Question Rettroband - are they worth it?

[MapNerd]

Apparently the president’s limo “the beast” has a device very similar to rettrobands...

Tire change: Can Trump dump the Goodyears on his limo?

The president's Cadillac appears to use commercially available tires in a size sold by other brands

www.foxnews.com

 

[grolloff]

So.... when will the rim manufacturers simply redesign the internal features of the rim to accomplish the same reaction?

 

[osuallen]

So.... when will the rim manufacturers simply redesign the internal features of the rim to accomplish the same reaction?

Such a design is not possible as an integral part of the rim. You have to have the valley in order to get the tire on and off of the rim. Of course when you have a blow out, that same valley allows the tire to slip off the rim. The retroband and similar devices fill the valley to help keep the tire from slipping off the rim in case of an event.

 

[redbaron]

Such a design is not possible as an integral part of the rim. You have to have the valley in order to get the tire on and off of the rim. Of course when you have a blow out, that same valley allows the tire to slip off the rim. The retroband and similar devices fill the valley to help keep the tire from slipping off the rim in case of an event.

The only way to accomplish it with the wheel is to have 2 parts that are assembled once the tire is on. That assembly process is common in offroad vehciles (bead lockers for instance), but this assembly would be more drastic that what is done currently. It would have to be 2 wheels 1/2 width of a normal that are assembled. There is very little chance this could be done to the degree of safety that would be marketable or insurable.

This has been done in the past, for a different purpose. Wheels such as the "Widow Maker" where made 50+ years ago.

Using todays methods, a bead locker type assembly with longer bolts to meet the other side of the wheel would be required. The torque checks would have to be so frequent that it would not be considered feasable.

For now, Retrobrand is the best option.

 

[Neal]

That brings up a question...would insurance deny a claim for an event caused by a mod such as retrobands?

 

[redbaron]

That brings up a question...would insurance deny a claim for an event caused by a mod such as retrobands?

NO. Well established with Jeeps and many other vehicles that are heavily modded. Bottom line.. Insurance will cover it, and is required to.

 

[Amigobaja]

As a retired Harley and Rv dealer i can not ever remember (over forty years) one Rv customer complaining about a front tire blowout. You can bet every Harley customer definitely let us know about the highway speed flats.

 

[osuallen]

Redbaron - completely agree. I was not even considering taking a step backward to two piece rims.

 

[SIrvin]

I called and inquired re the economics of purchasing retroband vs new tires @ least once every 7 years. I was told that the retroband is a one time purchase. That it can be transfered from current tires to future tires. One does not have to purchase new retrobands every time they purchase new tires. If this is true, (which I have no reason to disbelief the sales rep), then the economics argument against retrobands is a non-factor and has no legitimacy.

 

[Neal]

Certainly a good thing to know. From what I'm told average time of ownership of a RV is 4.3 years.