Tires, etc. (1 Viewer)

[M5driver]

It was great to finally meet some of the area cruiserheads yesterday at the breakfast.

I wanted to follow up a couple of things we talked about while examining the Malawi Mule.

For John Smith - a big THANKS for catching the battery cable rubbing the clutch flex line. I re-routed the cable, so that should be fine now. I may decide to slip a section of heater hose over it in one spot still, just to be sure I'm not rubbing through insulation.

For John, Jon, and Dan - I couldn't stand it, so I checked the wheel size. Those OEM steelies really are 5 1/2". I looked at my second spare wheel, since it doesn't have a tire mounted right now - sure enough 15x5 1/2 JJDOT. Then I looked at the VIN label on the doorpost and it shows 15x5.5 wheels with H78x15 tires as the OEM standard. That is, in fact how it came equipped last century.

I also included below the lost picture of the welder working on my tub - oxy/ac torch, wire, and no goggles or any other safety gear. The photo of his face will be included in one of the books I am working on about Malawi.


Dan

 

[M5driver]

With wheel size verified, I am thinking about going back to a 7.00/7.50 size tire (or a 9.00/9.50 substitute), probably bias, 6 or 8 ply rated, that I can put tubes in, for the upcoming posting in the Central African Republic (in the news again today - the Lord's Resistance Army band of hooligans that was expelled from Uganda is stirring things up and killing people in NE Congo and E CAR again ).

I found a US made tire - the STA Supertrax at Universaltire.com for $116.00 ea, not including tubes and stem hole grommets, also available there. Does anyone here have any experience with these tires (made by the former McCreery Tire Co.)? I am checking the main MUD site for info on the brand. I am also searching for the Yokohama 720 or 742, but not much luck yet.

The alternative would probably have to be the BFG KM-2 Mud tire - more expensive, but possibly worth the cost, size 30x9.5x15. BFG's AT is available in the 33x9.5x15 also, but that is as big as I would want to go. Those might be fine if we rarely get out of Bangui, which is possible if things heat up with the rebels/insurgents/guerillas up north.

My biggest issue on tires is being able to get them repaired if needed while in CAR, and tube type seems to be the common choice there. I always carry a plug kit when running tubeless - good for tread punctures, but not cuts or sidewall punctures. The bias ply with tubes can be readily repaired there. And, as discussed, mudders are almost essential, since even the capital has a large percentage of unpaved streets.

Best,
Dan

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Good to meet you as well, Dan. Re the BFGs - remember the sidewalls discussion... at least for the typical 2 or 3 ply versions. Good luck on whatever you decide to get.

You may want to pick up a nice FAMAS to help re the hooligan problem.

So are you planning to buy another STOL plane?

 

[StaleAle]

Dan - It was great to talk to you. You have a facinating adventure ahead of you. I'm surprised, but not really regarding the OEM rim sizes. I remember being frustrated how narrow mine were on my '67 FJ40. The '70 I have now has new aftermarket white spokes (15x7), and I'm wishing they were 15x8 just to give me more options for 33" tires.

I believe the new BFG MTR KM2s have an extra ply and some widewall protection features to address the sidewall vulnerability issues from previous versions.

I hope to see you again before your departure.

Jon

 

[John Smith]

It was nice getting together for breakfast and seeing Dan's truck was definitely a treat.

 

[M5driver]

Good to meet you as well, Dan. Re the BFGs - remember the sidewalls discussion... at least for the typical 2 or 3 ply versions. Good luck on whatever you decide to get.

It will be awhile yet before I decide on tyre...I mean tires. The new KM2 MT might be fine - stronger sidewalls apparently. But they are $$$!

You may want to pick up a nice FAMAS to help re the hooligan problem.

FAMAS?

So are you planning to buy another STOL plane?

No.

Once I have the mule at IPOR and know what that will cost, I'll decide on tires. First thing I will have IPOR look at on the Xfer case is linkage - maybe I'll get lucky and the hard shifting problem will turn out to be maladjusted linkage

I will have the boxes out regardless, since I need to have the flywheel resurfaced. SS exhaust will replace the rusting pipe that is there now. I have to take the mule to IPOR on 24 April so they can start the work on 26th.

 

[M5driver]

I believe the new BFG MTR KM2s have an extra ply and some widewall protection features to address the sidewall vulnerability issues from previous versions.

I hope to see you again before your departure.

Jon

I like the narrow tires, but they are getting very hard to find, at least in the US. In S Africa, it is possible to find the narrow ones pretty easily, but in 16". 15" are a little harder to find there. Unfortunately, if you don't buy the SA tires in SA, they are VERY expensive - $250-300/tire (or more) in the rest of Africa. (FWIW, those Bridgestone winter tires on the Mule right now cost me about $270 ea in Bulgaria).

Once the mule comes back from IPOR, I will have most of the summer to drive it before I have to box it up to ship to CAR. Since it takes 4-6 months for surface shipments to get to Bangui (Baltimore-Antwerp-Douala, Cameroun by ship, then overland by truck to Bangui), I will need to ship the mule as soon as I have travel orders in hand. There should be time to get it to at least one more "last Saturday" event before that, tho

Cheers.
Dan