WARTIME COMBAT VEHICLE TIRES

[joel gopan]

During WWII there was a period when new NDTs were only shipped to combat theaters, and the issue of replacement combat vehicle tires was restricted to salvaged and retreads.
Rubber shortage was the also the reason Ben Hur and other trailers went to steel dolley wheels.

[UK Jack]

Thanks Joel and leads me on to a question:

How many different patterns were used on trucks during WW2?

[joel gopan]

I can think of three NDT patterns that were used on the CCKW, the first two were installed pre 1942, one had Chevron type bars, other had Bars on onside slanted back, other slanted ahead, the third is the straight bar tread we are so familiar seeing. The late tread NDT was produce by the major tire manufacturers and had minute differences in sidewall pattern and shape of the center of the bars. New CCKWs are seen with tires from more than one manufacturer. Rayon Cord was used in WWII tires, Nylon after WWII. What is neat is that back when these were fresh and not years old, one could detect a "thump" when starting out with cold tires during cold seasons. We are resigned to aftermarket repros today.

[joel gopan]

I am not good with pics, but there are TMs that show the different NDTs and other types of tread, for example, those used on WWII Construction machinery.