The tyres of M1A1 155MM howizter

[Gunner]

Hi Kurtis:

During the war most armies restricted the use of combat tread tires due to the greater amount of rubber, a strategic material, they used. As a result artillery pieces and vehicles that didn't leave the hard tracks and roads got what was referred to as truck and bus tread tires which saved many pounds of rubber per tire. 2 wheel drive trucks were also restricted to combat tread tires only on the driven axles. Look at pictures of trucks and jeeps in Italy for example and you'll be surprised how many have 'civilian' style tread tires or even the number of vehicles that had a mix of tire styles!.

Take a look at the online catalogues from Coker tire and Universal tire and you'll find lots of good clear pictures of the style of tread I'm referring to.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/...ee#/bd6b8fee/1
http://www.universaltire.com/

Coker page 10F, 22N and all of page 38 show tread styles used by the military. Good luck with your model!

Mike