"Big Wheels Keep On Turning" -- Size Matters

[DLuders]

Although TLG is the world's largest tire manufacturer BY VOLUME, it only has a certain number of tire models (from http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=318746 ):

[NOT SHOWN: the green 47349c04 "Wheels 72 x 34, with Lime Tire 72 x 34 Balloon Offset Tread" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?P=47349c04 )].

If you want larger wheels for your MOC, here are some ideas to consider:

1) Use RC wheels. You can "fix" a Lego Technic Axle into a round hole using this technique (from greatlemon's Brickshelf folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=338030 ):

2) Make a BIG Technic Wheel. From 212001's folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=488767 :

3) Build Even LARGER Wheels. quilkin has some good ideas on his folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=422395 :

4) Strengthen Your Balloon Tires. Fill in the empty space inside your balloon tires so that they can take more weight and not "crush" (from jerry-m's gallery http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=4257829 ):

5) Make Omnidirectional Wheels with Smaller Wheels. Go forwards and SIDEWAYS with these composite wheels (from klima94's gallery http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=4446779 ):

6) Stretch Balloon Tires to Larger Diameter. Make a fat balloon tire into a tall, skinnier tire. "Ultra-stretched 94.8 x 44 balloon tires 54120" (from REDNAXELA74's gallery http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=388260 ):

[DLuders]

"Primus" has another way of increasing the diameter of Lego Technic tire/wheel combinations -- use 3L Technic Pins with Friction: http://www.flickr.com/photos/prhymus/4115727593/ .

[dhc6twinotter]

Does anybody know how the stretched balloon tire is done? I'm assuming it just uses a bunch of technic pieces inside the tire. Is the stretch permanent?

This would work perfect on my current project.

Daniel

Edited June 19, 2010 by dhc6twinotter

[TerranCmdr]

I really really like that rover wheel idea.

[Milan]

I am also interested in these "Ultra-stretched 94.8 x 44 balloon tires 54120". Looks quite good, I would like to see how its done.

There are even bigger and thiner tires made from Power Puller wheels, HERE, but creator of the folder has removed the instructions, sadly.

[CP5670]

2) Make a BIG Technic Wheel. From 212001's folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=488767 :

I like this one a lot. It would look great on a sci-fi vehicle, and uses no illegal construction.

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Wow, thai is some real great wheel-stuff. I had no idea there were so many ways to construct wheels from plain lego-parts.

[Burf2000]

Found this a very very useful post, I need some big wheels for my next project!

[freakwave]

Hi,

A bit off-topic as it is not actually a wheel you can put on a vehicle. However a wheel made out of many many parts!

I have built a self supporting ferris wheel without a center hub as part of a moonbase module. The wheel construction has 43 segments and rotates quite well in its stand. It has a weight of around 2 kg but it only requires a PF-M to drive it. The diameter is more than 100 studs. Quite part intensive it has eaten up nearly all my long technic-pins

It also rolls quite well on the floor...although traction would not be good...

More at Brickshelf

enjoy

fW

Edited June 9, 2010 by freakwave

[DLuders]

I like the Moonbase Ferris Wheel. It kind of reminds me of the "Millennium Eye" Ferris Wheel in London, England. What you didn't show is the follow-up picture of the dizzy minifigs after they got off of the ride!

Edited June 9, 2010 by dluders

[skaako]

Wow, those are some big wheels. Very cool. There must be a great deal of torsion for the axles.

[Burf2000]

How strong is this wheel? Could you make 4 of them and add a hub and then make a car?

Very interested in this

[DJ Force]

I like the Moonbase Ferris Wheel. It kind of reminds me of the "Millennium Eye" Ferris Wheel in London, England. What you didn't show is the follow-up picture of the dizzy minifigs after they got off of the ride!

it has been done ;)

[lowbike1]

Hi,

A bit off-topic as it is not actually a wheel you can put on a vehicle. However a wheel made out of many many parts!

I have built a self supporting ferris wheel without a center hub as part of a moonbase module. The wheel construction has 43 segments and rotates quite well in its stand. It has a weight of around 2 kg but it only requires a PF-M to drive it. The diameter is more than 100 studs. Quite part intensive it has eaten up nearly all my long technic-pins

It also rolls quite well on the floor...although traction would not be good...

More at Brickshelf

enjoy

fW

Dude! thats insane, that may be the raddest thing ever made out of lego

[DLuders]

This could be a way of "stretching" a Lego balloon tire into a shape with a greater diameter and narrower width -- using Bill Ward's "Seven-Way Radial Symmetry Technique" http://www.brickpile.com/2010/06/07/seven-...etry-technique/ . The center of the wheel could be attached to a Technic axle, and the seven radial wheel 2x2 plates could hold spokes of the right length to STRETCH a balloon tire outwards:

[DLuders]

On his Flickr photoset, Adam_Kehoe posted two pictures of a large Hailfire Droid-type Lego Mindstorms creation (seen at AFOLCON & The Lego Show, held in Manchester, UK May 5-7, 2012):

Edited May 6, 2012 by DLuders

[Omikron]

I need your help guys!

I want to build something really cool and big and I need 6x new power puller wheels&tires but it seems to me that it will cost me a kidney

Can you guys please tell me where can I get 6x of wheels&tires?

Can someone help me with LEGO direct or smth?

[timslegos]

One word Dluders, WOW! Those wheels are massive. He must have been sponsored by Lego to build it.

tim

[KEvron]

Found this a very very useful post, I need some big wheels for my next project!

bigger than your previous monsters?!

KEvron

update: d'oh! i should have looked at the time stamp.

Edited May 6, 2012 by KEvron

[Kronos]

I need your help guys!

I want to build something really cool and big and I need 6x new power puller wheels&tires but it seems to me that it will cost me a kidney

Can you guys please tell me where can I get 6x of wheels&tires?

Can someone help me with LEGO direct or smth?

Sorry Omikron, LEGO Direct doesn't have any of these tires and wheels in stock. They've been out for years.

Unless you can find someone who has some (other than BL), you're going to have to give up that kindey. I hear that people live long, productive, full lives with only one kidney. I think you'll be o.k.

[DLuders]

@ Omikron: The 32298 "Black Tire Technic Power Puller" parts are not available anymore from "Lego Direct" (mainly because the 8466 4x4 Off-Roader has not been produced within the past 5 years). They are certainly getting to be very rare (from this meager Bricklink list). If you need 6 of them, be advised that Crtlego said (on this post) that "...they are unusable for Trial Trucks, because their large weight takes way too much power. There are some nice truck designs though, like this one from Zblj":

[Omikron]

So is there any real LEGO alternative bigger then 2 unimog's tires?

[DLuders]

@ Omikron: You could try the technique that gor ipsa/ iipsa used to make a large, all-Lego tire profile -- see this Eurobricks post. dhc6twinotter employed that technique on one of his MOCs:

Edited May 6, 2012 by DLuders

[Omikron]

thanks for the ideas! Hope I can keep my kidney intact

[Saberwing40k]

this is cool, but most of these designs are really part intensive. also, most of the time i can find wheels that are big enough. the problem is they aren't wide enough! there aren't really enough narrow car style tires.