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5 ton combat wheel on M54, inserts required???

Mud Hugger

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Barronett,Wi
I have looked, searched, tried to find info on the 5 ton combat wheels. Or at least I believe thats what they are, have not bought them yet. I would like to put singles on my M54 log truck. I am wondering about mounting 395s on a set. Issue Im curious about is do you need inserts? Can you run tubes? Tubes with liner? I dont need to air them down to psi that the bead lock would be needed for my use. Just wondering what’s possible. Thanks guys
 

G744

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I use the pictured wheels on my M54A1.

I also run tubes/flaps on them, using an angle grinder and cutoff wheel to extend the stem hole out to the rim flange.

Nary a problem in many years of use, and they don't go flat by themselves now. I remember seeing lots of 900-series trucks at the Guard base, all leaning this way and that from leaky wheel O-rings. Nope.
 

Mud Hugger

Member
55
3
8
Location
Barronett,Wi
I use the pictured wheels on my M54A1.

I also run tubes/flaps on them, using an angle grinder and cutoff wheel to extend the stem hole out to the rim flange.

Nary a problem in many years of use, and they don't go flat by themselves now. I remember seeing lots of 900-series trucks at the Guard base, all leaning this way and that from leaky wheel O-rings. Nope.
Another reason i was wondering!! Thanks for reply!
 

US6x4

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You don't need the run flat insert, but I'm gonna say you do want the Hutchinson bead lock inserts. I've heard of some folks mounting tires w/o the bead locks but it's more difficult to seat the tire and there's a risk of a tire coming off the bead while driving which could cause a loss of control.
 

Superthermal

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You don't need the run flat insert, but I'm gonna say you do want the Hutchinson bead lock inserts. I've heard of some folks mounting tires w/o the bead locks but it's more difficult to seat the tire and there's a risk of a tire coming off the bead while driving which could cause a loss of control.
I agree on having some kind of bead-lock insert. Knowing the tire cannot come off the rim and deflate is a piece of mind. I have the Hutchinson solid rubber beadlocks/runflats on mine and I can tell you they are tough as nails. Since I am thinking you may be running higher pressure with heavy logging etc... it is still a good piece of mind to know the tire cannot come off the rim.
When mounting the tires with these things the HEMTT wheel contacts with about 1/4" of compression of the run-flat so the tire is absolutely under compression force which keeps the bead from slipping on the wheel as well.
The 16.00R20 tire here ended up weighing 615 lbs. That is from the tire, the HEMTT two piece steel wheel and the run flat. I wanted the run-flats to ensure the tires if they ever fail will get me to where I can at least change it out without being in a hairy place or ??? just makes you have some options.

On the choice of tire sizes, I do like the 16.00R20s but they only leave just an inch of space at most between the tandems at the back. This makes it impossible to run chains. Due to this issue, I am looking into how I can extend my track bars, with some other drive train mods to make it possible to run chains on all 6 tires, as chains are an incredible benefit to getting a rig like this that is 100% reliant on traction and not momentum to get places. With being out logging your going to want to run chains no doubt.

On Valve steams I chose to use the HEMTT dual sided valve steams that allow you to fill from either side of the wheel. This is a bigger deal when you have some wheels dish side out and others dish side in. I couldn't stand the one sided steams my original tires came with and so this was a no brainier for me.

