I’ve been flying my 185 a little bit on wheels and really enjoying it.

My tires are tired, and one of the rims has some damage. Curious what you would go to, for a graded gravel or mowed grass runway at worst plane on wheels. The adventures happen on floats for me. I may take it for an arctic trip on wheels, and the gravel runways up there and the odd beach would be the worst it would see. Good pavement manners would remain a priority.

I also need to upgrade my brakes at some point, running the originals. Probably would coincide with the wheels.

Appreciate any advice

Can’t beat ABW, but sounds like you I are on pavement some. The 8” wheel is a bit of an oddball size, but it matches up perfectly with the Desser 27.5” wheel. The ABW allow you to size up and stick with 6” wheels until you hit the 35’s.

26-29” ABW seems to be the sweet spot, 29-31’s if a lot of off airport or rough strips.

I am leaning towards 26” ABW as I don’t want to sacrifice my cruise speeds.

Honestly for what you are explaining I would say buy the ABW wheels and brakes and run 8.50x6s on them.

With my 180, I did everything you're describing with the stock 6.00 tires on stock rims. My 185 has 8.00 tires now and that'll be a nice upgrade but really gravel strips and grass runways don't require anything special. I'd probably call Global in Kelowna and see what they have lying around for rims, then buy some 8.00s or 8.50s. Keep it cheap.

Also, when you go back on floats guys like to leave the tailspring on to use as a handle. They did that a few seasons with mine and the spring/tube is rusty inside and rusted to the saddle. This was with saltwater use, makes for a very expensive handle. Personally I'm not doing that again.

Just call Airframes Alaska, and order a wheels and brakes kit.

Then call Desser and order a set of Goodyear (and yes, specify GY) 8.50 x 6 tires and natural rubber tubes. Do NOT buy the “leak guard” synthetic tubes.

The Goodyear 8.50s are plenty big and they wear like iron.

MTV

I went with the Airframes Alaska 8.5 by 10 wheels and kept the Cleaveland brakes. Really like this setup, the wider rims actually hide the brake caliper much like a fairing, so I doubt there is any speed loss, and you get a wider footprint. I’m operating mainly on pavement and backcountry strips, YMMV

185er wrote:

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I went with the Airframes Alaska 8.5 by 10 wheels and kept the Cleaveland brakes. Really like this setup, the wider rims actually hide the brake caliper much like a fairing, so I doubt there is any speed loss, and you get a wider footprint. I’m operating mainly on pavement and backcountry strips, YMMV

I have just done the same. I like them for what I do. I went from 8.50x6 and a 10” tail wheel to 8.50x10’s and the wide fork, 404 glider tire tail wheel and the speed loss was hardly measurable. 1-2 knots at most, which really surprised me. I thought I’d loose 4-5. Very happy with that.

I've run 8:50x6's on my 180 and 185 with Cleveland wheels and brakes. Been a great all around set up for grass, Idaho, MT, UT, and the midwest. I don't land on a bunch of gravel or beaches etc.

GY as Mike says wear very well. I've had good luck with Michelin tires as well.

MW

mtv wrote:Just call Airframes Alaska, and order a wheels and brakes kit.

Then call Desser and order a set of Goodyear (and yes, specify GY) 8.50 x 6 tires and natural rubber tubes. Do NOT buy the “leak guard” synthetic tubes.

The Goodyear 8.50s are plenty big and they wear like iron.

MTV

I have gone through this debate so many times the last few years and the reality is that the GY 8.5 X 6 tire works and wears well. I wish I didn't need to land on pavement as much as I do. It is not meant for mud or sand but it can handle any of the rough strips in Idaho and Montana. Doesn't have the cool factor big tire look but performs really well. I consider moving up to the 26 inch GY with a FA - but it just does not seem like it performs much better than the 8.5 X 6 and not worth the hassle of the FA. The 8.5 X 10 is the other option but that might cost you more money and it is also heavier. If you go with the Bushwheels and land on pavement you'll be eating rubber and spending a lot of money. The only issue with the GY 8.5 X 6 tire right now is supply shortages. I had to wait about 4 months for a new set recently. That was 5-6 months ago. I can't imagine this has improved. Just the way of the new world we live in now.


Josh

Thanks guys, I want to avoid going too “big” for drag, did 150kts today on the way back from Van Isle crossing the straits, and rather enjoyed that. Also would like to retain a tread for the very wet days on pavement.

