What made this hole(s)

[JeffT]

Think about this for a minute or 2.
Many rims on cars going 3X highway speed had many holes drilled into the rim at the tire bead area and screws ran througn those holes and into the tire bead to keep the tire from spinning on the wheel.

I have drilled some myself.
I have ran as fast as 176 MPH with multiple holes in my wheels.
Never had any issues.
Well except for stopping

There was a guy who ran at the drag strip in Ardmore in the late 80’s that had a set of those wheels. We always teased him that the bolt heads were just there for looks to scare his competitors… He always said wanna bet… never saw anyone take him up on the bet, but he was running low 9’s and we were at 10.78 or so in the brackets, on a good day.

 

[Shadowrider]

I'd not be too afraid of tig welding it. I looks like you would have good access. Weld from both sides and like a double headed rivet. I'd prep the metal completely clean first.

 

[dennishoddy]

There are businesses in OKC that repair aluminum rims. Google is your friend.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Shoot it to see if the damage is the same BEFORE you take it to the welder.

 

[swampratt]

I've never heard of that.

They are drag cars with slicks. You can google rim screws.
There are other ways to keep a drag tire from spinning on the rim though.

 

[JEVapa]

They are drag cars with slicks. You can google rim screws.
There are other ways to keep a drag tire from spinning on the rim though.

Yeah for racing...not running around on the freeway and commuting. At the end of all the time and effort jerry rigging a solution, you could have bought a good used replacement for cheap. Time=$$. Unless of course a person is like a buddy I have here...he waits til halftime so he doesn't spend $5 on the game and asks me for my popcorn container when I'm done so he doesn't have to spend a buck.

 

[swampratt]

A few of us ran around on the freeway and streets with them.
8 psi of air in a 30" tall Hoosier tire going to work and back with a full spool and never thought it was unsafe.

 

[Koolhandlinc]

Since the rim is ruined, go test a couple rounds in it and see if they look like similar holes. At least it may help determine if it was a bullet or not.

They can b repaired

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

I'd not be too afraid of tig welding it. I looks like you would have good access. Weld from both sides and like a double headed rivet. I'd prep the metal completely clean first.

If this is the way you decide to go, make sure that the wheel is preheated to around 400° F then allowed to cool in the ambient air after the welding to help alleviate inducing a point of stress at the weld. This is the process that was used when welding cracks in the aluminum cylinder heads on aircraft air cooled engines. (They liked to crack between one of the spark plug holes and either the intake or exhaust port.)

Woody

 

[JeffT]

So finally here is the inside/other side of the rim. This is the side that was covered by the tire.
It has external edges and looks like an exit hole, to me… both side have the external edges.