18" tyres

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
The 3.7in AA gun was fitted with 11.00-20 tyres (we have 1943 marked ones on the AA emplacement guns), which I would presume was in common with the Matador that hauled it.

Tony,

The Matador is shown in the War Office vehicle data book as having 13.50-20 tyres, replaced by 14.00-20.

Looking at this book, 5th Edition 1945, it shows 10.50-20 tyres and also a new alternative marking 11.00-20 replacing 10.50-20. (same as the Matador tyres above). This now leads me to believe that there is no physical difference and that they can be mixed, hence in my previous post, the army part number is the same for both sizes of tyre.
This has now surprised me, because my Bedford was originally on 10-50 and now 11.00 and the speedo, which is a NOS, is out and I always assumed this to be due to the upping of tyre size, now I think the drive gear may be wrong, will have to check that out!

Richard

[JackM]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

The Matador is shown in the War Office vehicle data book as having 13.50-20 tyres, replaced by 14.00-20.

Richard,

This Matador/Dorchester is in the Merredin Museum (in the wheatbelt of West Australia) and is shod with 1400 x 20 - same tyres used on the Saracen.

From some accounts, it is one of seven used by the AIF in WW2.


Jack

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Someone find a solution for the Ferret tyre problem?

Pic source: HMVF

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Someone find a solution for the Ferret tyre problem?

Hanno,

Dingo actually This owner has found some 7.50-18 tyres, normal size is 7.00-18.

I have fitted some 7.00-18 truck tyres to another Dingo, with good results, apart from visual appearance of course. Tried to get it stuck in Beltring mud last year and it kept going

[gjamo]

Searching the web the other day I ran into this site.
Has anyone dealt with them.
Some interesting sizes in their range.
Graeme
http://www.bkt-tires.com/indus&cons_c9_mp585.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hanno, Dingo actually

Of course
Sorry, it was late and I was tired.

H.

[oily]

14.00 - 20 tyres were not used on Saracens, only 11.00 - 20, and 12.00 - 20...
apart from a very small number 1?, seen fitted with what look like very smooth sand tyres, almost like aircraft tyres

[Lynn Eades]

I scored 8 of 14.00 x 20s. 4 were in Dunlop trackgrip tread which I tried to move on to a Matador owner. He didn't want them because they were too big. They were war dept. marked. I gave them away They have since changed owners again and are now with mv. people again.
The other 4 were bar grip Yokohamas. I suspect the Dunlops had been on the rims since not long after WWII and would be almost impossible to remove from the rims (Coles crane)

This post is a response to comments early in this thread (years old)
Just read back through this thread and I imagine that things have changed a little in the world during the thread's life. With more of us on the net able to communicate around the globe, maybe the numbers can be gathered to do a small run on some of these odd sizes.

[gordon]

I have one brand new 8.25 x 18 tyre here in Scotland. It is commercial truck pattern and I think it was made for the MH-Fords in British service.

I bought this years back but it showed up after I'd sold the truck. I'll dig it out and post a photo. Brand new, properly wrapped / dark stored, never mounted.

( not cheap but will sell to a good home )

[Matt Austin]

Indeed, I wonder what the minimum number needed to do a small run might be?

So, if these tyres are next to impossible to find, what have people done?

Does one park the vehicle up, use other wheel/tyre combos, or use another tyre on the same rim?

It's all a learning process for me, and I appreciate your time.

Cheers,
Matt

[gjamo]

http://www.stausaonline.com/military/ndt.html

oops 8.25-18 claimed to be exstock

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Matt Austin

Indeed, I wonder what the minimum number needed to do a small run might be?

Not too many I believe, possibly as little as 20 units. However the problem is the mould, as they're not kept indefinitely. Odd sizes like 8.25 or 10.50 x 18 may no longer be in existence, and it costs around $30K to make a new mould. Basically a complete new tyre has to be developed, ideally using an old one in good condition as a pattern. You'd have pre-sell quite a few tyres to defray costs, for example 300 tyres at $100 premium. Generally that will be prohibitive, but as Lynn says we have the internet these days, so if we got our act together globally it may well pay in some cases, as the unit cost would be less with a bulk order. One obvious candidate would be original pattern 10.50 x 20 chevrons.

[gordon]

One off, brand new,

GOODYEAR
MADE IN USA
10 PLY
SUPER HI-MILER

Ordinary truck tread, never fitted, dry / dark stored. I found the original invoice and it cost me £150 so will part with it for that, but it is in central Scotland so transport is liable to be a factor.

I've got several images of it and will e-mail them to anyone seriously interested.

Gordon

Gordon@Dodge.Org.UK

[motto]

There was some talk on the G503 forum a while back about Coker Tyres doing a run of 11.00 - 18 tyres. Maybe a few enquiries in Coker's direction would encourage them to speed up the process if they are indeed considering production of this rare size.

David