Barnstormer wrote:

Battson wrote:

whee wrote:Glad you asked this. These are the two options I'll be looking at when I get the deal done on my new plane.

+1 for this comment
I have been wondering how much utility 26's offer over 8.50's. The 29" size seems popular.

I've now flown with 8.50x6's, 26 Goodyears, and 29 Bushwheels.


My experience with MY 185:

The 26 Goodyears were a big improvement on floatation over the 8.50's, and with a negligible impact on cruise speed. They lessen the impact felt at landing. They definitely boosted my confidence off airport. Weight difference was noticeable. As others have said "They wear like iron" - on all surfaces. Ramp appeal is certainly better as well.

The 29's are amazing in both positive and negative ways:

1. The AOA they provide on takeoff is excellent.
2. The confidence boost they provide is excellent.
3. The off airport performance they offer is excellent.
4. They eliminate most anything felt at landing. ("Your going to run over the tire that marks the beginning of the runway"...."What tire? I don't see a tire.")
5. The ramp appeal is excellent.
6. The cruise speed hit I took was large, somewhere between 10 - 15 mph, probably closer to 15. With a tail wind I can negate some of it by going high. Headwind no.
7. Weight difference over the 26's is definitely noticeable.
8. Braking effectiveness is much reduced.
9. It's well documented they are very unhappy on pavement, and that is NOT what they are intended for. But they are also unhappy on any surface as hard as or nearly as hard as pavement.

Note: In purchasing the 185 I wasn't looking to buy a Jeep, I was looking to buy a Raptor. Go off road but also go fast, go high, carry four people, full fuel, and all our gear - and the 185 does that well.

I have no regrets on buying either the 26's or the 29's. Time will tell which one ends up the permanent shoes for the wagon, perhaps both will - I certainly will not go back to the 8.50x6's.

Barnstormer wrote:*Heaps of useful stuff*

180jocky wrote:
Barnstormer, how much pressure were you using in your 26's?

Marty