Early Messerschmitt Bf109 B, C and D in progress.

[huub vink]

Daimler Benz powered objects with white wall tires look like this! Nice, but they don't fly (depending on your definition of flying....)
(Could't find anything decent, with tires like this, powered by a JuMo engine)

Cheers,
Huub

 

[Motormouse]

Sorry to burst your collective bubbles,
but the white sidewalls on the German tyres were a visual
indicator that the tyre was constructed to be electrically conductive, to discharge on touchdown static electricity charges built up in flight. Important as some bombs were electrically armed... and you wouldn't want to connect one up to an aeroplane unless you were sure no stray static charges were likely to be present.

Discussion about these tyres on ww2aircraft. net

Dunlop were marketing ECTA (electrically conductive) tyres in mid 1930's btw, nowadays, all aircraft tyres by construction are electrically conductive so we don't have to have them specifically marked (the carbon content of rubber compound is what makes them conductive).

Edit : make that Tailwheel tyres, mainwheel tyres had painted white walls to protect them in a hot environment, stipulated by D. (luft) T. 2109 part 9F

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/marseilles-bf-109s.23088/post-798777

Ttfn

Pete

(Resident fixer of aeroplanes)

 

[HorusJ]

Poor Shessi. Your 109 has become the most controversial FS9 aircraft to date.

Very much looking forward too it!

J

 

[Motormouse]

Poor Shessi. Your 109 has become the most controversial FS9 aircraft to date.

Very much looking forward too it!

J

Indeed, but no controversy at all, its the continuous learning curve we are on as more and more things become unclassified as the years go by.

Ttfn

Pete

 

[huub vink]

Thanks for your clarification Pete. You learn something new every day here!

As the Bf109 couldn't carry bombs until the Bf109 E-4B version, there was no need for conductive tires until this version. But am I the only one who thinks its a bit complex to use conductive tires instead of an ordinary metal strip?

Cheers,
Huub

 

[Motormouse]

Thanks for your clarification Pete. You learn something new every day here!

As the Bf109 couldn't carry bombs until the Bf109 E-4B version, there was no need for conductive tires until this version. But am I the only one who thinks its a bit complex to use conductive tires instead of an ordinary metal strip?

Cheers,
Huub

Don't you just ... I'm guessing for ease of procurement that there was a standard issue tailwheel tyre used across several different
types / manufacturers and it was easier to specify use tyre X in all the manuals than specifying different tyres for different models ...
hence conductive tailwheel tyres are seen on models as diverse as Ju52 and Fieseler Storch, to Ju88 and Me109

ttfn

Pete

 

[huub vink]

It's close...can you smell it?

It becomes smellier every day.....