Multi-Piece Wheel Explosions

[REVHARD05]

im confused about what they are talking about are they talking about steelies or 3000 dollar bbs's

Multi-Piece Wheel Explosions

Multi-piece wheels (rims), often referred to as "widow-makers", have caused countless serious injuries and deaths to tire mounters since their introduction. There are various multi-piece wheel configurations, all of which are potentially dangerous. In almost all applications the multi-piece wheel can and should be replaced by a single-piece configuration wheel which has been available since the mid 1960s and which eliminates this hazard. OSHA has addressed the problem with guidelines that can somewhat reduce the hazard. However, one can still be injured or killed even if the OSHA guidelines are followed. For example, OSHA guidelines provide that multi-piece wheels should be inflated in safety cages. Tragically, accidents often occur after the tire and wheel are removed from the safety cage for mounting on the vehicle.

http://www.texasinjuryattorney.com/law_practice/vehicle_accident_lawyer/defective_tires.html

[euroshark]

It has to do with the tire seating into the beads of the wheels. Some multipiece wheels will basically fail and the tire will explode, either creating dangerous shrapnel or flinging the entire wheel and tire assembly at the person who is inflating it.

I've never a wheel or tire fail while it was being mounted to the car, but I have had a half dozen or so tires explode off of the wheel while they were being seated. Only one of those was on a multi piece wheel strangely... It's a dangerous job, you definitely don't want to have your hands anywhere near a tire while you are inflating it and seating the beads.

[E30RedtopSR]

They are referring to old school split rims. Used to find them on older trucks. They still use the design on heavy equipment (forklifts and bigger)
After doing a few I got used to them. Only had one let go in the cage. Pretty violent. was my fault tho, I didnt clean all the rust off the rim and the lock ring popped (read:exploded) off the rim.

You wont find them on any passenger cars or light duty trucks really these days. rare now.