| | UNI-DIRECTIONAL BAR TREAD TYRES
(2610-66-010-7865: Tyre, pneumatic, light truck type, N.D. lug type, 7.50-16, 6 ply)
The "Uni-directional Bar Tread Snow Tyre" can be fitted on Series 2, 2A, 3 but is not good enough/safe enough for late model Land-Rovers which attain higher road speed - V8 and Turbo Diesel engined County and Defender models.
Bar Treads or Uni Directional tyres were used on Australian Army Land-Rovers for decades, from the 50's through to the late '80's when the Land-Rover 110's were introduced wearing Olympic Steel Trek Radials 8PR. In the late '90s when the last of the Series 3 models were released through auctions, some of them still wore Bar Treads, and even today, Army Land-Rover trailers are still wearing the good ol' bar treads.
For the enthusiasts seeking to present their older Landys in parades and shows, Bar treads are it. Bar Treads maybe less than ideal on wet streets, and they are certainly not as good to drive as radials, but there is a certain unique road noise, a nostalgic howl, generated by a Land-Rover and half-ton trailer shod with meaty Bar Treads rolling on bitumen, at about 40mph, running 20psi pressure...
The following details regarding Bar treads have been collected from looking at tyres at parades and swap meets. There is lots more to find out, but this is a start:
- Manufacturer - HARDIE, Brand - "HARDIEGRIP", Made In Australia, Size 7.50-16, "PLY 6 RATING", molding code "MR 00416", D^D mark (arrow only).
- Manufacturer - DUNLOP, Brand - "UNIVERSAL":
early type; "DUNLOP UNIVERSAL" in large block letters, and marked "WEFTLESS" "CORD"
later type; Made In Australia, Size 7.50-16 TRUCK, "6 PLY", molding code example "6T15197N", "0X9 9645", "6X9 6005".
- Manufacturer - GOODYEAR, Brand - "All Service", Made In Australia R.D. NO 15631, Size 7.50-16LT, "6 PLY RATING", molding code examples "48VFAY9", "40LA3134", "57WA4264", D^D mark (DD and arrow). Perhaps the other marking such as "2790-6K" or "2789-3K" are also code for the production date?
- Manufacturer - B.F. Goodrich, Brand - "Silvertown", "NON DIRECTIONAL SUPER TRACTION", Made In Australia, Size 7.50-16, "6 PLY RATING", molding code example "8 707 2".
- Manufacturer - OLYMPIC, Brand - "TROJAN":
early type; "N.D. TYPE", Made In Australia, Size 7.50-16LT, "NYLON", "6 PLY RATING", molding code example "EM 6092".
later type; "ROAD GRIP N.D. TYPE", Made In Australia, Size 7.50-16LT, "NYLON", "6 PLY RATING", molding code examples "WM 038", "WM 068", "WM 148", "WM 218", "WM 258", "WM 307", "WM 338", "WM 346", "WM407". Older (1960's?) code examples are "BB ---", "CA ---".
AUSTRALIAN ASSEMBLED LAND-ROVER WHEEL RIMS. There is lots more to find out, but this is a start:
- "Regular" model Series 2A Land-Rovers (88 WB) which left the Solihull factory on 6.50-16 tyres were fitted with 5.0JJ x 16" rims: part number R231601. Apparently split rims (so-called combat rims) also exist in this size: part number R217267. (for AMF Gunbuggy variant?)
- "Long" model Series 2A Land-Rovers were factory fitted with 7.50-16 tyres of many kinds and the rims fitted were sized 5.5JJ x 16" with an offset of 1 & 13/16th inches from the centre line - the extra rim width is on the inner half: part number R272309.
- Late "Long" model Series 2A Land-Rovers were fitted with rims sized 5.5JJ x 16" with a 1 & 5/16th inch offset - the extra offset is on the outer half: part number R568966. (better appearance) The military version of this rim is: FV738903.
- Series 3 model long wheel base models had rims on the same design as the late Series 2A, with rims sized 5.5JJ x 16" with the 1 & 5/16th inch offset on the outer half: part number R569690. The military version of this rim is: FV738903.
- Land Rover 110" County model rims sold in the 1980's are sized 5.5JJx16", stamped a "D" for Dunlop logo, "NRC7578", and "FV 2000727". DM says these rims are rare as rocking horse manure.
Thanks to Black Stump forum for help on the info.
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