Bought tires lately?

Dave · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 11:18 am

I'm just trying to ballpark locomotive tires costs for estimating purposes. We're looking at AAR in the 44" ballpark. Thanks.

dave

Paul Boschan · **Joined:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:45 pm **Posts:** 89

Ajax Rolled Ring was my go-to for tires. Ajax was purchased in 2014 by Italian company Fomas Group which continues operations at the York, South Carolina plant. Give them a call at 800-727-6333. If they won't produce finished tires you can purchase ASTM A-788 forged rings and machine yourself or have them machined. ASTM A-551 (locomotive tires) has some additional requirements for tensile testing and heat treating, but that should not be a problem for the forge company. Some other sources of rolled rings are Oklahoma Forge, Gulfco Forge and Liberty Forge.

Dave · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 1:51 pm

Thanks Paul - Ajax is my go-to source, especially since York SC is just down the road. But it is Saturday and I'm hoping for a realistic number I can plug in to an estimate I'm trying to compile.

dave

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

Dave · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 6:25 pm

Thanks Kelly - that's lower than I had anticipated. I'll plug it in.

dave

CCDW · **Joined:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:30 pm **Posts:** 211

I have just received three quotes for tires. They are 42" tires of standard width. The quotes are $1265, $1707 and $2156. I also received one "no quote".
Shop around.

CCdW

Dave · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2015 6:50 pm

Thanks Chris - can you share (PM) the name of the low cost supplier?

dave

CCDW · **Joined:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:30 pm **Posts:** 211

It was Ajax who has been bought out by The Fomas Group in York, South Arolina

Dave · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2015 7:39 pm

How convenient! And, their laundry detergent is stronger than dirt.

dave

Trevor Heath · **Posted:** Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:58 am

The rest or the World uses Ring Rollers in South Africa.

http://www.dcd.co.za/rail/DCDRingrollers.aspx

With the current exchange rate between the Rand v's the Dollar. I'd expect them to be very competitive.

TH

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

cjvrr · **Posted:** Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:24 am

A little off topic, but what do you do with the old tires? I know fire houses used to buy them for bells positioned outside the fire house. Do you guys have market for the used ones or are they put in the scrap pile?

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:28 pm

I am interested in how various people who have done this task in the past obtained good OD measurements of the wheel centers.

CCDW · **Joined:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:30 pm **Posts:** 211

Outside diameters are best taken with a vernier reading Pi tape. Accurate to a thousandth and the driving center doesn't have to be exactly round. Given what they do they are inexpensive. A 42" pi tape costs about $117.00.

Check MSC part number 06443071

CCdW