Advice please - alternative tyres for my K9

[Rhydoldog]

Hi all. I'm new to the MV world and have just bought a nice K9 radio Truck.

 

It's on 9.00" x 20", 10 ply, cross country tyres at the moment - I believe they're called T pattern(?) see below. They're in pretty good condition - just a few cracks.

 

I've been told that some people run on a more modern tyre that drives better and safer...

 

Can I ask if anyone has experience or advice to offer on this? Is it a good idea and if so what are the best to use?

 

Thanks for any advice - just trying to learn the ropes...

 

Cheers

 

Ben

 

[Big ray]

The cross country tyres are a compromise, the tread pattern is designed ostensibly to give good cross country performance and should be treated with considerable caution when used particularly on wet roads. When we used the K9 in Germany in the 1950s they (the GS truck) was considered to be very skittish on the back end, all of the weight is on the front end. We had several accidents to contend with with the K9 particularly when running on wet cobblestone roads, quite common in Germany at that time. Its the lack of weight on the back end that causes the problem, you will probably experience less of that problem being fitted with a heavier office body........... but the overall breaking will be less effective than a modern roadgoing tyre. You have to drive accordingly, and keep a safe breaking distance from any vehicle in front, its all about common sense, but you know what they say, common sense is not so common. Its a beautiful truck, I drove everything that the British army had during the 1950s (Ex-REME) have fun, it will give you lots of pleasure.

[Big ray]

The cross country tyres are a compromise, the tread pattern is designed ostensibly to give good cross country performance and should be treated with considerable caution when used particularly on wet roads. When we used the K9 in Germany in the 1950s they (the GS truck) was considered to be very skittish on the back end, all of the weight is on the front end. We had several accidents to contend with with the K9 particularly when running on wet cobblestone roads, quite common in Germany at that time. Its the lack of weight on the back end that causes the problem, you will probably experience less of that problem being fitted with a heavier office body........... but the overall breaking will be less effective than a modern roadgoing tyre. You have to drive accordingly, and keep a safe breaking distance from any vehicle in front, its all about common sense, but you know what they say, common sense is not so common. Its a beautiful truck, I drove everything that the British army had during the 1950s (Ex-REME) have fun, it will give you lots of pleasure.

[Rhydoldog]

Thanks Big Ray

I picked it up on Tuesday in the big rain storm we had down south so I did experience that wet weather "skittishness" It drives very nicely though.

 

I'd lean towards running on the original tyres for authenticity. Just wondering what else is an option.......

[Big ray]

Thanks Big Ray

I picked it up on Tuesday in the big rain storm we had down south so I did experience that wet weather "skittishness" It drives very nicely though.

 

I'd lean towards running on the original tyres for authenticity. Just wondering what else is an option.......

 

I would certainly stick with originality, just exercise that little extra care............ it extends beyond the braking, I forgot to mention cornering. Some time ago I brought the business of these tyres to the attention of one of our members, he was running a Champ on these tyres. A few months later he went through a hedge on a sharp bend, the two occupants fortunately suffered no injuries (apart from the drivers pride) but the Champ suffered extensive damage. The moment that he saw me he said............ Dont say anything!! so I didnt.

[Rhydoldog]

:thumbsup:

I would certainly stick with originality, just exercise that little extra care............ it extends beyond the braking, I forgot to mention cornering. Some time ago I brought the business of these tyres to the attention of one of our members, he was running a Champ on these tyres. A few months later he went through a hedge on a sharp bend, the two occupants fortunately suffered no injuries (apart from the drivers pride) but the Champ suffered extensive damage. The moment that he saw me he said............ Dont say anything!! so I didnt.

[Sean N]

When we used the K9 in Germany in the 1950s they (the GS truck) was considered to be very skittish on the back end, all of the weight is on the front end ... particularly when running on wet cobblestone roads, quite common in Germany at that time. Its the lack of weight on the back end that causes the problem, you will probably experience less of that problem being fitted with a heavier office body.

 

That is much less the case with the office bodies; they're somewhere around a ton heavier so there's plenty of weight on the back. And everything's horrible on wet cobbles!

