Thread: Another tyre question, what is this???

The tyre on the Landrover 101 radio truck is a 900x16 NATO spec Bar-Tread, these are normally seen on Army Unimogs in 12.00X20, They may be available through 4 Wheel Drives in Melbourne, as there are a few 101's in the hands of restorers. they can be fitted to other vehicles, but I think that they are only "Conventionals" and would therefore be limited to a lower speed (balance difficulties).

The tread pattern looks pretty identical to the pattern that the ARMY used to use on the unimogs. I say used to use as I notice a month or so ago they are changing over to a new tread pattern. It's not as agressive, i will have a closer look on Monday.

The bar pattern tread was a Dunlop tyre and the Army is now fitting 'Omnitracks' to the Mack and 'Mog fleets. I'm not sure who the manufacturer is though.

You're right in thinking it looks like a Simex pattern, there are commercially available tyres that have this pattern and I do belive Simex make them.

The Simex JT2s are a lot more agressive again - just look at the huge lumps protruding sideways out from each of the bars on a JT2. The ADF 110s used to use these tyres - I can remember them about 6-7 years ago but don't know exactly when the ADF went to Olympic Steeltreks on the 110s. I believe Unimogs now were a combination of Dunlops and Olympics in a large open block tread pattern.

Originally posted by 300TDi
The Simex JT2s are a lot more agressive again - just look at the huge lumps protruding sideways out from each of the bars on a JT2. The ADF 110s used to use these tyres - I can remember them about 6-7 years ago but don't know exactly when the ADF went to Olympic Steeltreks on the 110s. I believe Unimogs now were a combination of Dunlops and Olympics in a large open block tread pattern.

welcome to the site 300TDi

I never saw a 110 with the old Dunlop bar tread pattern and that is certain from '94. 98% of the time with Steeltreks and the other times with General Grabbers.

The 110's had Olympic Steeltreks on them as standard fittment from go but they had wall strength problems and they scolloped badly on extended use on bitumen and a lot were auctioned out,some with 60% + tread