"STUG III in Barbarossa-rubber or steel wheels?" Topic

I've seen pics with the track wheels covered in a black rubber sleeve, and then I've seen pics that seem to be without them.
Were they used in 1941?

I could be wrong but if I have to guess I'd say rubber. It was only until later when rubber became in short supply that the Germans switched to all steel road wheels.

I'm pretty sure rubber was standard on the road wheels of all German tanks until late in the war, when material shortages made them forego such luxuries.

Possibly the ones you've seen that seem to be without them are due to the road wheels being covered in dust, etc., thereby giving them a uniform look (i.e., the dust is so thick it makes everything look like the same color)?

I'm 99% sure that all steel wheels were never used on the PZKW III based AFVs. Dirt and dust might be making the tire appear to be the same colour as the wheel leading to the appearance of no tire.

I have not heard of full steel road wheels on StuGs. The return rollers yes but not the roadwheels.

Having just been through my Spielberger on the Panzer III I am 100% sure that they were not manufactured with all steel roadwheels. I would be interested to see the photos you mention if that is possible?

OK. Yea, dust could account for the pics I saw. They were just generic photos I found when I Googled "StugIII".
Anyone know why some AFVs had them and some didn't? Expected lifespan? Economy?
Thanx all.

IIRC only the Jagdpanzer IV with the long 75mm. Front suspension was overloaded and the rubber tyres wore out in a few miles.

That's of the III/IV series vehicles. Tiger II and Jagdtiger had them as well.
Here is a pic of the late Jagdpanzer IV. You can see the front 2 road wheels are different from the others.

There was a shortage of rubber which is why Germany was using synthetic rubber which did not manage the freezing very well.

From what I can find steel road wheels were used on heavy tanks like Panther and Tigers and nose heavy tanks like JgPz IV. Late production Tigers are most easily identified as the rubber rimmed road wheels were replaced with steel road wheels. Some early 1945 Panthers had a mixture of steel and rubber road wheels. The Gummigefederten Stahllaufrollen (steel road wheels with internal rubber bushings) was fitted to Tigers and some Panther G's.

The Russians used steel wheels on all of their heavy tanks because the rubber could not hold u to the weight.

Probably more than you need to know.

Wolfhag