Saturday, Jul 21, 2018 at 18:38
Why would they try to ban split rims from passenger vehicles when split rims are still used on all rubber-tyred earthmoving equipment - up to the biggest 400-tonne dump trucks??
Large numbers of people get wild-eyed and start mouthing rubbish such as "widow makers!", "tyre-fitter killers!", and "accident looking for a place to happen", when split rims are mentioned.
The simple fact is - there is still a place for split rims, there are still millions of split rims in use - and you would probably be surprised if I told you, you probably drove right alongside a split rim under heavy load, spinning at 100kmh - at least several times today! - and probably even more times, if you've been doing substantial long-distance travel!
I've changed God knows how many split rims over more than 50 years, and never had a problem. I still run multiple numbers of split rims today.
Accidents happen with split rims due to a basic lack of care in assembly, a lack of careful rim and lock ring examination, and a basic lack of training.
You always check split rims for damage, for dents in locking flanges, for cracks, for ill-fitting lock rings, and for serious corrosion.
You never assemble a badly corroded split rim, nor a dirty rim with mud on it.
You ensure the lock ring is a snug fit when you have it assembled, and are applying initial pressure.
You learn to identify rims and their correct lock rings - and you don't "mix-and-match" brands of rim and lock rings (rim manufacturers all have their own slightly different designs).
I'm more scared of a tyre explosion caused by severe carcass bruising and internal damage to the tyre, than I ever am of a split rim that I have assembled, flying apart.
The horror stories of blokes getting killed by exploding split rims, relate back to simple things -
1. The deadly and obsolete RH-5 degree Firestone split rim - which IS a real killer. Fortunately, very few of them are still in existence.
2. Youthful enthusiasm, coupled with a lack of training, experience and knowledge. That's not the fault of the youth killed, that's simple lack of supervision and training.
3. Damaged, corroded and mis-matched rims and lock rings being assembled. Again, lack of training, experience and knowledge.
I do know of at least one 19 yr old
farm boy who was killed by a lock ring coming off, as he inflated the tyre.
Once again, it was case of youthful ignorance coupled with a lack of training and supervision.
Cheers, Ron.
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