> Tyres... forget it, mostly. Use US non-directionals.
>
Hi All,
No don't do that, we have a source.
A new Track Grip of the correct pattern was spotted at our "Overlord" show
recently, the side wall claimed it to be a Simex ST24 (made in Malaysia) and
a morning on the phone found the UK distributors, these are current items.
The ST24 pattern, and I note some original WWII tyres are moulded "T24", is
available in 900x16; 11, 12, 1400x20 and 14.5x21. The pattern is exactly the
correct S shape and only deviates in that the side wall bars are all of equal
length whereas the WWII ones are alternately long and short.
You will have a game and a half getting them onto Canadian rims as the
standards are different and originals are marked appropriately "For British
rims" and "For Canadian rims", must have been a logistic nightmare.
The difference means the current 16" tyres are very tight and have a
pronounced bead angle whereas Canadian types actually used a less than 16"
rim with a horizontal bead.
Some people have the rims turned off by 1/8" to make it easier but there is
no real need as they will fit with some struggling. You need a good, blasted
and painted rim, and copious amounts of petroleum jelly on the rim, tyre bead
and the exposed surface of the flap. Don't use dish washing liquid owing to
the salt in it.
With the rims just started on the long bolts in Canadian rims you can just
add a _puff_ of air to fill the tyre with tube and slowly pull the rims
together checking all the time with a flashlight and mirror to ensure the
flap isn't getting trapped - new tubes and flaps are undersize too.
Pulling the rims down will try to clamp the beads together but with all the
bolts on a and a 1/2" gap, a touch of air will just start the beads up the
rims without bulging the flap and just encouraging the flap into the tyre
between the rims with a piece of wood helps.
The rims can be then just pulled down ensuring that they meet without any
real force and 15psi will pop the tyre onto the edges, then FULLY deflate and
part the rims just enough for a final inspection.
It is a fiddle and great care is needed especially with the airline, there is
no hope of getting them off again without the use of a truck size hydraulic
four arm tyre remover to be found at your local depot, which we have observed
has no trouble at all.
Done it six times now and it works, be careful though.
Richard
(Southampton UK)
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