So, I’m going to follow up on the thoughts here and I’m happy to see the thoughts and suggestions in particular. Some very helpful notes as well, as usual. Will shop those Goodyears and the wheels.

Ardent wrote:Thanks guys, I want to avoid going too “big” for drag, did 150kts today on the way back from Van Isle crossing the straits, and rather enjoyed that. Also would like to retain a tread for the very wet days on pavement.

So, I’m going to follow up on the thoughts here and I’m happy to see the thoughts and suggestions in particular. Some very helpful notes as well, as usual. Will shop those Goodyears and the wheels.

For what you describe, that is likely best. And as someone noted, Michelins are also good tires if you can’t find GY. Aero Classic, or the other Desser brands wear fairly fast.

MTV

Contrary to some others here, I've had good luck with Airtrac 850's.
No extreme size variation or short service life as some others have reported.
I like their rounded cross-section vs the more squared-off GY 850s.
And they generally cost less.
As to availability....these days, who knows.

hotrod180 wrote:Contrary to some others here, I've had good luck with Airtrac 850's.
No extreme size variation or short service life as some others have reported.
I like their rounded cross-section vs the more squared-off GY 850s.
And they generally cost less.
As to availability....these days, who knows.

Have you run a set of Goodyears on the same airplane, and compared tire life to the Dessers? I have, and I know a number of others, and we've all had the same experience, that Desser tires don't wear as long as Goodyears and Michelins. They do cost less, but you definitely get what you pay for.

MTV

I just went with a relatively cheap shaved desser 8.50 by 6 from aircraft spruce. Tire is 22" in diameter - and a reasonable compromise in cost for the bushwheel. I also just purchased the 199-62A (the 6-bolt variant) wheel and brake kit. I had single bolt cleveland brakes and the wheel is not compatible with the double puck cleveland brake caliper.

https://www.airframesalaska.com/Alaskan-Bushwheel-199-62A-Wheel-and-Brake-Assembly-p/abi-199-62a.htm

I hate when I agree with hotrod180 but I like airtracs too, for the round cross section. Goodyears are great and last longer and get you into the airline lounges and all that jazz but airtrac is really the only round cross section 6ply 850 if you’re into that. They’re ugly too which I prefer.

I have had real good luck with Air hawks. I don't like the airtracd as they have more grooves in them to throw rocks. Michelin and good years are good to. Generally, most tires I work on tend to get to weather checked before they are worn out. Recaps are a good deal to, cheaper and seem to wear as good as anything.

I have run the Air Tracs on my 185 and my Husky. They seem to get the job done. One of the benefits of the Air Tracs for the Husky is that the tires are slightly narrower than my Goodyears and they fit in the hole of my GLH3000 skis without rubbing. The Goodyears are just a little too fat. On the downside, the treads of the Air Tracs are deep and there are more of them. They tend to grab pebbles, hold on to them, and fling them toward my prop on occasion.

I have a set of Gar Aero 8.50 x 10 wheels and tires that I don't need anymore. Anyone know what they are worth?

Figured I should update, ordered the wheels and brakes set from Airframes Alaska per MTV’s and the threads recommendation. It was the easiest path, and comparable in cost to the used options locally in the end for a full setup.

I took a slight diversion and ordered the Cleveland 3 bolts, as they came with the STC, and there was no wait to get them installed. They were also 4lbs lighter, and I’m weight minded. I’ll need to check torques, but that’s alright.

Now to get on the wait list for Goodyears. Maybe I’ll see them just in time to put floats on again next spring?

mtv wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:Contrary to some others here, I've had good luck with Airtrac 850's.
No extreme size variation or short service life as some others have reported.
I like their rounded cross-section vs the more squared-off GY 850s.
And they generally cost less.
As to availability....these days, who knows.

Have you run a set of Goodyears on the same airplane, and compared tire life to the Dessers? I have, and I know a number of others, and we've all had the same experience, that Desser tires don't wear as long as Goodyears and Michelins. They do cost less, but you definitely get what you pay for.

MTV

I mounted a (slightly used) set of 850x6 airtracs on my C180 back about 3-1/2 years & 300 hours ago.
They have 874 landings on them now, mostly on pavement, and still have plenty of life left in them.
Seems like pretty good service life to me.