How to Allow Installation of Trailer Wheel Beauty Rings to Prevent Contact with Valve Stem

Updated 07/31/2018 | Published 07/29/2018

Question:

I ordered a AM20304 because it was the closest wheel I could find to the original wheel I needed. It is a great wheel the only problem I have encountered is the beauty rings will not fit this wheel due to the valve stem placement. If the valve stem hole was moved in another 1/8 of an inch most original beauty rings would fit. On the left in the picture is an original 1967 wheel on the right is one of yours the beauty ring hits the valve stem.

asked by: Aaron

Expert Reply:

Thank you for the photo showing the fit of your trailer's wheel beauty rings on the original and new conventional steel wheels. I do see that the valve stem on the wheel # AM20304 contacts the ring.

This might be a case of the new wheel using a valve stem with a higher pressure rating, which could mean its diameter is larger and that could be why it is making contact with the trim ring. It could also be a case of the 50-year-newer wheel simply having a slightly different profile that causes contact between the two parts.

The best remedy for this is to notch out the trim rings to create a larger space for that valve stem. If the rings are a snap-in friction fit then it should be possible to make this minor modification and to install them in the correct position to prevent contact with the valve stem.

expert reply by: Adam R