standard tire sizes and tread patterns

[bud44750]

Does anyone know what type of tires should be used on an M16 A2...8.25x 20 or 9x 20 or does it even matter  ?
I have one of each and need to look for a mate
bud

[HenryVIII]

They are suppose to be 8.25x20. I currently have 9.00x20 on mine now and it will cause problems if I use 4wd. I believe the correct tread pattern is ndc. Non directional tread with the sharp corners. I think they are 10 or 12 ply. 9.00x20 are only 6 ply. Early halftracks used a tire that looked like a rear tractor tire. chevron pattern. in 8.25x20 but I don't think you will be able to find those anywhere. At least I have not seen any.
Henry

[bud44750]

Thanks HenryVIII
          I just stumbled on a great site for military tires.     http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/Tires/tires.html     they seem to indicate the 8.25 is used on the M2 and M 3 but the M5 and M9 halftrack used 9 x 20. in reading about tire sizes it seems the 8.25 and 9 are cross sectional measurement so would they affect the diameter to adversely 4 wheel drive  / tire sizes seem very confusing
bud

[bud44750]

I researched a bit more and found this, so you were correct in that the rolling diameter of an 8.25 x 20 is NOT the same as a 9 x 20. so I'll be looking for a match for my one good one ( a 9 x 20 which appears to have been original with my M16 A2  as it is a red dot combat tire , non directional ,  do you think the 9 x 20 will not  match the forward movement of the track so that stress is put on the 4 wheel drive transmission ? I looked back to the original site and the writer had realized that tube tires have a 98 % aspect ratio so he changed his post so I've edited the attachment to show this
bud

[spec4don]

Think of it this way, if you had 15" rims on the back of your 4x4 and 16" rims on the front if you tried to use 4 wheel drive it would not work so well. I can tell you I had modern 9.00x20s on my Track when I put the 8.25s on it dropped the front end about 3" If you never use the front axle it probably wouldn't matter. Except you would have to adjust the axle stops and I found the 9.00's would hit the frame on a sharp turn. The vehicle ratios were designed for the 8.25s to allow you to be able to travel with the front end engaged if nessary.

Don G.

[bud44750]

Thanks Don,
I'll know what to look for now. 

here is a nice site on IDF HT, even has a short movie.
bud


http://idf-armor.blogspot.com/2010/08/half-tracks-in-idf-armor-service.html

[bud44750]

well, I certainly feel a bit stupid, this weekend I started power washing the crud off my HT and it turns out the combat tire I have is an 8.25x 20 not the 9x20 I thought it was.So I don't have to get another tire after all. One interesting point is that the prep work for the yellow paint wasn't that great and a good part of it came right off with the power washer, leaving OD behind...including white stencil markings for such things as mattock and pick storage, axe , "flash" assume to mean flashlight, and signal flares. At least I learned a lot about tires in this post
bud
I still need to find out what it started out as , so I'll take some pictures and post what clues I have so far and maybe someone will be able to help.

[Tapper02]

Bud,
  I'd be interested to see the stencils you are talking about.  Any photo documentation?

-Tom

[bud44750]

HI all,
      here 's a group of pictures taken once most of the yellow paint was gone.   The shovel bracket is of a type I don't see in any photos of M 16s, not sure what the ? P 55 is over the steering wheel.   The data plates are all aluminum.   No ordnance # on the data plate , just a manufactures # and gross weight. there was no bumper so no joy on a serial # there and no obvious # on the frame though it could be under the paint and just very faint.  The engine door has a hard to see the broad arrow , it looks like an arrow head pointing down with a circle around it, nothing on the other side, even under the yellow, but there is more than one coat of OD paint so I will have to wet sand to be sure. It seems odd that the data plate has no ordnance #. and does not say A2 if that is what it is. It  seems like there was a M1 Garand scabbard next to the drivers seat....does anyone know what the bracket is for on the running board just below shovel handle bracket . On the data plate ( you can't read it well , will post another, )  manufacturers serial number looks a lot like an ordnance #, as the ones i've seen begin with a 4 . could it be stamped in the wrong place?........enjoy the mystery.
bud

[Outsider]

The 55 on the dash is T.P. 55 (Tire Pressure 55).

Steve

[spec4don]

The little bracket under the shovel bracket is your footmans loop for the shovel holder strap. Looks like on the second picture down they cut the flashlight holder bracket off.

Don G.

[bud44750]

What do you think the flat bracket , welded to running board and bolted to side armor, on the right side of the running board is?  ( below the shovel handle mount) maybe for a sledge

[bud44750]

here is a better picture of the data plate

[Tapper02]

Any clue on the data plates if it went through a rebuild facility?  Looks like it has a couple of post-WWII mods such as the multiple shovel bracket and the mattock handle jerry can mounting bracket.

-Tom

[bud44750]

Does the fact that the data plate is aluminum have any clue value. When did they stop making the plates out of brass ??. And take  note that there is no A2 stamped after the M16 on the plate so the additions like the shovel rack were perhaps added in an other than an official rebuild process.

bud