 

Ray's quite right though, those tyres (commonly known as bargrips) are never going to be as good on tarmac as a road tyre because the design's biased toward off-road use; it'll be the same with any period military tyre, and to a certain extent even with modern ones.

 

You can use road tyres - normal truck tyres - or a modern off-road tyre; depends how important originality /appearance is to you. Personally I never had an issue with any of my K9s running bargrips, and to be honest in a top heavy 4 ton 1950's truck with un-assisted brakes and no power steering are you really going to be pushing it to the limit? Again as Ray says, just take your time and take care & you'll be fine.

 

It looks a really nice one, you must be pleased with it. Fairly early by the looks of it. Is it really an RAF one? And has it got odd headlights or is that just my eyes?!

[Rhydoldog]

That is much less the case with the office bodies; they're somewhere around a ton heavier so there's plenty of weight on the back. And everything's horrible on wet cobbles!

 

Ray's quite right though, those tyres (commonly known as bargrips) are never going to be as good on tarmac as a road tyre because the design's biased toward off-road use; it'll be the same with any period military tyre, and to a certain extent even with modern ones.

 

You can use road tyres - normal truck tyres - or a modern off-road tyre; depends how important originality /appearance is to you. Personally I never had an issue with any of my K9s running bargrips, and to be honest in a top heavy 4 ton 1950's truck with un-assisted brakes and no power steering are you really going to be pushing it to the limit? Again as Ray says, just take your time and take care & you'll be fine.

 

It looks a really nice one, you must be pleased with it. Fairly early by the looks of it. Is it really an RAF one? And has it got odd headlights or is that just my eyes?!

 

Thanks Sean. Yes, it's really nice - straight and clean - I'm very happy with it. 1953 so quite early - I think the later ones had vents in the bonnet (?). Having done 500 miles or so in it now in rain and shine, I'll be keeping on the original tyres - they are fine at the speeds that it's happy to go and they look right too.

 

I don't think the headlight are odd.....just the owner :-\

 

I believe it was an RAF Regiment vehicle but it didn't come with any documentary evidence of that. The man who restored it and sold it to me said it was.......

[Sean N]

Thanks Sean. Yes, it's really nice - straight and clean - I'm very happy with it. 1953 so quite early - I think the later ones had vents in the bonnet (?).

 

Yes, they did. I never pinned down the dates but roughly late '54 / '55. There are also some very early ones that don't have the cupola in the cab roof, and there are differences in the style of the office body. I was going to take a flier on '53 but wasn't brave enough!

 

I don't think the headlight are odd.....just the owner :-\

 

 

You said that, not me! It looked as if it had a 700 headlamp with the civvy surround (normally chrome) front left and an FV headlamp with the FV surround front right, but maybe it's just the photo (or my eyes)

 

 

I believe it was an RAF Regiment vehicle but it didn't come with any documentary evidence of that. The man who restored it and sold it to me said it was.......

 

Have a look to see if it has a full flow (modern style) oil filter or a bypass filter (the one fed by two pipes).

[scott9643]

I believe it was an RAF Regiment vehicle but it didn't come with any documentary evidence of that. The man who restored it and sold it to me said it was.......

 

Just spotted this and welcome to the gang. Nice looking K9 -- you're really lucky to get one this good! As in the thread -- keep to the original tyres and drive within the limits of the brakes and you'll have no problems. Don't get the RAF Regiment connection, but there, life is full of surprises.

 

Have a look at the brass military plate located behind the cab on the chassis rail next to the tyre inflator behind the oil can rack. This should give the original 6 digit military reg number. I've got a list of date in service K9s and might be able to date it for you

 

Here's a picture of ours -- 1951 and note no hip ring

 

 

[scott9643]

Have a look at the brass military plate located behind the cab on the chassis rail next to the tyre inflator "behind the oil can rack"?. This should give the original 6 digit military reg number. I've got a list of date in service K9s and might be able to date it for you

 

 

Oops! -- talking about both sides there -- got that wrong! -- go in between fuel tank and cab