NDT and NDCC tires ok for M416 towed at highway speeds?

[Rosader]

The tires on my trailer have some dry checking so I want to get them replaced. Looking to get a set of Firestone NDT or NDCC from Coker Tire. I have been doing some reading online and found some saying these tires can be dangerous in certain situations (for example: going around a corner on a wet road) because these tires have poor sideways traction.

For anyone who runs the military ND tires... What has your experience been?

 

[1 Bored Clerk]

I never had a problem with mine either. I took them off and put on a set of radial tires because they were checked really badly and really worn. The tubes and tires on my trailer were 40 years old when I swapped them out and could've probably still been running around on them. Keep the speeds down (65ish) and keep an eye on tire pressure. Tires and tubes tend to build up more heat so speed and weight will probably determine your success!

 

[warrpath4x4]

never had a rig or trailer slide with NDT but my first response would be if your sliding your going too fast

 

[Rosader]

What is the difference between the NDT and NDCC? Here is a link to the military tires on coker's website http://www.cokertire.com/tire-applications/military-truck/where/tire-rim-diameter/16.html

OK another question, I am driving 250 miles south to Moab this weekend and was wondering if my original tires with dry checking would be ok for the trip? I won't be doing any extreme off roading or anything, just going to camp with some friends but the extra cargo capacity would be nice. The tires hold air just fine...

 

[Der Steppenwolf]

Dry checking should be fine, what you want to look out for are deep cracks in the shoulders of the tread, or deep cracks going thru the tread. I've seen 3 year old tires develop checking on the sides.

 

[AZ ADVenturist]

M416 tires?

I'm not sure I'd trust 'em as you describe them. That's a 500 mile round-trip. Loaded?
Find a set of Ford rims with 4" center & correct bolt pattern. Tires are 235/75-15. They tow & ride nice, either load or not. No clearance problems & they Look good too. All Best.

 

[Der Steppenwolf]

Pictures would help, DOT numbers would help. Otherwise its all just a guessing game.

 

[Rosader]

I'm not sure I'd trust 'em as you describe them. That's a 500 mile round-trip. Loaded?
Find a set of Ford rims with 4" center & correct bolt pattern. Tires are 235/75-15. They tow & ride nice, either load or not. No clearance problems & they Look good too. All Best.

Good to know, Thanks!

I will be driving to Price (which is a little more than half way to Moab) Thursday, and staying the night with friends there, then making the remainder of the trip Friday morning.
The trip back will be straight through but I won't have the weight of the firewood or food. My camping gear weighs (approximating) less than 300 lbs (Springabr tent, folding table, camping chairs, pots/pans/utensils, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, odds and ends...)

Maybe I will take some closeup pics of my tires today after work and post them up here and see what you all think.

 

[AZ ADVenturist]

Pictures would help, DOT numbers would help. Otherwise its all just a guessing game.

Can't do pictures on this forum - My Old Mac doesn't co-operate! And I didn't find any numbers on the rims.
But I know they are older Ford pickup &/or Jeep (maybe CJ7 or earlier.)
Bolt pattern is 5 on 5 1/2 with minimum 4" center. Mine measure 4 3/16" so plenty of clearance. About 4" off-set from rear. Go to your local "Llanterra" (Mex. used tire & wheel shop). I found 3 rims for $40. & they mounted some Old (good) tires I'd had in the shed for quite awhile. Keep your orig. 16" rims for when you sell the trailer!
And used 235/75 15's are easy to find Cheap... Good luck! Ric. in Ariz.

 

[Mark Harley]

Be safe, go to the local pick your parts or junk yard and find three rims and good tires to fit.
others have posted bolt paterns that fit,

 

[Rosader]

Decided not to take the trailer this time. I will be ordering new ones shortly. Here is a pic of the originals.

 

[AZ ADVenturist]

Yep, what he said. And Good Call on your part. "Safe is always better than Sorry" - she said as I installed a 2nd condom...

 

[Mark Harley]

I would search out a radial tire to replace them. No tubes they heat up at highway speeds.

 

[TacoDell]

I've got similar sidewall checking on my original goodyear ndcc's

And they have made three round trips fm SoCal to Moab...
as well, as multiple local runs... without issue.
I do carry a spare for back up tho'

The picture of the tire, the OP posted... looks to be in worse condition then mine.

If those were mine... I probably would toss those and get new ones.

Checking in the sidewall is one thing... but cracks in the shoulder lugs... = bad news
besides... the tread on those look to be worn down to the indicators already.

I like my ndcc's both on the trail and on the hwy.
I've never had them run overly warm as long as the air pressure is not to low.

These are a tougher tire then most equally sized radials
But it's a trade off... as they come with a somewhat stiffer ride and lesser flex appeal.

I run them around 24 - 26 psi on the street/hwy (varies due to load weight)... and around 4 psi on the trail

I plan to replace my originals with another set of ndcc's...
but plan on bumping them up to 7.50's to more closely match the height of muh 295's mounted on muh truck.

Hopefully before any more trips to Moab or any other long distance runs.

 

[shortbus4x4]

I wouldn't run those tires at highway speeds at all, maybe around the property but not on a public road.

I would get some good tubeless radials if I was going to be doing much freeway driving or much of anything else. I am prejudice against NDTs though as I have been a mechanic in the service, there are so many better tires out there today.