Are metal wheels absolute must on HL tanks?

[dai phan]

Hello all,

All my three HL tanks have metal tracks except for the Challenger that has metal wheels also. Assuming you are not abusing the heck out of the tanks, can you get by with metal tracks and plastic wheels? Also how easy to upgrade to metal wheels if you choose to do so in the future? Thanks Dai

[windmill]

I have plastic roadwheels and metal track on my T-72. It seems fine other than there's no sort of bushing or bearing in the roadwheels, so they have some slop, and squeak. They're molded in black, so wear on the "tire" doesn't show, and looks natural.
I plan on adding brass bushings to eliminate the slop without the extra weight of metal roadwheels. I don't mind the squeak, its the most scale like sound they make.

[dai phan]

I have plastic roadwheels and metal track on my T-72. It seems fine other than there's no sort of bushing or bearing in the roadwheels, so they have some slop, and squeak. They're molded in black, so wear on the "tire" doesn't show, and looks natural.
I plan on adding brass bushings to eliminate the slop without the extra weight of metal roadwheels. I don't mind the squeak, its the most scale like sound they make.

So do you get "brass bushings" if you get the metal wheels? I am newbie so pardon my question. My 4th tank will be the King Tiger. I am contemplating spending 300 on an all metal track/wheels or 251 on plastic wheels and metal tracks. I tender my tanks so I do not put them through brutal boot camps like on YT videos. Dai

[windmill]

So do you get "brass bushings" if you get the metal wheels? I am newbie so pardon my question. My 4th tank will be the King Tiger. I am contemplating spending 300 on an all metal track/wheels or 251 on plastic wheels and metal tracks. I tender my tanks so I do not put them through brutal boot camps like on YT videos. Dai

No, the metal roadwheels have ball bearings.

[Rubicon99]

Hello all,

All my three HL tanks have metal tracks except for the Challenger that has metal wheels also. Assuming you are not abusing the heck out of the tanks, can you get by with metal tracks and plastic wheels? Also how easy to upgrade to metal wheels if you choose to do so in the future? Thanks Dai

I have a few HL tanks that are the stock plastic (a nylon ABS type plastic not polystyrene) road wheels riding on metal suspension arms. These work reasonably well even when abused. The majority of the new 6.0 and up tanks are now coming this way in their most basic offerings. The plastic wheel to metal axel fit is fairly good in comparison to the old loose fitting design so there is less “wobble” then with the prior generation 5.2/5.3 tanks that had plastic on plastic contact. These would experience rapid wear on the plastic suspension “axles” causes by dust and fine dirt/sand getting in and like sand paper between the plastic road wheel and plastic axle arms. The axle arms were much softer material then the wheels.

With the metal now being used the wear rate is greatly reduced and the issues of the past take much longer to develop.

So if you are a casual driver yet still want to play in the dirt and sand with you basic 6.0 plastic road wheels then you should not have any issues for a rather long time.