I’m looking for a source for accurate HO scale truck wheels with rubber tires for my radio controlled truck models. The plastic tires supplied in some kits work but they lack traction on some surfaces which makes maneuvering difficult.
Try the road racing part of the hobby shop. I’m not sure if they still make them in HO scale, but they did back in the 70’s and 80’s. Tyco, Aurora, etc back then. Or you can check Ebay for some old ones of these.
Thanks for the suggestion. The problem with slot car & Johnny Lightning, Etc. wheels/tires is they are too small and they don’t have truck style wheels. I have wheels with rubber tires that work very well but my friendly local rivet counters wet themselves because they are not perfect matches to the prototype and I’m getting tired of telling them to go stuff themselves.
Tyco racing used to have trucks, the 18 wheeler variety. It’s been too long to remember if they were to scale with the wheels or not.
Thanks Tom,
I’ll look into it.
Hugo
I have a few of the wheels and tires for the HO slot cars (trucks) from the 60s or early 70s that I might part with. This is my first time on the forums so don’t know how to answer, but will try to get it right.
57 chevvy
What do you have (pictures ?) and how much do you want for it including shipping in a small box? The handling equipment at the USPS tears envelopes with small parts to pieces.
I’m looking for realistic truck wheels with rubber tires that are about 0.5" in diameter.
Hugo
I am headed to town right now but will get back to you in about 3-4 hrs if not too late. Tried to send an e-mail to you. Did you get it??
Stan
OK I’m back. Did you get the e-mail??
Stan
Stan
Yes, I got your E-mail.
What are the diameters? I can only use tires 0.5” +/- 0.01” in outside diameter. Larger or smaller will not fit on my models. Any pictures?
Hugo
Sorry, no pics. I can barely operate the computer. I have 36 tires ( 0.5 tall, 3/16 in. center hole), 30 plastic hubs, ( 1 for dual tires, 29 for single tires [ could be modified for duals], and 6 hubs for front axle). The hubs are decent, but won’t pass a “Rivet counters” nose
As to the RCers, do they want California style ( spoke ) or Budd steel wheels (similar to car steel wheels )? The spoke wheels have 5 ( I think )spokes radiating from the hub to a thin steel rim and bolted to the rim with 2 bolts at the end of each spoke. Budd wheels are fastened near the center of the hub by 10 lug nuts. Old Budds had 8 hand holds (holes near the rim ). Newer ones had 5 holes, and now they have 2 holes opposite each other. Now for sizes; The 10.00-20 was a mainstay into the 70s (tube type ) replaced by the 11.00-22.5 tubeless. Basicaly these tires were the same size. A more popular size (starting in the 60s ?? ) was the 10.00- 22 ( Tube ) replaced by 11.00-24.5 (tubeless ). Then came the Radials, and now they have " low profile " tires. These don’t stand as tall. I’m not familiar with them. The tube type tires used “split rim” wheels (believe these are now banned) that had a steel ring that attached to the rim. As they got older or not seated properly they could blow off while inflating the tire and cause serious injury or death.Same as standing in front of a cannon going off. This is probably more info than you need to know, but now you have some “Fodder” of your own to counter the rivet counters. Oh yes; aluminum wheels are popular. They are Budd type but have several small (round,oblong,and ???)holes near the rim. I have seen some real fancy wheels on trucks in the last few years.
I think I saw an ad in MR where the old Ulrich line of trucks were being revived.(metal trucks from the 50s) Seems like they now have spoke wheels and rubber tires. Walthers maybe??? If still interested my stuff, e-mail me