Posted by Henry Jacobs on March 03, 1998 at 12:47:04:
In Reply to: M37 rims posted by Confused on March 03, 1998 at 08:53:59:
Dear Confused,
Those *are* split rims and the purpose of the ring is to form one edge of the wheel and hold the tire in place. The ring engages a slot in the wheel and is removed and installed with pry bars, a hammer, and assorted brutality. Some wheels (the famous "combat wheels") use bolts to hold the ring in place, but most just use the spring pressure of the ring itself. Splits are sometimes called "widow-makers" since they can fly apart suddenly if the ring is not REALLY seated when the tire is inflated. Flying rings have killed and injured many tire men and other luckless souls. Your best bet is to take your rims to a commercial tire shop for fitting. Most retail tire dealers won't even work on splits anymore. There is usually a steel cage that they put the assembled tire and wheel into when they inflate it, just in case. Just don't let them get too excited with the bead hammer, these rims can be bent by careless hammer blows.
Hope this helps.
HLJ