Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Dec 2006

Evaluation of Low Impact Military Tires3

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Page Range: 256 – 274
DOI: 10.2346/1.2346377
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Abstract

Laboratory and field tests were conducted on three low impact tires (Interco Trxus, Mickey Thompson BAHA Belted HP, Kevlar Dick Cepek F-C) and a standard, currently used military tire (Goodyear Wrangler MT). Laboratory tests include deflection, rutting, and plunger tests at pressures ranging from 10 to 30 psi and loads ranging from 600 to 2000 lbs. Footprint area was also measured. Field tests consisted of: (1) driving single tires over a plunger at slow speeds and measuring plunger depth, (2) driving the vehicle (modified M1008) in a straight line at various tire pressures and measuring rut depth and disturbed width, (3) driving vehicle (M1097A1) spirals in sand and measuring rut depth and disturbed width, and (4) driving vehicle (modified M1008) spirals over vegetation and measuring disturbed width and vegetative impacts. Although differences between the tire performances exist, this study did not reveal any tires exhibiting consistently lower impact potential than the Goodyear Wrangler MT tire.

Copyright: The Tire Society
FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.

Hard surface test.

FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.

Diagram of measured tire footprint area.

FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.

Baha tire deflection.

FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.

Tire deflection at 30 psi.

FIG. 5.
FIG. 5.

Baha tire footprint.

FIG. 6.
FIG. 6.

Tire footprint at 30 psi.

FIG. 7.
FIG. 7.

Baha tire rut depth.

FIG. 8.
FIG. 8.

Rut depth at 30 psi.

FIG. 9.
FIG. 9.

Plunger test.

FIG. 10.
FIG. 10.

Baha tire plunger deflection.

FIG. 11.
FIG. 11.

Plunger deflection at 30 psi.

FIG. 12.
FIG. 12.

Axle rise for each tire.

FIG. 13.
FIG. 13.

Plunger depth for each tire.

FIG. 14.
FIG. 14.

Average rut width.

FIG. 15.
FIG. 15.

Average rut depth.

FIG. 16.
FIG. 16.

Sand impact.

FIG. 17.
FIG. 17.

Sand impact test vehicle.

FIG. 18.
FIG. 18.

Sand spiral impact points.

FIG. 19.
FIG. 19.

Kevlar low-speed driver-side track impact.

FIG. 20.
FIG. 20.

Goodyear tire low-speed driver-side impact.

FIG. 21.
FIG. 21.

Driver-side impact comparison.

FIG. 22.
FIG. 22.

Tire impact comparison.

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