One possible avenue is 9.50x13 aircraft tires. There's no tread but they're about 12 ply tires. I have a line on some used ones that I'm going to try on my C8. The lack of tread won't be an issue at the speeds involved.

Tony, thanks for the reference to previous messages regarding the 9.00 x 13 tires. I did look up both Alliance and MRF and found one tread design for Alliance with what I think are 8, 10, and 12 ply ratings. MRF had two tread designs, Sandmaster and Sandgrip, both of which were 6ply. The chart for the Alliance tire had a multitude of technical data. If someone with more knowledge of thtire specs could look at them I'd appreciate it. By the way, I liked the appearance of the MRF Sandgrip tires; has an aggressive tread. Any thoughts?

Jim,

Look at the thread below 900X16 tyres.

MRF catalog shows 900X13, they are road rated, not implement specific, readily available and a good price. From Agtyre in Moree Australia and from the MRF distributor in most countries.

They may not have them in stock but will just add to the next shipment order.

Lang

Mrf
 

Jim

MRF = Madras Rubber Factory ..... in India .

They manufacture all sorts of stuff, including cricket bats .

Sachin Tendulkar the pint sized Indian superstar batsman , always uses a MRF bat . Apparently they wanted a high profile sportsman to promote MRF, they got into making cricket bats just to get him .

Mike

Caution about using aircraft tires
 

In general aircraft tires are designed for a short run at the speed appropriate to the airplane they fit, followed by a significant cooling period.
In other words, they may be rated to carry a much heavier load than a 8cwt at higher speeds than any CMP can hope to achieve and still fail from heat stress after a short/slow drive (by vehicle standards).

Lang:
I continued my web searching and found a dealer in Sparks, Nevada (a neighboring state of Arizona's), Tires International, who handles the MRF line of tyres. I called them and was advised that they did not have the Sandgrip tyre in stock (surprise, surprise) and were not sure if it was still being manufactured. They did agree to contact MRF on this question as well as cost. They advised me that if they were still available it would take 3 months to get the tyres delivered to me. (By the way, Tires International has a location in Stow, Ohio for those who live in the eastern part of the North American continent.)

I also found a dealer in Surrey, B.C., Canada, MDF Tire Canada Inc. that handles the MRF line. However, they do not handle the military tires and did not express any desire to do so.

Regards,
Jim

Try Coker Tire. They have a selection of military tires. http://store.coker.com/cat/vintage-millitary-tires/

Clive:
I checked out Coker and they do not have any 9.00 x 13. Thanks, though, for the suggestion. I've also put in a call to Wallace W. Wade in Texas to see if he has anything.

Regards,
Jim

Australian Members:
Would someone contact an Australian distributor of the MRF 9.00 x 13, Sandgrip tyres and find out what the cost each to an Australian would be? It'll help me in establishing my restoration budget. I'm kind of compulsive about numbers/costs being the US version of your Chartered Accountant.

Regards,
Jim

To All:
I received a call back from Wallace Wade in Texas. Although he does not have any of the 9.00 x 13 tyres in stock, he advised that he does own the molds for them having purchased them from a company located near Toronto, ON, Canada some years back. He needs orders totalling 100 tyres before he will make a production run. He estimated the cost of the tyres would be in the $100-$150 USD range. He can be contacted at 1-214-688-0091. I've dealt with him before and his products are good ones.

Regards,
Jim

I would be in for 5. Are these the military tread or a commercial tread, not that it would matter.

One would wonder whether the mold might be the same one as used to manufacture them in WW2. Considering the mould is out of Toronto, it may just be the original Firestone one...

So much has been discussed on this topic it sounds like all the 8cwt guys should get together and order a batch, just like the guys did on the 10.50-16s.

Also good for Bofors guys too.

Just cal;led Agtyre in Moree, New South Wales. They have 900X13 Sandgrip tyres (39 in stock) at $AU189.46 each.

Lang

Chris:
I called Wallace back after getting Rob Love's message but was interrupted and didn't get a chance to finished the conversation. I'll call him back tomorrow and find out what kind of a tread the mold produces as well as whether it's the original Firestone one. Will post what I find out.

As for we 8cwt people getting together, I'm all for it. So far there are two of us for a total of ten tires. Any more of you out there who'd be interested? Wallace said he has no problem shipping out of country.

Regards,
Jim

Lang:
Thanks for the information on the cost. Have made note of it!

Regards,
Jim

hello
just looking at the mrf tyre range
It appears the tread pattern of the roadtrac tyre looks more like the sand tyres used in africa rather than the sandgrip
I could not find if they are available in 9x13 though
I will be also interested in a set shortly
first picture is sandgrip 2nd roadtrac

Andrew:
The Roadtrac does look very similar to the sand tyres used in Africa. However, it appears that although they are included in MRF's trye range, they are not included in MRF's export line as they did not show up when doing a search.

Regards,
Jim

Chris:
Just spoke with Wallace Wade and he advised that the mold is not a Firestone one. The mold is located at a tyre plant in Pennsylvania and, although Wallace owns the mold, he has this plant make his tyres. He has a call into this plant and should have the details of the ply, tread design and original maker by the middle of next week. He did say that the mold was the one used to manufacture tyres for the Canadian Army. He thought that it might be a "United" but was not sure. Will fill you in when I get more information from Wallace.

Regards,
Jim

Tires
 

It would be nice if the molds were for a Canadian brand of tire such as Dominion Royal. If I recall Dominion Royal had a plant in Kitchener Ont.

About a year ago, a British specialist tyre dealer, Vintage Tyre Supplies (I think), were canvassing owners of military vehicles for interest in getting a batch of 9.00-13 made. My guess is that they did not reach a minimum production figure, because nothing more was heard. Sounds like they should get in touch with Wallace Wade and pool their orders with him.

Five for me!
 

I would want to see the tread pattern before committing, however, I'm good for five for the C8 (the Alliance tyres on it would then go on the Bofors).

Dave Moore has an F8 and may be interested.

Brad Mills is restoring a Bofors and may also be interested.

Cheers! Mike

Ad on Milweb:

900x13 tyres
 

Just rang Graham up and he has 2 old ones left

Update on 9.00 x 13 Tire search
 

I found a distributor of MRF Tyres in Sparks, Nevada but they will not sell me the 9.00 x 13 tire as they are not Department of Transportation-approved.

As for a production run with the original mold owned by Specialty Tire, I could only come up with orders for 28, far below the 100 tire run they require.

Anybody out there with any suggestions?

I'd be in the market for five of them if the cost is reasonable.

Update on search for 9.00 x 13 Tires
 

I've been in contact with a wholesale tyre company in Australia and they will ship five each tyres and tubes to the US for $1,600. This price includes $600 for surface shipping. $320 each for each set of tyre and tube. Any takers or comments? (Other than ouch!)

Jim,

If they can find someone to buy at that price, I am going into the tyre export game. They obviously don't want the business.

You can see in my message above what the Australian price is from the importers - well under $200 per tyre/tube/rustband unit.

Lang

Lang:
The tyre cost is $171 each with the tube at $29 each. There were no rustbands available for this size tyre. The surface shipping is the killer at $600 total for the five sets or $120 per tyre.......

Jim

Did Wallace ever get back to you with the style of tread on the molds he owns?

Shame we could only get to the 28 mark. Maybe some better form of advertising the possibility of these tires has to take place. For instance, the possibility could be listed in each of the Canadian clubs newsletters. That might scrounge up most of the balance needed.