Traction tires

You might try the ADVANCED SEARCH feature, as I'm pretty sure this subject was recently discussed. I know, I leave the spare tires WITH each locomotive.

EDIT:  There was also a discussion related to filing the operator manuals for all the locomotives one owns. Might be worth looking THAT one up too.

I aggregate traction tires by manufacturer's (primarily MTH in my case) part number, since many engines use the same size tire and I have over 100 MTH engines. I keep a list of each traction tire's part # and the engines that it fits.

I keep the tires in airtight baggies, along with the lists, in a plastic compartmented box.

I know this link was posted before but it is the MTH traction tire chart. It would be nice if they would make a assortment pack and offer them to dealers to sell and online direct in case you don't have a dealer in your area.

http://mthtrains.com/sites/def...ire_Chart_020414.pdf

I recall storing regular rubber bands in a paper bag with talcum powder, wonder if that would keep a supply of traction tires fresh?

I know storing rubber fishing lures in a plastic container will cause the lures to melt the container over time, especially in a warm/hot space.

I do not leave them in the original box, as then I have to go get the original box...and, like many of us, the boxes - not the engines - are in the attic....there aren't that many sizes/widths/depths, so I just find one that fits, but it does make more sense to have a simple tagging/marking system. I should have, but I didn't.

Above:

"I recall storing regular rubber bands in a paper bag with talcum powder, wonder if that would keep a supply of traction tires fresh?"

Not sure how "fresh" one can keep these, and, so far as I know some were/are made of rubber (not good, long term) and some are made of neoprene (good all around - including being unaffected by oil-based products...like oil). Neoprene good, rubber bad.

The talc used in rubber bands is there to keep the rubber bands from sticking together, as talc is a dry lubricant (talc is a natural clay). 

So, the effect of talc is to eliminate the traction between rubber bands, so the last thing you want on your traction tires is talc, which could leave the tire, but little traction. The main problem would be the grip the tire has on the wheel, as the rail surface side should shed the talc fairly quickly. In actuality, it probably wouldn't be a biggie, but it's still a fact.