I see that wheel dealers specify "trailer wheel" on certain items. I don't get it. Is there something inherently unsafe about a trailer wheel carrying a given load for which it is rated "back there" that is not unsafe on a "car wheel" carrying a rated load "up front?" Or is this simplty a matter of some sort of government (I.E. political) requirement which is probably beside the point? (Joe P. Blow didn't rubber stamp the test results, so they are bad.)

Perhaps more to the point, I've seen trailers carry FAR heavier loads than cars ever do.

Oddly, at least in my state, mobile home wheels are perfectly fine to carry a house down the road, but are illegal on a trailer carrying 3 or 4 lawn mowers - politics rides again.

I believe they are different. Something about being able to disperse heat better caused by the bouncing that trailers do alot of.

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

Trailer rims do not usually have the side loads car/truck rims have to face. Also trailers are not required to meet the same safety codes passenger carrying vehicles do.

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Dave

1977 d-200 crew cab ex-army pickup wants it's /6 back
1962 Valiant 2 door, 170, three on the tree
1972 d-100 parts truck
80 volare wagon now a parts car

It sounds like you believe trailer wheels are weaker than car wheels. Interestingly enough the trailer wheels are heavier metal by far than car wheels. That appears to take care of the side load issue.

Also, take a look at wheel/tire sets at a trailer place. The same wheel is used on loads from around 1200 pounds per wheel to over 4000 pounds per wheel, depending on the tire. I sort of doubt my 1965 Valiant will ever overload a 16,000 pound load limit!

RK

Now that you bring up wheels, I don't know about trailers but a friend of mine with a '50 Ford uses later wheels from the 70's and up on his car so he can use radials. He claims the old wheels are not as strong and will flex when using radials. I don't know if 60's Mopar wheels are up to radial strength but my '74 had them as an option so I guess they are up to it. Just food for thought.

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Grandpa's 1974 Dart Custom 4 door 225 auto, Aluminum Radiator, 1920 Holley.

That subject has been up here before. I posted that radials on my '96 Valiant gave me very sloppy, wallowing handling. That met with something less than resounding agreement. Wheel strength or not, I have discovered that recommended pressures on today's radials are much higher than they used to be and with those higher pressures the Valiant handling became much better.

As for the rest, I put '73 Duster gear under it 2 or 3 years ago.

RK

The design of a rim for a trailer is very strong for axial loads however they are not proportionally as string for side loads. It's not that the rims are weak, they just are not made for cornering loads. Yes they do get some cornering load on a trailer, however nothing like they would on a car. Some time watch a tandom axle trailer going around a corner, the tires will be at an angle to each other some is axle flex but a lot is rim flex. If you used trailer rims of compairable weight you'd run the risk of the rim deforming permanantly. Think about what it would be like driving with the rim bent an inch or two out of line, especially if it happened at 55-75 mph.

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Dave

1977 d-200 crew cab ex-army pickup wants it's /6 back
1962 Valiant 2 door, 170, three on the tree
1972 d-100 parts truck
80 volare wagon now a parts car

i have also been told that trailer rims are not made to be balanced.and as such should not be installed on cars.this was passed on to me by a trailer dealer.who knows???

Aha! All my life I've been looking for wheels that can't be balanced! Eureka!

RK