MTFCA Forum

Are flaps needed on steel wheels or is the 1.5" rubber strip enough?

Well the flap issue ranks right up there with water pumps, oil and electronic ignitions. Lemme just say this, I've never used flaps, and never will. Never had a problem so long as the rim is in decent shape. On both demountables and non demountables. Go with what your gut feels is all I can say. There's another former forum poster who never ever used them either, btw, I just use Gorilla tape inside the rim as a sort of a liner. Never any problem. Knock wood of course!!

If you are asking about the Ford wire wheels, then all is needed is the rim liner. If you are asking about clincher or split rims, I use tire flaps in both. The flaps are esp needed in the split rim (21" wood wheel rim). For the clincher it helps keep the tube in the tire when installing on the rim. Most new 30" tires do not meet at the center like the old tires, so leaves a gap the tube can slip into.

I have 1927 wire wheels.

Then all you need are the rim liners. Where the spooks are welded to the rim leaves an area that can chafe the tube.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/RB1.aspx

Rim strip on Ford wire wheel, strip fits into the drop center well.


Also, never put flaps into drop center wire wheels, the flap will only partially conform to the well, and will make it very difficult if not all most impossible to remove the tire. The well being filled with thick flap won't let the tire beads compress and the tire is just plain stuck! Once had to remove a tire someone put a flap on with a drop center rim, uggh!

Thank each of you, that's the info I needed!!