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Mud Hugger

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Location
Barronett,Wi
Thanks all for your $ .02. I like to hear everyones thoughts and experiences. I believe I have enough information for what I was needing. With having 30yrs of experience mounting and dismounting tires of all shapes and sizes from earth scrapers, off-road quarry trucks to Pay loaders, ag tractors, wheel barrows and lawn mowers, and commercial heavy trucks, including 60yr old split wheels on shit spreaders. This is the first with using this style 2 piece wheel. Knowing with all the other tires and wheels Ive worked with do in fact only come off the rim when deflated, when air PSI is too low to hold the beads out to rim lip. With having 25ys driving experience in Commercial trucks, with 22.5 tires having a taper rim where air psi inside tire is ONLY thing holding the sidewalls outward force to hold the beads on the tapered rim lip. Driving 70-80mph down freeways it is IMPOSSIBLE for a tire to come off a bead even with having even less 50% of required air PSI to have the load rating they are designed for and they have no insert or bead lock insert. While looking at these 2 piece wheels having what looks like a 2” rim lip shoulder all the way around. There is no way on this earth the tire fly off the rim when driving. I would like to see someone even try to dismount one if these tires on a two piece rim without taking the rim apart. There is no bead groove to allow the opposite side bead to fall into to allow one to get tire bead over the rim lip. Ive laughed so hard at guys trying to remove commercial 22.5s off the wrong side of wheel…. Monkey hump a football sight! 😂😂😂
Anyhow, no argument intention here with this reply, only speaking my opinion on it.
thanks people! God Bless and God help this country!!
 

gringeltaube

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............There is no way on this earth the tire fly off the rim when driving.
Yes and no..... WITHOUT a beadlock - in the event of a front tire blowout at 70mph, the tire beads will come off the wheel shoulders and the remaining rubber loosely wrap and twist around the wheel until it gets stuck in between wheel and steering components, eventually causing a complete lock-up, long before you could even stop!
Try to "keep your lane" if that happens....!
 

Mud Hugger

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Location
Barronett,Wi
What you say goes for any automobile, no argument there!! .A Car, truck, semi, motorcycle, 2.5 ton 5 ton 10 ton etc. makes no difference . The fact is a bead lock insert or insert of any kind is not required in the wheels to hold air and carry the load they are designed to carry.
 

gringeltaube

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The fact is a bead lock insert or insert of any kind is not required in the wheels to hold air and carry the load they are designed to carry.
I fully agree on that... But my point was about safety.
In your case - with bolt-together wheels - you can take advantage of it and easily add a beadlock for just $25 and greatly improve safety. Or not......
 

Superthermal

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Utah, Murray, United States
Thanks all for your $ .02. I like to hear everyones thoughts and experiences. I believe I have enough information for what I was needing. With having 30yrs of experience mounting and dismounting tires of all shapes and sizes from earth scrapers, off-road quarry trucks to Pay loaders, ag tractors, wheel barrows and lawn mowers, and commercial heavy trucks, including 60yr old split wheels on shit spreaders. This is the first with using this style 2 piece wheel. Knowing with all the other tires and wheels Ive worked with do in fact only come off the rim when deflated, when air PSI is too low to hold the beads out to rim lip. With having 25ys driving experience in Commercial trucks, with 22.5 tires having a taper rim where air psi inside tire is ONLY thing holding the sidewalls outward force to hold the beads on the tapered rim lip. Driving 70-80mph down freeways it is IMPOSSIBLE for a tire to come off a bead even with having even less 50% of required air PSI to have the load rating they are designed for and they have no insert or bead lock insert. While looking at these 2 piece wheels having what looks like a 2” rim lip shoulder all the way around. There is no way on this earth the tire fly off the rim when driving. I would like to see someone even try to dismount one if these tires on a two piece rim without taking the rim apart. There is no bead groove to allow the opposite side bead to fall into to allow one to get tire bead over the rim lip. Ive laughed so hard at guys trying to remove commercial 22.5s off the wrong side of wheel…. Monkey hump a football sight! 😂😂😂
Anyhow, no argument intention here with this reply, only speaking my opinion on it.
thanks people! God Bless and God help this country!!
You have some great points in that. Just saying with the ones I used the bead-lock is an addition to the insert being a run flat. If the tires are not rotted dry they expect you can drive a bit over 100 miles on the tire before it needs to be changed. Inside my tires is a nice slather of water based goop that is almost like a nice grease that keeps the tire and the run flat slipping over one another to minimize wear when "in use". Will be interesting the day I find out how well they work! LOL o_O
 
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