Wheel rims

[danf19]

Not sure where to put this but …..and This may be a novice question but ….. are the modern repop wheel rims we get nowadays one piece with no weld or wrapped around and welded ?
I see no welds in the original but seeing a weld in the new unpainted ones …. Could be just paint ?
As always,
Thanks

[chuckthebeatertruck]

All rims are rolled, vintage or modern repop.

Prior to 1930; you found riveted or welded joins. After 1930 you rarely find rivets and most commonly find electric welding.

Rim makers used to finish the inside and the outside of their product. Current repos generally only finish the outside well - hence the big noticeable weld.

[JTR249]

Chuck,
I recently bought Kelsey Hayes rims for my 1941 Indian Chief. The seller said they are correct, 18 x 3.25. Then I saw literature for Indian where all the factory tires were 18 x 4.00 or 18 x 4.50.
So my question is, are the tires alone this 4 and 4.50 dimension or do the rims actually match the tires? I know that 18" is diameter but are you supposed to match rim width with tire width?
-JR

[Rubone]

Tire width is the width of the actual tread footprint, rim width is the inside dimension of the tire bead area, and they are not the same. Your rims are correct.