Im buying a heavy duty 182 fork.
Initially plan to put 6.00 x 6 on the front and 7.00 x 6 on the mains.

I assume it is ok to put 7.00s on the original cleveland wheels I have , correct?

What changes should I expect? need to flare earlier? is the drag noticeable at take offs and slow speed landings, and climb?
Speed reduction at cruise?

Maybe all of this is hard to notice since the change is not so dramatic.Just thinking outloud and happy to get any tips.

You might think about 8:50 on the mains works well with the 6:00 up front,always seems like bigger is better....levels out the plane a little better

I have just stock tires on my airplane, but I've visited with fly-in neighbors at several fly-ins--curious as you are about the changes. What I've learned is that it takes a much larger tire for there to be any significant change in airspeeds. For instance, I visited with my neighbor at La Garita who had larger tires all around on his 172, and he said that the airspeed change was about a needle's width on the airspeed indicator--but his airplane was sure easier to push around by hand than mine is!

Cary

Here is a link to the article I wrote about this. At the bottom of the page, I gave a PIREP: https://www.backcountrypilot.org/knowledge-base/aircraft/modifications/167-cessna-heavy-duty-nosewheel-fork

I did the Landis fork with an 8.00 on the nose and 8.50's on the mains.
Here's my answers to your questions:
I assume it is ok to put 7.00s on the original cleveland wheels I have , correct? Yes
What changes should I expect? Very little
Is the drag noticeable at take offs and slow speed landings, and climb? No
Speed reduction at cruise? Not noticeable
Need to flare earlier? Just a little bit.

I enjoy your videos and surmise your an excellent pilot and handle your 182 very well. You'll not notice any flight characteristic changes with a 6.00 nose and 7.00 mains. I didn't notice any with the 8.00 nose and 8.50 mains! The bigger the tires, the more temptation to land in rougher terrain. You need to protect your weak link, the firewall.
Land slow and on the mains first. In your videos I see you do that all ready.
If your set on putting 7.00's on the mains then put a 7.00 on the nose. You'll have a better wing angle for take off and you'll keep your prop a little further from the ground! Why not go bigger? could help you out in the rainy season landing on that mushy ground.

My 172 came with the heavy duty factory nose fork that allows for the 700 tire. When I bought the plane it had 600's all around. I found when I got the angle of attack I wanted it was still landing 3 point. I tried a set of 800's on the mains and it felt better. I then tried a set of 850's on the mains and I found that set up works very nice for me. It just feels right.
KenW

If I put 7.00s on the front wouldnt this make it easier for touch with the nose wheel first?

I'm researching the same questions since my stock strut needs an overhaul. The best setup I've had was 8's on the mains and a 6 on the nose. I took them off because I don't think it was legal but it sure was a good setup. Not only did it help not doink the nose, it helped in crosswinds too by allowing me to cruise along on one main with the nosewheel out of the grass,

motoadve wrote:If I put 7.00s on the front wouldnt this make it easier for touch with the nose wheel first?

For the stuff I've seen you landing in in your videos I'd go as big as you can. Why not 7.00 on the nose and 8.50s on the mains?

A1Skinner wrote:

motoadve wrote:If I put 7.00s on the front wouldnt this make it easier for touch with the nose wheel first?

For the stuff I've seen you landing in in your videos I'd go as big as you can. Why not 7.00 on the nose and 8.50s on the mains?

+1

I agree with Rob. I would go with the larger tires. I put the Airglass fork with larger tires on my 172. I have noticed a bit more drag on take-off and climb-out but not much. Hardly any difference in top end cruise, slow flight or landing. Having the larger tires far outweighs any slight change in performance for me.
Steve

Nosedragger wrote:I'm researching the same questions since my stock strut needs an overhaul. The best setup I've had was 8's on the mains and a 6 on the nose. I took them off because I don't think it was legal but it sure was a good setup. Not only did it help not doink the nose, it helped in crosswinds too by allowing me to cruise along on one main with the nosewheel out of the grass,

I love these old threads, lots of great info. Hopefully some of the players are still active here. By this weekend I should have mine on 600x6 all around but your post made me start thinking all over again about 800x6 on mains and the 600x6 on the nose. I don't need to buy any new tires for a while so it looks like 600s all around for now but as it gets closer to that moment I'll have to consider the 800 vs 600 for the mains again. What has been your experience these last 2 years?

I went front 6.00 mains/5.00 nose to 8.50s all the way around, and now 8.50mains/8.00 nose. This is my favorite setup. Realy like having one size smaller on the nose for several reasons. Big tires aren't real necessary for my flying but I also have 35's on my truck to commute to work. What can I say? I like what like and my kids think I'm pretty fricken cool!

Finally got 8.50s on the mains and 7.00 on the front.
Real happy with this setup.

Those 8.50's definitely give it a cool look.