NDT or Modern tires?

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
Pat Gray
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 416
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2016 6:38 pm
Location: Washington

NDT or Modern tires?

Post by Pat Gray » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:19 am

I am currently restoring a 54 M38a1 and not sure if I want to go back to the NDT or go with a radial tire. The reason is that I plan on driving the Lincoln Highway Convoy in a few years. I hear the life of the NDT is not very long. What would you do?

Thanks,


User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:50 pm

Good question; I spent a couple of decades and who knows how many miles on and around, NDTs. They are clearly the absolute worst tire design every invented. especially after the rest of the world had all season radials. There is a reason every vehicle was issued chains, and when it rained, we had many accidents because you are basically riding on a one inch bar of rubber. And we had tp pull many 2.5 trucks out of the mud. Ice and snow on paved roads? Death machines.
If you are actually planning to drive it on actual roads with other drivers, definitely get a set of real tires.
NDTs are only for restorations.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:54 pm

I now see you asked about some sort of convoy; those are usually well orchestrated events in good weather at controlled speeds. Different thing than using it as a daily driver. For show, I use NDTs and NDCCs, but your M38A1 should have NDCCs. Rounded shoulders, whereas NDT has sharp shoulders.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

JMZ421
G-First Lieutenant
G-First Lieutenant
Posts: 646
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:21 pm
Location: N.E. Ohio

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by JMZ421 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:15 pm

I just watched a Youtube video of this convoy assuming it's the same one. Looks like fun and at slow speeds and they even had a 151 at the rear with the convoy lights and everything. Where does this start and end? That Lincoln Hwy is just south of me in Ohio. John

Pat Gray
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 416
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2016 6:38 pm
Location: Washington

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by Pat Gray » Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:55 pm

The 2019 MVPA convoy started in York Pa and ended in San Francisco Ca. I really like the original look but thinking of safety also. Plus tires are not cheap, I just don't want to spend a fortune on NDT's and only get a few thousand miles out of them.

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 6:30 pm

Get the correct NDCCs for your M38A1. You will make it across the country. How long will they last? No idea; I don't drive them much; I just restore them......
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

AFM38A1
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:49 pm
Location: Washington state

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by AFM38A1 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:38 pm

What are NDCCs?
What size does a M38 A1 take?

My newly acquired A1 has decent NDs, I'll likely keep them until they need replacing.
Not a daily driver, but I won't be using it in heavy traffic or weather.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:11 am

Not the term NDT; jeeps after WW2 all used NDCCs; Non Directional Cross Country. Rounded tread edges. If you put NDTs on an M38 or A1, they will look funny, but will work fine.
700x16. Do you have the set of TMs and read them daily? Like I still do.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

User avatar
muttguru
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1698
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:46 am
Location: Lil' ol' England
Contact:

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by muttguru » Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:51 am

there's a difference between NDT and NDCC.....and NDCC's are the original-style tyre - see left-hand pic.

Image
Contact address - muttguru@aol.com
Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

User avatar
muttguru
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1698
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:46 am
Location: Lil' ol' England
Contact:

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by muttguru » Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:52 am

muttguru wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:51 am
there's a difference between NDT and NDCC.....and NDCC's are the original-style tyre - see left-hand pic.The right-hand picture is an NDT.

Image
Contact address - muttguru@aol.com
Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

AFM38A1
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:49 pm
Location: Washington state

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by AFM38A1 » Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:44 pm

Thanks, I'm learning.
I didn't know there was a difference...so mine has either NDT or NDCCs, they look like the photo but I didn't look at the edges.
I can't check immediately, it's at the shop getting some work done.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:37 pm

That photo is not the best; NDTs will have a sharp edge; NDCC will be round. Easy to tell.
It's at the shop? I recommend that you learn how to do all maintenance; at least for me, I can't afford shop's $100 per hour rates. So I studied the TMs and do it all myself.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

Pat Gray
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 416
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2016 6:38 pm
Location: Washington

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by Pat Gray » Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:32 am

I was wondering why in a family friends picture the M38a1 had NDT's on it. I am not out to dis-prove anyone but wondering why they would even make 7.00 16 NDT's?
Attachments
Don Daviscourt Army.jpg

Maverick1701
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 164
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Memphis, Texas

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by Maverick1701 » Mon Feb 28, 2022 8:54 pm

I still prefer the look and feel of NDT pizza cutters
Chris
1954 M38A1

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11813
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: NDT or Modern tires?

Post by dpcd67 » Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:19 am

That picture is too fuzzy to tell what tires they are; when you get mud on the tread, and they get worn from driving on hard roads, the edges will appear sharp like NDTs. So I wouldn't bet on that one.....
Feel? There is no difference in driving feel to either tire, based on about a million miles on both. I don't even know why they even developed NDCCs; the NDT seems equally as capable off road. Which is to say, terrible.
However, they do make 700x16 NDTs; my M606 has them.
Like or don't like is not the point; a correct restoration is the point, to me. If you just want tires, go to Wal Mart and get some.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch


Post Reply

Return to “M38a1 Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 50 guests