Valve stems

Okay guys, here's one I've never seen. I just picked up what's left of a damaged super cub. This cub has 26" Gooyear blimp tires on Cleveland wheels. Somebody drilled holes through the sidewalls about 1 1/2" from the rim and stuck the valve stems out. The wheels have a stem hole. Has anybody seen this one before? I can't imagine a mechanic would do this. Anybody want some 26 inchers with holes?

I would guess it was done to keep the stems from tearing off when the tire slipped on the rim during breaking.

Legal??? I doubt it.