: 892
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Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
I have 1927 wire wheels.
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Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
Then all you need are the rim liners. Where the spooks are welded to the rim leaves an area that can chafe the tube.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/RB1.aspx
https://www.modeltford.com/item/RB1.aspx
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
Rim strip on Ford wire wheel, strip fits into the drop center well.
Also, never put flaps into drop center wire wheels, the flap will only partially conform to the well, and will make it very difficult if not all most impossible to remove the tire. The well being filled with thick flap won't let the tire beads compress and the tire is just plain stuck! Once had to remove a tire someone put a flap on with a drop center rim, uggh!
Also, never put flaps into drop center wire wheels, the flap will only partially conform to the well, and will make it very difficult if not all most impossible to remove the tire. The well being filled with thick flap won't let the tire beads compress and the tire is just plain stuck! Once had to remove a tire someone put a flap on with a drop center rim, uggh!

The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
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Topic author - Posts: 892
- Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 9:28 pm
- First Name: Bruce
- Last Name: Brakke
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- Location: Ames, Iowa
Re: Tires--What is needed on steel wheels?
Thank each of you, that's the info I needed!!