HUMVEE Tire History

Originally, they used this type of tire when the HMMWV arrived in the 1980s. It was a bias ply Goodyear Wrangler tire. Right around Desert Storm, a new radial tire, and a new wheel rim arrived on trucks manufactured 1990-91 and later.

This is the later Goodyear radial tire with corresponding new wheel rim. Notice the original 8 bolt rim vs. the newer 12 bolt rim.

You can't, or at least are not supposed to, put new style tire on old style rim or vice versa. But I've seen it done and have had it done my own truck when I was a BMO. You have to use what you can get to continue to roll. You are also supposed to have all four tires be the same type, and I have not seen tires mismatched, but I imagine it has happened for the same reasons.

Sometime during the war in Afghanistan, Interco Super Swamper tires began to show up on HMMWVs in theater. Probably locally procured at various installations and shipped to their units in theater to make up for Goodyear shortages. Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) tested the tires and did not authorize them for use on HMMWVs for a number of reasons. This thread discusses the safety reasons:
 http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=88803 

I should say that just because new trucks arrived with new tires didn't mean old trucks received new tires. You could still find a good mix both style truck tires throughout most of the 2000s. Even today, it's probably possible to walk into a motor pool and find the 1980s style tires. I do not know if the original bias ply tires are still available.

Additionally, the bias ply were 36"x 12.5 16.5 and the newer radials are 37" x 12.5"R 16.5 tires.  The older bias ply 36" tires were still available as of about '07 when I was at the NTC.  We had a roving maintenance team that came to you like a pit crew and changed flat tires.  There were a lot of tires punctured or cut by the rough terrain there.  When you called them on the radio to come fix your tire, you had to tell them which size you had to make sure they had the right one on their truck.

Thanks for that great info. guys.

I am very surprised that the original tires would still be in use since the 1980s.

I was not aware of the size difference in the tires.

Searching images based on tire size helps a great deal in determining patterns. 

I am also thinking that one great use for a 3D printer would be in making the Honeycomb tires.

( looking at those also makes me a bit hungry for an old cereal I used to eat as a child, too ! ) 

Thanks again for those great photos , Rob !

And I was unaware of the rim bolt number change, too ! 

I am now really surprised by the number of years HUMVEE tires are used after checking this forum thread on dry rot: 

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1207289-hummer-tires-2.html

The 36" bias ply tires are not old ones left over from the '80s.  They are new ones still made since so many HMMWVs still use them, so dry rot is not an issue.

Thanks again, HeavyArty !

Sprue-ce Goose

I am now really surprised by the number of years HUMVEE tires are used after checking this forum thread on dry rot: 

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1207289-hummer-tires-2.html

It used to be a problem with National Guard, US Army Reserve and some Regular Army support units. They did not use their vehicles enough to wear out the tires and vehicles could sit in motor pools for months or even a year or more without being used to any real extent. Tires would dry rot before there was much tread wear.

As far as new style tires, if you still have older trucks with the older rims, you are stuck resourcing the original style tires. I ran a motor pool budget for many years (over 6) and with all the funds I have to buy for maintenance items we really need, I'm not about to waste taxpayer money buying four new wheel rims just so a driver can have cooler looking tires.

I also forgot to say that the 1/35 scale Bandai Batman Begins Tumbler Batmobile came with a set of Super Swamper tires for the rear of the vehicle. I believe some company mated those vinyl tires with proper HMMWV rims and made resin ones.

Rob Gronovius

........................

I also forgot to say that the 1/35 scale Bandai Batman Begins Tumbler Batmobile came with a set of Super Swamper tires for the rear of the vehicle. I believe some company mated those vinyl tires with proper HMMWV rims and made resin ones.

Again, I thank you and HeavyArty for all that great information.

It made a big difference in my knowledge about the HUMVEE. 

I don't know if this is any help but these wheels are 1/25 

http://revell.com/model-kits/trucks/85-4053.html#.VE2qJkuSL8s 

SprueOne

I don't know if this is any help but these wheels are 1/25 

http://revell.com/model-kits/trucks/85-4053.html#.VE2qJkuSL8s 

I thank you for the suggestion , it is a great idea !

The center tread of the Jeep tires do look similar to the later tread on the HUMVEE, though the sidewall detail is heavier than on the HUMVEE tires.

Might be worth picking up a kit to see if the kit tires might either be modified ( sidewalls sanded down ) or donate the center tread for making an RTV mold; providing I cannot locate ready made resin tires.

.

Worst case scenario:  I build a Jeep Wrangler in 1/25 to go with the HUMVEE. 

I thought just occurred to me. Moebius now makes a 1/25 scale Tumbler. I assume the rear tires on that kit are the same or similar to a Super Swamper.

Rob Gronovius

I thought just occurred to me. Moebius now makes a 1/25 scale Tumbler. I assume the rear tires on that kit are the same or similar to a Super Swamper.

 

Thanks !

Bump............

.

Well, I purchased the Batman Tumbler at a recent IPMS swap meet and the Jeep kit at a Hobby Lobby.

The Tumbler tires are too large in both width and diameter and the Jeep tires are too small in diameter.

However, I suspected both might not fit.

In any case, I intended to build the Batman tumbler and the Jeep kit looks like a nice kit so I will happily assemble both while determining just how i will make tires.

I am also searching for 1/24 RC tires as I see they are the proper tread but so far no one has them in stock.

Sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase. I didn't think the Moebius tumbler was done to the same standards as the smaller Bandai one.

Rob Gronovius

Sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase. I didn't think the Moebius tumbler was done to the same standards as the smaller Bandai one.