So I've been running Goodyear 8.50's on all three since I did the nose fork mod a couple years ago. I have had the feeling of a lot of weight on the nose. I got in the habbit of throwing a 25 lb bag of shot in the baggage if I didn't have the kids in the backseat. I also have found that I need to carry more speed than necessary on landing, just to have the elevator authority to flare and keep the nose from touching at the same time as the mains. This is due to a combination of added weight and length on the nose gear.

So, thanks to Cevelrod, I removed the 8.50 and replaced it with an airtrac 8.00. WOW! What a huge change in flight characteristics!!! The change in tire diameter(inflated) is exactly 3". The 8.00 is 3 lbs less, and no more shimmy. The flare feels like it used too and I can come over the fence at 50mph and still flare and hold the nose off, without kids or baggage! As an added bonus, I un-scientifically show that i gained back about 3kts! I believe that the nose gear creates a lot of drag up there behind the propeller. Nothing to base that on, it just feels that way and I know I gained some speed back going a little smaller on the tire.

Another side note, I dont believe that the 8.00 has any smaller of a footprint than the 8.50. The 8.00 appears to be as wide as the 8.50, I don't think any floatation will be lost.

That is a really pretty 172

denalipilot wrote:That is a really pretty 172

X2! Nice plane!

I found the very same thing on our 206s. We field approved a change back to 8.00 tire on the nose, and as you say, it really makes all the difference in the world, particularly when empty.

If you go to 10 inch tires on the mains, then the 8.50 tire on the nose makes sense, and again restores the original relationship of mains to nose.

Great looking airplane!

MTV

For those who may not have seen it, Jered wrote up a cool guide to his installation of the larger nosewheel fork a while back:

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/knowle ... wheel-fork

did you notice any cruise speed loss when you went with the bigger tires?

I would have never guessed 3 pounds in a tire would make that much of a difference in the flying characteristics.
I did loose 16lbs in the front end when I replaced my Hartzell with an MT, and it felt lighter on the nose, and ligther elevator forces, but not super dramatic.

I just replaced my 600x6 in the nose with a 700x6, so adding about 2 pounds.(will comment after I fly it)
And Im replacing the Airtracs 800x6 with Goodyears 850x6 on the mains (I agree with your 3 pounds difference per tire)
Also I can see an increase in airspeed by going with smaller tire in the nose.

Even if the tire have the same foot print, bigger tires always roll better over stuff though.
Nice plane

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I really like the 850 - 800 nose setup. Once airglas had their stc modified for different tire sizes I didn't have an excuse not to buy the kit anymore.

Mark Y. wrote:I really like the 850 - 800 nose setup. Once airglas had their stc modified for different tire sizes I didn't have an excuse not to buy the kit anymore.

Great looking bird Mark!

Beautiful plane and interesting read.

When my Maule is due for new rubber I plan to go with a 7 on the front (up from 6) and 8.00 on the mains (up from 7).

The plane is already slow enough so I don't need to add any more drag than that

We didn't notice hardly any loss. Maybe a few mph. Went from 500-5 to 800-6 on the nose and 600-6 to 8.50 on the mains.
The most pain in the ass was getting the old fork off the strut.


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Crzyivan13 wrote:

Mark Y. wrote:I really like the 850 - 800 nose setup. Once airglas had their stc modified for different tire sizes I didn't have an excuse not to buy the kit anymore.

Great looking bird Mark!

Thanks! Yours is pretty sharp too, I was drooling when i read your purchase thread...lol

I had the 600/800 set up on my last 205. I put the Airglas 800/850 setup on the new one. Love it!




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Jared your plane looks so sweet... Once we rid ourselves of the cold white stuff we need to go exercise those big tires!!

Rod