Tire Question

I have the original Military style tires on my Diggerjeep. They are 40+ years old. I can replace them with the same type or go with a more conventional snow tire tread.

I have an odd combination with the 650-16 tires in the front and the dual wheel 700-16 split rims in the back. The gear ratios are diffebrent in the front and back as well, to make up for the difference in tire size. I never use 4wd on any solid surface road so I avoid bind-up.

Since 6 new tires will set me back 800 bucks or more, I've been holding off.

Is there a reason I should not go with the same style tire as is on it now?
:?

 

You'll probably get many different answers. It's probably personal preference mostly but let me ask you this:

Do you like the way the current tires work on the terrain you drive on?

Did they wear like you like them to?

Is there something you need from a tire that these don't provide?

Your current tires are bias ply I imagine so changing to a radial would probably give you a better ride. They may run cooler and last longer too mileage wise. It really all boils down to personal preference but I would be suprised to think you couldn't do better than 800 for 6 new tires, especially some modern rubber.

 

Good info above. One thing I'd like to add though. If you consider radial tires on the rear, make sure you have room between the duals for the larger "sidewall bulge" that a radial tire will have. Not good to have the sidewalls rubbing against each other.

 

IMO the military NDT tires aren't nuch good for anything other than a restored military vehicle. Tire tread design has come a long way since 1941.

 

if you do end up going with the military tires (which i mite add i do like allthough i dont have them) i saw some on ebay about a month back going for 100 bucks a piece and i believe these were new rubber.

 

I can get the military tires either locally or ebay or a online for about $100/tire,

Tubes are around $15.00

Locally, I pay 7% tax

Online, I pay shipping and tax.

And that doesn't include mounting the tires.

It gets to $800 quickly.

6 tires (duals in the back)

And that is still with no spare ;-)

 

The tire question has gotten me in trouble here before.

But my experience and belief is that the military tires only work well off road when deflated almost completely - then the tread shoulder knuckles dig in.

Otherwise the center rib just spins on anything hard and slippery. I suspect that design was meant to provide highway cruising capability when fully pumped up. Dual purpose...

I really preferred a full snow traction tire - in a cross ply, to keep the full sidewall height, but they are hard to find now.

 

x2 what they are going to be used for IMO there is no all terrain tire.