It's astounding how accurate they were using only statistical methods:
> Analysis of wheels from two tanks (48 wheels each, 96 wheels total) yielded an estimate of 270 produced in February 1944, substantially more than had previously been suspected.
> German records after the war showed production for the month of February 1944 was 276.
The analysis of tank wheels yielded an estimate for the
number of wheel molds that were in use. A discussion with
British road wheel makers then estimated the number of
wheels that could be produced from this many molds...
> Analysis of wheels from two tanks (48 wheels each, 96 wheels total) yielded an estimate of 270 produced in February 1944, substantially more than had previously been suspected.
> German records after the war showed production for the month of February 1944 was 276.