Polar Express + MTH traction tires

Which polar express are you talking about? The scale model, or the starter set locomotive?....got an item# ?........Pat

The S Gauge set and the new Flyerchief Berkshires  6-44026

Thanks

Gunny

Whoops, my bad....didn’t look at the forum category, can you measure a driver, I’ve got the MTH tire book right here in front of me....might can suggest a size if that helps.....MTH measures the tires in MM’s....Pat

I frequently use MTH traction tires that are one size under with great success. I have a set of dental picks that I bought from Harbor Freight that make installation super easy.

Harmonyards,

They measure 17.4498 mm dia .9652 thick 2.184 wide

Thanks

Gunny

gunny posted:

Harmonyards,

They measure 17.4498 mm dia .9652 thick 2.184 wide

Thanks

Gunny

         

Part no. DE 0000014 is MTH tire measures 14.0mm X 3.0 mm that’s the only one I see in the book that’s close. Looks like you’d have to might shave down the thickness. A trial fitment would be in order.....I know a lot of us in O scale use MTH tires on Lionel products......hope that helps .......Pat 

Thanks Pat!

Gunny

The DE-14's are going to be too wide.

They are too small in diameter

Gunny

They stretch. And when they do, they thin. Both in width and thickness. If need be soak them in hot water first.

Gunny,

Check Doug Pecks parts Listings that I pasted below, not sure if any of these have the same size drivers as the Berkshires. 

Aflyer

Gunny, 

I have mentioned on other posts, I have the S gauge PE and THE NKP Berks, l went to the Home Depot and found O-rings in the plumbing section, fitting two narrow side by side work great. These replaced the original tires and have been on a couple years and still working fine.

Ray

Rayin"S" posted:

Gunny, 

I have mentioned on other posts, I have the S gauge PE and THE NKP Berks, l went to the Home Depot and found O-rings in the plumbing section, fitting two narrow side by side work great. These replaced the original tires and have been on a couple years and still working fine.

Ray

Hey!...that’s a cool idea.....Pat

Ray,

I will give it a try!

Thanks

Gunny

WHY? Because four engines have been thru TEN SETS since mid November.I was hoping MTH made something with better quality! Lionel has plenty but I do not like changing tires on new engines every day.

Gunny

I'm late to this thread, but the MTH traction tire guide has the appropriate wheel diameters, so taking a caliper and measuring the driver size will get you an MTH part number. So far it has worked for a Lionel Heisler and the Polar Express RTR set.

I use MTH tires for most of my Lionel stuff.  Many times the Lionel tires are too thick and cause issues dragging on brake shoes.

@Brian G posted:

I'm late to this thread, but the MTH traction tire guide has the appropriate wheel diameters, so taking a caliper and measuring the driver size will get you an MTH part number. So far it has worked for a Lionel Heisler and the Polar Express RTR set.

When looking at the handy dandy tire chart Mike Reagan made on the mthpartsandsales.com website, It’s pretty much locomotive for locomotive MTH vs. Lionel. As John mentioned above, a lot of us have switched exclusively to using nothing but MTH tires. When comparing tires, think of it this way, Premier locomotives would be the same as the scale Legacy engines. Railking would be the same as the traditional sized engines or what’s now called Lionchief or Lionchief plus. Not to say there’s not some exceptions, but it’s a good place to start. Mike’s chart also gives dimensions for fitments, so of course, you can easily double check before you purchase …

Pat