CMP Tire sizes?

[Bob Carriere]

Bonjour Pedro

Yes the rims are still legal....... handle them with respect and they will outlive you.

Standard size tires should be 900x16 and should have tractor thread bars that are mounted in direction of travel..... known as "Directional threads".

The only copies currently available are sold by Wallace Wade of Texas and come only in 10:50x16.... they will fit...look awful good and a bunch of us have been using them.....current price is $242 US plus custom plus shipping.

A good alternative is the standard US bar thread still manufactured by repro companies....usually 8 plys 900x16 and can be imported from the US at about $200 each. You will need new flaps and new tubes as well.

If you current tires still hold air and you can roll the truck around while working on it.....don't rush to buy new tires..... do you dirty work with the old tires...... oil..grease...paint will get on them and it might as well be the old ones that are getting dirtied.

Besides....... I would strongly suggest you will need to remove the wheels off the truck....... deflate the tire..... and undo the 8 big nuts that holds the rims together. You may decide that spending hours breaking your back is not worth the money and take your rims to a rural tractor shop and have them remove the tires from the rim. From my experience you will have 40 to 60 years of rust welding the bead of the tire onto the rim and only a professional with hydraulic tools can do it fast and safe. Then take the rims home.... you will need to scrap the inside or even use a air powered needle gun to remove the dried up rubber beads stuck to the rim........ and consider sandblasing them all around before painting them...... a good high gloss oil based paint ( at least two coats) on the inside will greatly assist installing new tires.

Look for deep rust pits on the inside of the rims....... suspend the rim halves from a rope and hit them with a hammer..... if they ring like a bell they are not cracked. Make sure all your nuts and studs are good and clean up the threads.

Now you are ready to install the new tires.

Don't rush....do it once do it well.

You might want to do a search on MLU for tire related previous discussion.

You are on the right track by asking questions.

Boob

[jeff davis]

I took mine to a fork lift tire service and he was able to press the tires off.
I recently bought tires from Collectors auto suppy in peachland B.C and he carries the repro tires in canadian funds.
Split rims are not illegal but usualy only Truck Tire companies will remove them.
The CMPs have a 2 piece bolt together rim .not a true REMOVE the top of your Head Split.
Jeff

[motto (RIP)]

Somebody better give you a heads up on the difference in diameter between British and American 16" wheels Pedro. One country must have been using a rule with a fault in it because tyres made for the British (This includes CMP) wheels are quite sloppy on American wheels and American 16" tyres ( Or should that be tires) are extremely tight on British wartime 16" wheels.
Just make sure of what you are getting. There is an Indian company that makes ND tyres in the correct size for Blitz. I can't vouch for anyone else. The Indian company is MRF.
David

[cletrac (RIP)]

The issues with split rims just apply to the ones with the rings that hold them together. They can be extremely dangerous to work with if you don't have the inflating cage to put them in. If you're inflating one out in the open and the ring isn't installed properly it can literally take your head off. The CMP rims bolt together so they can't let go like that. Just make sure you deflate it before removing the bolts!

[Bob Carriere]

The difference/difficulties that we have experienced using US tires on British CMP rims has been VERY positive. Some have resorted to actually grinding the tire bead almost to the steel cable others like myself....with proper tire lubricants have installed new tight tires very easily by hand. Granted they do not fall in place by themselves but they can be worked quite easily.

Removing old hard dry rust to the rim tires after 65 years is better left to the tire shop although some of us have beaten them into submission by hand.... to me it is not worth the effort.

......quite a bit has been written on past MLU postings and I have designed my own home built tool for installing them the lazy way.

Boob

[motto (RIP)]

I hear what you're saying Bob and all this is known to the old hands but Pedro is a new chum and may have wondered what the hell he'd struck when tyre fitting time comes around.
Tyres for the British wheels are available, at least they are in Australia and I would consider them to be the better option. I just thought the fellow should be fully informed so as he can decide which way to go.
David

[Drew Sydorko]

Bob,

Well, almost a year has past and I have done some simple small fixes to my 42 CMP to try to get it on the road. Alas, 2 young girls at home makes it somewhat more difficult to devote time but I'm determined to get this truck road worthy this summer and bring it by Albert's place. I'm thinking about replacing the tires. It's got civilian style farm tires on it now. I've read all the posts and I'm looking for the simplest answer. Will 10.50x16 fit? Where is the best place to get them and what is it going to cost? Any precautions in removing the lug nuts? ie. breaking the studs off and reverse thread? The current tires hold air. Leave them be until other more important work is complete or dive in. Your thoughts are appreciated.

[BCA]

I have new set of four SA 10:50x16 chevron tires. I bought them and do not have the project anymore. They are near Milton Ontario. At my cost. (I paid the tax and the shipping so this is your saving). This is the only practical substitute for 16" CMP tires. I'll PM you with details.... Brian