So the time has come to replace the aging 29 inch bushwheels.

Here is my setup:
Ragwing 170 with c-145 and 29 inch bushwheels. With a 76/51 prop

I would like to install the 80/42 sea plane prop but I need to replace the tires. And only have the funds for one or the other at this time.

My question is would it be better to replace the tires and wait until I can buy the prop or put the prop on and replace the tires with a set of desser 8.5x6?

Which would give me better performance increase? Would the desser tires really limit where I can land vs. the bushwheels? Or would the lighter weight tires and pullling power of the prop offset the loss of the bushwheels?

I had the dessers on my 172 and they were great.

Thanks

I would get the prop and Dessers. Unless you NEDED the 29's then get the prop for the increase in performance. Then save up and get 29's later on. JMHO

Kurt

Ditto what Kurt said. The 8042 is a real climb and takeoff enhancer for that motor. In a way, the Dessers are too with their net weight reduction. Unless you really need 29s where you go.
-DP

Do you really need those tires on that plane. If not, I would think 26" GY or Desser w/10lbs air would give acceptable/better performance with that prop. Good absorbtion of the ground and probly a little better speed. It's all a compromse in one direction or another.

If you need 29's, then you NEED 29's, and going to smaller tires will just put you and your aircraft in jeopardy. You only need to NEED them once...

If you're landing off-airstrip, I'd replace the 29's, no question. Desser's or Goodyear's aren't going to be anything close to the flotation you're accustomed to.

If you don't mind being confined to airstrips and beaches of KNOWN consistency, then the smaller tires will suffice.

Landing on airstrips with bushwheels is usually a waste of expensive rubber, but landing off airstrip without bushwheels is often the waste of an airplane.

I operate out of lake hood strip, yes lots of off airport but nothing too extreme. I stay off the pavement as much as possible. Try to limit it to taxi only. Sounds like the vote is to do prop first and then if I find the dessers too limiting go back to bushwheels?

88Echo wrote:I operate out of lake hood strip, yes lots of off airport but nothing too extreme. I stay off the pavement as much as possible. Try to limit it to taxi only. Sounds like the vote is to do prop first and then if I find the dessers too limiting go back to bushwheels?

Personally, if you have any doubt at all about the tire size, I would buy new 29s and get the current prop twisted a bit flatter. Unless 51 is as flat as you can go with that prop...

Tires will save your ass every day. The prop you have will work for many adventures. If you’re landing OFF AIRPORT, at all, I’d stick with good tires, first, and do the prop when I could afford it. Or, as noted earlier, have the current prop blades recontoured .

MTV

When you get tires, get the extra thick tread ones. Well worth the extra price. Carry a 12V compressor (one lb for the auto zone type). Increase air pressure helps in takeoff just like low pressure does in landing. I drop mine when I am going to new or real rough spots. Once you get in and clean up strip push pressure up (if ground will hold) and it can take a lot off takeoff distance. Bang for the buck one of the best STOL tricks.
DENNY

If you will mostly be operating at lower elevations and lighter weights, go with a nice set of bushwheels. If you will be operating at or near gross weight often and/or from higher elevation strips, go with the seaplane prop.

The C-145 is a dependable and smooth running engine, but it pulls just hard enough to get you in to trouble at higher elevations, high density altitudes or with heavy loads. Ask me how I know...

Like most decisions, your 90% of the time mission profile is the single most critical factor influencing your decision.

I’d go with the tires! (Desser 31’s are nice and cheaper than BW).

I thought about the desser 29’s but I would have to buy wheels and brakes or adapters and then there is the paperwork.
Probably go with new bush wheels and save up for the prop. Maybe have the current one repitched.

I thought the dessers weren't FAA legal? I love the oversize 8.5s a available on there site.

Ahh I was thinking of the oversized 8.5s. opps

Agree with the 8.5x6's.

I do not really know most of the folks on this forum that run bush wheels. I would bet that at least 3/4s of folks in the lower 48 that have bushwheels do not need them. I personally do not know anybody that needs them. I do know a Maule driver that would put on 48" bushwheels if somebody made them.

I say if you need the bushwheels then get them. If you do not need them but just want them for the cool effect then get the prop and pass on the cool tires.

Alaska is a place where you can truly make good use of bushwheels. As someone who once owned a 170 on bushwheels and with a 8042 prop... I’d recommend you to go for new bushwheels first if most of your flying in Alaska really is off airport. There seems to be endless beaches and gravel bars to explore up in AK. You’re going to want to the flotation bushwheels provide for most of those places. The 8042 prop is definitely nice to have, but having one won’t open up more places to land in AK like bushwheels will. If your mission was flying around the backcountry strips of Idaho then yes, I’d recommend the 8042 first. You don’t need bushwheels for anything that’s a real airstrip and the 8042 really helps out in the mountains on shorter strips at higher altitude. Most of the flying you do in AK I assume is near sea level and cooler temps the majority of the time. So the 7651 should do pretty good in those conditions.

Reading this thread got my curiosity up about the "old days" flying in Alaska. When did ABW start making their "big" tires? (With "big" meaning anything larger than 8:50x600 in my naive world.) What did Alaskan bush pilots do for tires before ABW came along? Seems like those old timers were pretty much able to fly and land almost anywhere up there, and that got me wondering about what tires they were using. Just curious. Thanks!

JP256 wrote:Reading this thread got my curiosity up about the "old days" flying in Alaska. When did ABW start making their "big" tires? (With "big" meaning anything larger than 8:50x600 in my naive world.) What did Alaskan bush pilots do for tires before ABW came along? Seems like those old timers were pretty much able to fly and land almost anywhere up there, and that got me wondering about what tires they were using. Just curious. Thanks!

This thread discusses said matter:

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/tundra-tires-20549

Thanks for that thread link. Very interesting reading.