Posted by Joe Lorenzino on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 at 0:56AM :
In Reply to: run flat w/tubes ? posted by Don in Missouri on Monday, March 24, 2003 at 2:05PM :
The tires I have came with special tubes that are at least twice as thick as normal, and have an extended valve stem to go through the rubber bead locks. I wanted to use the tubes with the tires on the PW, but the special stems would not fit. Yes, a lot of the WWII vehicles had steel bead lock rings as rubber was more precious than steel. I also believe there was a type for tubeless tires that had a solid rubber "Spine" around the middle of the lock ring. The outer edge of this was maybe 2 or 3 inches smaller than the outer diameter of the tire. If the tire went flat, the weight of the vehicle rode on this rubber spine, through the face of the tire. The "spine" type locks could be used with regular tires to give them Run Flat ability, but were intended for very short term use only. The RF tires on my winch truck have sidewalls that are almost 2" thick (the guys at the tire shop were NOT amused) and are able to support the loaded weight of the vehicle without air. Each RF tire and PW wheel assembly is heavy enough that it took 2 of us to load them into the back of a pickup for the ride home (heavier than any semi tire/rim I've ever had to move). Joe L.