Let's fix those tires!

[Old_Busted_Hotness]

Tamiya big-rig tires bug me. They're so close to correct that it's tempting to leave them alone. 1:1 rig tires have come a long way since Big T released the big rigs. While they look okay on a King or Globe (older trucks) they're totaly incorrect for a Knight. The only time you see a zig-zag tread these days is on a knackered container trailer (if that isn't a bit redundant)

First, let's tackle the trailer. Modern trailers use a straight rib tread, and virtually all trucks run radials these days. Hmmmm, I've got a couple extra Smoothees, let's see what I can do:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4721.jpg

Now the tread is correct for a trailer tire . Never mind the zig-zags on the other tires, trailers never have matching tires anyway.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4723.jpg

Nice radial profile. Low rolling resistance and better fuel mileage .: And you've got a scale "gator" to throw on the road

But what if you don't have 10 extra Smoothees around to cut up? (Notice I used 1-1/4 inches from another Smoothee tread to get the OD right) No fear, as long as you have a Dremel with a sanding drum, you can make some passable radials. Simply smooth off the side lugs and gently round the edge of the tread.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4720.jpg

Modified tire on the right, stock on the left.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4722.jpg

It's a more subtle mod than hacking up Smoothees, but the effect far outweighs the effort.

Now let's tackle the steers. Modern steer tires are $400 works of art. Directional rib tread (still haven't figured that one out) with a little bit of zig-zag down near the carcass. The way to re-create those is to run a cutoff wheel down each groove. Nice and straight, please...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4725.jpg

Notice there's still a bit of zig-zag left, but it's predominantly a straight rib. Just like the real deal.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4726.jpg

Modified tread profile and sidewalls here, too. I need to clean the swarf off the tires but you get the idea.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4724.jpg

Don't think for a minute you're going to stay clean while doing this.

I'm not quite sure what to do about the drives. It needs an on-road block tread, non-directional. Reduced and narrowed BFG's would work but the tread is a little too aggressive. Gotta think on that one.

[Old_Busted_Hotness]

I figured out the drives. After looking around, I couldn't find a set I liked under a hundred bucks, so I decided to hack up the kit tires.

Thought about a transplant. Pro-Line 2.2 Strikers and Maxx Road Rage went under the knife, but the effect wasn't what I was looking for. The tread blocks were too large or oddly shaped. The Strikers could, however, be narrowed into super singles. but I don't like super singles.

Ended up cutting angled grooves across the tread, breaking up the ribs into blocks.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/IMG_4728.jpg

The trick is to keep the grooves parallel to one another. Don't worry about matching all the tires; nobody replaces all 8 drives when one fails; call the misfit a replacement. This time I left the sidewalls alone; drives have a more squared-off profile than steers or trailer tires.

Again the effect is subtle but significant.

[Ivan-Ator]

very nice never thought tires could be so cool

[skoshi130]

Those tires look pretty realistic