Wide tires for kodiak

[Kris Schwennsen]

Hi guys,
New here and i have one issue with my build that I'm having some difficulty sourcing. I have a 1955 Ford C-700 big job that I put topkick/kodiak axles under. The front is fie to use the regular steel wheels and standard tires for the axle. The rear however, is setup for duals and I want super singles. The problem is, kodiak wheels are 245/70R19.5 and most super singles are for class 8 trucks (22.5). Any idea where to find wider tires for that rim size? I know nothing about drag tires or if a pickup tire would be out there to do what I'm looking for.

 

[gene49]

Don't know if they make drag racing tires for 19.5 or 22.5 wheels, it would surprise me if they do.

Same deal with the big 4x4 tires, never seen them in .5" sizes, always full inch sizes, but then I've not really kept up on the big wheel tires.

Can you get the 22.5" wheels in your needed bolt pattern? Seems that all you might need to do is raise up the fenders a bit. Would be a lot easier now then it will be when the truck is finished.

 

[Kris Schwennsen]

Don't know if they make drag racing tires for 19.5 or 22.5 wheels, it would surprise me if they do.

Same deal with the big 4x4 tires, never seen them in .5" sizes, always full inch sizes, but then I've not really kept up on the big wheel tires.

Can you get the 22.5" wheels in your needed bolt pattern? Seems that all you might need to do is raise up the fenders a bit. Would be a lot easier now then it will be when the truck is finished.

Yeah, ill have to see if I can get that hole pattern in the 22.5. I wonder if there are SS rims in steel though. I dont want the polished aluminum look. I also thought about banding regular wheels to get the look and size.

 

[gene49]

I suspect the worst part of modifying those big of wheels is going to be finding someone willing to do it. Even though you probably won't ever require the weight a loaded semi trailer might have, someone working on the wheels, would still have to consider the heavy weight as part of the deal. The current liability laws and shop insurance of a shop modifying the wheels will be your biggest challenge.

A shop's liability insurance is a huge expense for the shop, and those insurance companies that cover shop liability like to limit what work a shop can do, in order to limit the insurance company's liability covering the shop. A shop having liability insurance is often a requirement of the State, or even the Fed for the shop to remain open. Even without the State or Fed insurance requirement, it takes a brave man to do this stuff with out liability insurance.

20 years ago, in our little town, there were 3 welding companies. Only one insurance company would cover these 3 smaller shops (mine was one of them). That insurance company told each shop what they could and what they couldn't work on. Each shop was given its own specialty area, and the other two shops couldn't do any work in that related field. One of the other shops was allowed to build and install trailer hitches, I couldn't even install a bolt on aftermarket hitch, The insurance would not cover me in the event of a trailer hitch failure and if a claim was filed in that area, they would cancel my liability insurance instantly. My specialty area was rust repair of frame and suspension mounting, the other two shops couldn't do anything with in the area, or they not be covered and would loose their liability insurance.
It has not gotten any better.

 

[Bonehead]

Several companies make wheel adapters, that go from 8 bolt to ten bolt, maybe find the ones you need to get over to super singles, or maybe the lowboy semi trailer sized tires might work.

 

[Kris Schwennsen]

I suspect the worst part of modifying those big of wheels is going to be finding someone willing to do it. Even though you probably won't ever require the weight a loaded semi trailer might have, someone working on the wheels, would still have to consider the heavy weight as part of the deal. The current liability laws and shop insurance of a shop modifying the wheels will be your biggest challenge.

A shop's liability insurance is a huge expense for the shop, and those insurance companies that cover shop liability like to limit what work a shop can do, in order to limit the insurance company's liability covering the shop. A shop having liability insurance is often a requirement of the State, or even the Fed for the shop to remain open. Even without the State or Fed insurance requirement, it takes a brave man to do this stuff with out liability insurance.

20 years ago, in our little town, there were 3 welding companies. Only one insurance company would cover these 3 smaller shops (mine was one of them). That insurance company told each shop what they could and what they couldn't work on. Each shop was given its own specialty area, and the other two shops couldn't do any work in that related field. One of the other shops was allowed to build and install trailer hitches, I couldn't even install a bolt on aftermarket hitch, The insurance would not cover me in the event of a trailer hitch failure and if a claim was filed in that area, they would cancel my liability insurance instantly. My specialty area was rust repair of frame and suspension mounting, the other two shops couldn't do anything with in the area, or they not be covered and would loose their liability insurance.
It has not gotten any better.

So, i thought about that. I know shops are leary of widening wheels but I've looked into the process and it looks like it's something I may be able to do myself. I'm an engineer and fabricator with a healthy amount of caution. The biggest thing is making sure everything is straight, even and balanced. I have access to the latest fixturing, lathes and robotic welding at work so it wouldn't be hard to get them cut, widened and welded.

Anyone else widen/band wheels?

 

[kenny c]

I have only widened 28 and 38 inch tractor wheels for pulling tractors. I cut those with a plasma cutter and welded in 1/8" steel bands. They spin true. you are better equipped and more qualified than I. Have you thought about making or adapting a set of wheel centers for a set of 22.5 Dayton rims for a set super single rears?

 

[Kris Schwennsen]

Several companies make wheel adapters, that go from 8 bolt to ten bolt, maybe find the ones you need to get over to super singles, or maybe the lowboy semi trailer sized tires might work.

Good call, hopefully the track width wouldn't get too much wider. Unlike most guys, I need to keep this things as narrow as I can to be able to drive it into the shop. These kodiak axles are huge! Hauling them home in the back of my half ton truck had her squatting bad!

I have only widened 28 and 38 inch tractor wheels for pulling tractors. I cut those with a plasma cutter and welded in 1/8" steel bands. They spin true. you are better equipped and more qualified than I. Have you thought about making or adapting a set of wheel centers for a set of 22.5 Dayton rims for a set super single rears?

I've only seen aluminum super singles. I need to see about converting from a 8 bolt to 10 bolt, either an adaptor or cutting out the center and welding in a new center.

 

[MercuryMac]

I also have widened farm tractor 28" rims. They don't need to be balanced or trued up like a high speed wheel does.