Can you post some pics, Bob? I am a little confused by your description. I have three different types of run-flat/bead-locks and bead-locks in my garage. A couple of them were used in the 1-piece H1 rims and the other was used in the 12-bolt.
I am thinking about using some PVC bead-lock inserts in my 24-bolt rims since I don't want/need the run-flat. These are a good example:
Hummer Wheel PVC Insert
Good post!
As the owner of Trail Worthy Fab, this is a subject I might know a little about. PVC is a great way to go if you want to air down and do not need the tall profile that is used at war to drive out of combat. There are all kinds of rubber runflats as far as width because of the bead thickness of the tires they have offered over the years. Example:
(IN STOCK FORM)
The 8 bolt wheels came with Mag runflats that were bolt together and had a 36" bias ply tire on them.
This does not add up to the fact that a 37" radial can not be ran with them. The only reason that they could not be is if you have the "insert" be it pvc or mag or a rubber runflat that is not made for the tire you are running. We deal with 99% of H1 wheels only in our business and know what width inserts are needed for which tires, from stock military tires to pitbull or swapers.
The stock 12 bolt came with an either 1 or 2 pc. rubber runflat and a radial 37" tire. A mag runflat as a rule will not work with an MT 37" tire without impacting the snot out of it as it is wider and was designed for the bias ply tire that had a thinner bead.
pic of a 2 pc. rubber runflat.
Then the release of the 24 bolt wheel. These again had rubber runflats and the tires have been either BFG baha TA's or MTR's and they have tired a few other tires along the way as well.
FYI what they are shipping is unsafe. Radial tires should not be installed on 8-bolt wheels. They are not strong enough to run the tire pressures that you should run radials at. That's why the 12 and 24 bolt wheels were developed.
Max TP on the 8-bolt wheels with bias ply tires is 20psi. Max TP on the 12-bolt wheels with radials is 50psi. I run radials at 40-45psi for on road use.
Augi
What you are talking about is tire pressure. A 36" bias ply tire would need to be ran at a different pressure than a 37" Radial. It is true that a 12 bolt and 24 bolt wheel have a higer weight but how many people are going to use them on a rig that is over 13,000#'s? And when you change the center then that number goes up even higher as our centers are much stronger than a stock center and thicker too.
What most people think is "you can't run that tire on that H1 wheel". Sorry.... But they are wrong. What needs to change is the insert and the width of the insert so that it works for the bead thickness of the tire you land on.
There are a lot of things to take into effect when dealing with H1 wheels. If they are recentred they are stronger than in stock form as our centers are thicker and stronger than the stock centers that are cut out. I will be more than happy to show pictures or answer any questions on this subject.
Take care,
Todd
PS. How many posts until my pictures show up? I feel I might be able to offer some good tech but if the pictures have to be clicked on it doesn't work as good.