Giant Tires for Gigantic Earthmoving Vehicles 710505

Economics today indicates the need to provide industry with tools of greatly increased capacities to gain the greatest possible output for the least practicable input. Ocean going tankers, railroad cars, airliners, highway trailers, diesel engines, draglines, and shovels are only a few “giantized” tools which are being joined by new earthmoving vehicle concepts of larger-than-life size. A critical item upon which any vehicle in this category depends is its tires. The dimensional scope of the tire program and the challenge of meeting the tire requirements of the various applications being considered are currently being studied by the tire industry. Production facilities of the necessary size and capacity required to meet these needs are now in the process of design and fabrication. This paper discusses the highlights of this giant tire program.