Ok, so I'm realy close to ordering the airglas fork. Hitchcock aviation is emailing a quote tomorrow! Now, my question is which tire should I get? My big concerns are weight and price. The only one Incould find a weight on was the airtrac at 16 lbs. What tires do you guys like?

A few guys around here seem to use the Michellen Air ones. I dunno if they are any good or not, but I see a few around.

My experience:

1) The McRearys are smaller in diameter than Goodyears. Significantly smaller.

2) The McReary tires last about half as long as the Goodyears, in my experience.

3) The Goodyears are more expensive, but they last much longer, hence in the long run, I've found them to be more economical.

4) I had one set of McRearys where one tire was substantially smaller in diameter than the other......spent some time trying to figure that one out....

I really like Goodyear's 8.50 x 6.00 tires. They wear like iron.

I have zero experience with Michelins.

MTV

Jared, since you have the current crop of 172 STCs fresh in your mind, perhaps you could compile the list of what you found for forks and tires for the knowledge base.

Mtv: which flavor of goodyear do you like? Looks like there a couple of different models.

I find Michelin 8.50x6 will outlast any others on the agplanes. They average 14 landings an hour on rough strips at gross weights around 4,500lbs. Run 24psi which the michelin can handle ok for around 400 hours or more, most others have the cords fail long before then. I've got a worn out and perished set on my 150 that have probably seen close to 10,000 landings! But honestly for my planes I have no preference and use whatever I have available at the time. Which is usually 90% worn and came out of the bin...

Jered,

As far as I know, Goodyear only makes one version of 8.50 x 6.00 tire. Look at Desser Tire ipunder Goodyear, here: http://www.desser.com/goodyear_index.php

Scroll almost to the bottom, and you'll find their tire in this size.

MTV

Zzz wrote:Jared, since you have the current crop of 172 STCs fresh in your mind, perhaps you could compile the list of what you found for forks and tires for the knowledge base.

Ill make an attempt at that once i complete the install and include some pictures

mtv wrote:Jered,

As far as I know, Goodyear only makes one version of 8.50 x 6.00 tire. Look at Desser Tire ipunder Goodyear, here: http://www.desser.com/goodyear_index.php

Scroll almost to the bottom, and you'll find their tire in this size.

MTV

Yup! Look at Desser. More tread depth and stiffer side walls, which can help with brake clearance when running at lower psi. We have had excellent results using them in the flying club I was in prior to buying my 205 and that is the route I'll go when needing replacements. They are also less expensive.

This webinar by Mike Busch has some good tire info, including info on Desser tires.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1620037881001

As a bonus I believe the goodyears have less grooves. Reducing the chance of picking up small rocks and throwing them at the tail and other surfaces.

I just bought a set of standard size tires for my 172. Compared prices from quite a few suppliers and prices were pretty close until I looked at shipping. Dresser shipped free and the tires arrived promptly. Don't forget to add the free packet of talc they offer for setting up the new tubes. I forgot to include it on my order. They shipped me out a packet at no cost after I called them.

Good outfit. I'll deal with them again.

Frank

Sounds like goodyears from desser! Thanks guys!

Hey, also, Desser gives a discount to either AOPA members or CPA members...right off the top of my head I don't remember which. I think it is AOPA. Worth asking about. Not a lot but every little bit helps!

Dresser discounts to AOPA.

It's DESSER Tire, guys, not Dresser. Easier to Google it that way....

MTV

MTV,

Been in contact with them a few times and did an order. Totally missed that is was Desser. As Homer Simpson would say, "DOOOOOOOOOH."

robw56 wrote:As a bonus I believe the goodyears have less grooves. Reducing the chance of picking up small rocks and throwing them at the tail and other surfaces.

The McCrearey's many grooves throw small pebbles into the back of the prop too!

This outfit http://wilkersonaircrafttires.com will recap tires with a smooth tread.
If you want 8.50 X 6's, you will have to send them good casings.
At least that was the way it used to be.

237

Guys:

I think Desser will also do retreads for you??

Have been told by a Jump Plane Operation that they had better luck with the retreads than they did with the new.

Has anyone had experience with retreads.

Thanks!! Larry

Have a friend that has some Desser retreads on his 185. He likes them.
Desser will not put a smooth tread on like Wilkerson.
If you want a smooth tread, they are your only option (that I know of).

237

I once asked a Goodyear engineer at an air show why Goodyear doesn't recap tires. The education took the better part of an hour, but it was really informative.

In a nutshell, Goodyear does recap airplane tires. In fact a major portion of the airliners flying are on Goodyear recaps. They just don't recap small tires.

The reason he gave was threefold: first, it costs almost as much to recap small tires as it does to make new ones, particularly low volume.

Second, a percentage of carcasses sent in for recaps have to be rejected....and that raises the cost overall, but it also makes for hard feelings with customers who feel like they were ripped off by big bad Goodyear.

Finally, he said all tires gain weight when they are recapped, and that weight gain is significant. On small tires, the percent weight gain is substantial...much greater than an airliner tire, for instance.

Soooo, I asked him if he'd run recaps on his plane. He said Desser does a good job, and there's no safety reason to avoid recaps. His biggest concern was weight gain, which may or may not be of concern to you.

It was an interesting and informative discussion.

And, I still buy new tires

MTV