Modern Tires

[Boze]

I know this has been addressed before but I'll repeat the topic here. I plan on doing a long haul tour of the US with my M38. The 700-16 NDCC tires don't give me the ride or traction I want. I have some 15" rims that will fit and would like to get a modern radial tire to do the long trip. I'll keep the military tires for display. Anyone have a clue as to what equivalent size is correct and where I could find them? It can be an all season, off road or street tread. Most of today's tires are so fat they will rub on tight turns.

Thanks in advance.

[wesk]

They still make most of the tire sizes we used on our jeeps since the 80's. Every jeep is it's own jeep. Ride height, fender and frame clearance and steering stop pin settings vary on all jeeps, including those in the same model description. The simple starting point is tire outside diameter or height. The outer diameter of the new tire must equal the outer diameter of the old tire to prevent any change in gearing or speedometer error. The only safe way is to mount a desired tire of the correct diameter irregardless of it's cross section and operate the steering full left/right, and vertical compression of the spring as much as you can on both sides up front. If it has an interference issue that cannot be easily resolved then select a different tire and start over. Once you are satisfied the new desired tire clears the front on turns then try it on both rear positions. If it clears that is your new tire.

This is one place you don't want to throw $800 bucks away on 4 tires that don't fit. So ignore all the "one size fits all" comments that often follow this type of technical question.

Your NDCC's are usually 30.5" tall and at their widest point on their sidewall about 7" wide.

Here's my 1954 M38A1 X-Civil defense jeep in South Dakota in 1988 with Goodyear Wrangler LT 31X10.50R15 30.8" Tall on 15x8" western white spokes.


She rode very nice both on I-90 going to work at 60 MPH and on the Black Hills Trails hunting with only very slight inner fender contact at extreme travel.



If you measure what you now have and review this chart carefully you can easily find a size that will fit well.

https://tiresize.com/tires/Goodyear/Wra ... raTrac.htm

[Boze]

Thanks, Wes!