XM-778 2 1/2 ton Cargo Truck, W/W

[cranetruck]

Hmm...these tires are exceedingly rare, they were only used on one series of trucks in production, the m656/xm757/xm791. I have personally only recovered 5 (five) during the 12 years that I have owned my xm757, none of them Goodyear, which never even got their own FSN #.
These images show the Goodyear and the Goodrich tires on my truck with little wear (Goodyear in the background).

 

[cranetruck]

This is a recap, with original grooving and siping. It was done at a facility in Germany with REOR as an identification mark on the side of the tire.

 

[AndrewH]

I'll have to take a second to look for date codes on these. I have some maintenance records for the trucks. #79 looks like it got new tires regularly through the '80s one at a time and an entire set in the mid '90s. All from the forest service as the receipt claims no charge. Seems like there has too be a pile of these tires somewhere.

 

[cranetruck]

I'm very curious about the date codes on your Goodyear tires. After the m656 series trucks were retired after some 15 years in service with the Pershing 1A in Germany in the late 1980's, the tires were most likely not manufactured/needed any longer.

This is from one of my Goodyears:
The 4-digit date code should be interpreted as 1980's, possibly early 1990's.

 

[cranetruck]

The three Goodyear tires on my 757 have the following datecodes: MCM1 62C050, MCM1 62C070 and MCM1 62C080.



The tires were made at the Danville, Virginia plant, where mostly aircraft tires are manufactured, according to internet searches. The tires have more anti-ozonant agents added and seem to survive for decades without significant damage from exposure.

 

[rustystud]

The three Goodyear tires on my 757 have the following datecodes: MCM1 62C050, MCM1 62C070 and MCM1 62C080.

View attachment 722465

The tires were made at the Danville, Virginia plant, where mostly aircraft tires are manufactured, according to internet searches. The tires have more anti-ozonant agents added and seem to survive for decades without significant damage from exposure.

Compared to todays tires which last two years before exposure rots them !

 

[rosco]

Wonder if the grooving wasn't done after the tire was worn to extend the life...
not so easily done on a new tire. Never done it, so I could be wrong, any comments?

View attachment 722343View attachment 722342

I agree that the grove pattern is "factory". I've played around with a hot knife re-grooving some drive tires. Its terribly time consuming & always can be identified as hand done. In the old days as a kid, I remember seeing Greyhound busses with re-grooved tires on them.

 

[Tracer]

I agree that the grove pattern is "factory". I've played around with a hot knife re-grooving some drive tires. Its terribly time consuming & always can be identified as hand done. In the old days as a kid, I remember seeing Greyhound busses with re-grooved tires on them.

Yes rosco, I remember them well!!

 

[cranetruck]

The date codes will explain it.

 

[AndrewH]

#78 has the BFGoodrich Silvertown tires.
There are two different age tires and the main difference is the 4-69's have the FSN and a part number on them. These are the ones with no center rib.


#79 has the Goodyear tires
MA2X 8ABO67 on at least three. The others seem to be facing inward.
These are the ones with the center ribs.


A 9.00x20 on deuce wheel, 16R20 on XM778 wheel, 16.00R20 on a 5 ton wheel

 

[cranetruck]

Thanks for posting.
Regarding the Goodrich tire, the large numbers are not a date code...

 

[cranetruck]

Okay, if MA2X 8AB067 is the date code on the grooved tires, then they are not Goodyears, but made by a Chinese company according to this table.

 

[DavidWymore]

Man, I'd love to have some big NDTs/NDCCs for my deuce...

Ya know what would be really awesome? Some off road ability comparo videos.

 

[gimpyrobb]

I've been to a couple off road events and mostly it comes down to driver skill. Not a huge difference in ability imho.

 

[DavidWymore]

In my (vast ) experience with other vehicles, lockers and larger tires make a huge difference. But skill can negate it. Other thing is you guys are in mud and I’m in the desert...

 

[gimpyrobb]

I would think lockers would make the largest improvement. I haven't wheeled with trucks that have them yet(in a deuce).

 

[AndrewH]

These may be the date codes for the Goodrich tires? 4131U306, 12285F499, 33193U307, 5875U306 Ill have to crawl under there and see if I can get the others.



They say Good-year with the winged shoe logo. I wonder if the carcasses were recapped but I don't see a line like I would expect.

 

[AndrewH]

Man, I'd love to have some big NDTs/NDCCs for my deuce...

Ya know what would be really awesome? Some off road ability comparo videos.

The difference in snow is pretty noticeable. The 778 (singled out deuce) went thru the snow without nearly as much trouble. Without using the lockers. Where the deuce would have a tendency to start hopping the single tires would seem to just plow through.

On the dirt pile the M35 would claw its way up requiring some speed to help it to the top of the pile where the 778 with all axles locked would crawl up with minimal wheel slip and not requiring the speed. Both with tires aired down some. Don't know what pressure. Just down till they were "bulgy"

 

[cranetruck]

The Goodrich date codes agree with mine.
The difference between Goodrich and Goodyear is shown in the first image here and the way "Goodyear" is marked on the tire in the second.