Lionel's thick rubber tires

GregROGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I don't know when it started, but for the past few years, Lionel has doubled the thickness of their diesel tires. Instead of 30 mil thickness, they are 60 mil. They stick well beyond the notches they were intended to be seated within. They are so thick, that they cause uneven distribution of load on the truck, and reduce the effective flange depth, leading to derailments on switches. I keep replacing these fat tires with tires of the correct thickness which properly seat themselves in the grooves. The correct tires can be obtained from just about any postwar or MPC parts dealer. You will notice much improved performance with properly seated tires of the correct size.

The attached photos clearly show the conditions. The photos show the before and after condition.

Has anyone else noticed this issue?

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11/28/1511:04 PM

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Marty FitzhenryOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

The hot set up is to use MTH tires. They are a perfect fit and better made. I see many of these and many Lionel operators are on board. Do not buy old stock Lionel. The MTH tire will last a very long time.

11/28/1511:20 PM

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Bob DelbridgeOGR Forum Member

Has anyone asked them why this was/is done? I recall this coming up before and I think I swapped out the tires on my GP9 when I first read about this.

11/28/1511:24 PM

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GregROGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Originally Posted by Marty Fitzhenry:

Thanks Marty. Good suggestion. Would you happen to know which MTH tire best fits the generic Lionel diesel wheel set?

11/28/1511:34 PM

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MoonmanOGR Forum Member

I don't have the part numbers, but saved this scaled reference chart which refers to MTH tire sizes.

Note: When you print the page check the square on the page. credit to eddie m.

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tires size chart.pdf

11/29/155:20 AM

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Marty FitzhenryOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Here is the MTH tire chart. Might be a good idea to save it somewhere on your computer.

TRACTION TIRE CHART
AS OF Dec 2013
MTH P/N	DE-0000014	DE-0000015	DE-0000018	DE-0000023	DE-0000025	DE-0000027	DE-0000031	DE-0000036	DE-0000041
				(old part # DE-1050038)		(old part # DE-1050036)	(old part # DE-1050041)
TIRE O.D.	14.0mm	15.0mm	17.0mm	22.1 mm	24.4mm	26.9mm	30.3 mm	36.0mm	41.0mm
TIRE WIDTH	4.0mm	4.0mm	4.0mm	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.4mm	3.4mm
Wheel Diameter	17 mm	18 mm	22 mm	27 - 30 mm	32-33 mm	35 - 37 mm	38.5 - 42 mm

MODELS	SC R-32 SUBWAY	RK SUBWAY	ALL DIESELS	RK 0-8-0	RK BIG BOY	RK DREYFUSS	SC JERSEY BLUE COMET	SC NYC-999 4-4-0 (86")	SC PRINCESS CORONATION
	RK PCC	RK ZEPHYR	SC SHAY	RK CAB FORWARD	RK CHALLENGER	SC CAB FORWARD SP AC-6	SC FEF NORTHERN
	GALLOPING GOOSE	SC ZEPHYR	RK DOODLEBUG	RK S-2 TURBINE	SC GN R-2	SC CNR 6060	SC PRR T-1
	RK BRILL TROLLEY	SC M10000	RK GG1	RK 2-10-0 DECAPOD	SC Triplex	RK UP 49'ER	SC PRR ATLANTIC
		RK M10000	RK BUDD CAR	SC ERIE CAMEIBACK	SC N&W UNSHROUDED " J "	RK GENERAL-ARMY	SC AT&SF NORTHERN
		SC CLIMAX	RK EP-5	SC UP CLASS 9000 4-12-2	RK M1a MOUNTAIN	RK HUDSON	SC PRR S-1
		SC UP DC-3	SC EP-5	RK B-6 SWITCHER	SC H10S 2-8-0	RK C&O HUDSON	SC AT&SF HUDSON 4-6-4
		SC ALCO PA	SC RECTIFIER	RK USRA 2-8-8-2	SC 2-10-0 DECAPOD	RK CP ROYAL HUDSON	SC GN 4-8-4 NORTHERN
		RK BURZEPHYR	SC COAL TURBINE	RK IMPERIAL TRIPLEX	RK CAMELBACK	SC PRR Q-2	SC PRR D-16(BEL, RADI)
		RK R-10	SC M-1	RK USRA SWITCHER	SC Y6b	RK JERSEY BLUE COMET	SC BLUE GOOSE
		RK Flying Yankee	SC P-2 BOX CAB	SC USRA 0-8-0	RK ATSF NORTHERN	SC USRA PACIFIC	SC DREYFUSS HUDSON
			SC CENTIPEDE	SC PRR H-3 2-8-0	SC USRA LIGHT MIKADO	RK PRR K-4S	SC ESE
			RK RECTIFIER	SC A5S PRR 0-4-0	SC AT&SF TEXAS	RK PACIFIC	SC J1D HUDSON
			SC E2 BI POLAR	SC USRA 0-6-0	RK FEF NORTHERN	RK HUDSON HIAWATHA	SC NH l5 4-6-4
			RK AERO TRAIN	RK USRA Y6b	SC WM CHALLENGER	RK ESE	SC C&NW E-4
			SC GP-30	SC RUSSIAN DACAPOD	SC Z-6 CHALLENGER	RK WABASH HUDSON	SC ORIENT EXPRESS
			SC GP-9	SC GG1	SC CLASS A	RK DISNEY ENGINE IN VT	SC ESE HUDSON
			SC E-8	RK USRA Mallot	SC BERKSHIRE	RK P-47 BALDWIN	SC HIAWATHS
			RK F-40PH	RK 2-6-0	SC UP CHALLENGER	RK C&O ALLEGHENY	SC GS4
			RK PA	RK 2-8-0	SC BIG BOY	RK TEXAS	SC NIAGARA
			SC SD-90MAC	SC EF 3B	SC CLASS A	RK WANDERER	SC E4 HUDSON
			RK F-3	SC Y-1 Box Cab	SC DM&IR	SC Y3	SC NYC J1E HUDSON
			SC F-3	ST BLUE COMET	RK L-3 MOHAWK	RK PS4
			RK FA-2	AEM-7	RK TORPEDO	SC H-8 ALLEGHENY	SC PRR K-4S
			SC SD-70M	ST S-2	RK COM. VANDERBILT		SC CP ROYAL HUDSON
			SC GP-30	ST GS-4	RK GS-4	SC N&W " J "	SC PS4
			SC SD-24	ST N&W "J"	RK NKP BERKSHIRE	SC Unshrouded J	SC P-5A MODIFIED
			RK F-3	SC Y-1 Box Cab	RK CRUSADER		SC G5 4-6-0
			RK RDC BUDDCAR	RK ST 4-6-0	SC H-9 CONSOLIDATION		SC C&O 4-8-4 Greenbrier
			SC RS-27	RK L-1 Mikado	SC C&O ALLEGHENY		SC READING T-1
			RK F-59PH		RK N&W " J "		SC NYC 999 4-4-0 (70")
					SC NYC A-2 BEKSHIRE
					SC PRR J-1
					SC C&O T-1
					SC 2-8-2 KANAWHA
					SC PRR 2-8-2 L1
					SC CNJ4 CLASS L6S
					RK GS-2
					RK H-8 ALLEGHENY