Okay, let's evaluate a bit of BS being slung here:
Here is the 29 x 11 x 10 tire I am referring to:
https://shop.vseaviation.com/products/g ... item/31331Note that this is a FOUR PLY tire, NOT the ten ply tire of the same size they offer, and which might be appropriate on an Airtractor 802.
THIS tire is listed as 24 pounds. Now, it is a tube type tire, of course, so you have to add 6 pounds for the tube. So, that comes out to 30 pounds, BEFORE buffing off the tread. How much does that reduce the weight of the tire? I have no idea, but I'm betting it's north of six or eight pounds....nevertheless, even if you run them full tread, they are LIGHTER than 29 inch Bushwheels, as noted here:
Now, let's look at Alaska Bushwheel 29 inch tires, and BTW, most 180/185 folks order the heavy tread version of this tire, which wears far better on pavement ops:
https://mcfarlanealaska.com/collections ... escription Check out the weight of the heavy tread 29: 34 pounds. Or, if you want to go with the lighter version: 32 pounds. That's 2 pounds HEAVIER than a FULL TREAD 29 x 11 x 10 tire and tube.
How are we doing so far on the bullshit front?
Let's look at pricing, just for fun: Heavy tread 29 inch bushwheel: $2381 per tire.
Full tread 29x11x10 from VSI: $475.95 plus $303 for tube
(Bushwheels Price, buffed: $1040, plus the tube)
Used to be that there were several tire outfits around the country that could/would buff these tires, but even if you buy them already buffed from Bushwheel/McFarlane, they're about half the price of a 29 inch bushwheel.
Now, the 29x11x10 tires need larger wheels, as well, and there's no doubt that adds weight. Let's look at that:
ABI-75-T 6 inch wheel assemblies: 11 pounds each
ABI-1010 10 inch wheel assemblies: 20 pounds.
So, yes, IF you use the ABI wheels, those add 9 pounds to the assembly, and one tire/wheel assembly would come out to 50 pounds. Of course, you'll also have brake weight, but those are the same for either setup....the 10 inch brakes are the same as the 6 inch.
And, a set of 29 inch Bushwheels on ABI 6 inch wheels are going to weigh 45 pounds, again, plus the weight of brakes, which are the same as the 10 inch sets.
But, of course, a LOT of planes operating on the 10 inch tires are using the old 10 inch wheel adapters. I'm not sure how much lighter they are than the ABI wheels, but they are lighter. Maybe someone here can weigh one.
So, to compare apples to apples, the 29x11x10 tire/wheel combination weighs 5 pounds MORE than a set of 29 inch Bushwheels on 6 inch ABI wheels. Ten pounds total for the set. That is significant, but it is NOT huge. And, again, that is a FULL TREAD 29x11x10 tire, not a buffed tire.
Flexible sidewalls? The 29x11x10 tires are not as flexible as Bushwheels, clearly, no argument there. Do I have data? I'm not sure what "data" would look like in that category. And, there's been nothing I'd consider "data" offered here. But, I will tell you that these tires do flex reasonably well when buffed, and yes, I have flown several sets on 185s, generally loaded pretty heavy, and mostly on Bering Sea beaches, but also on a number of river gravel bars as well.
The point is: there is a niche for these tires, and they do NOT have to be as heavy as has been suggested in this thread. And their most endearing feature: They wear like iron on all surfaces, including pavement. For reference, at my airport, a taxi for takeoff can vary from something over a mile and a half, unless you're fairly light, and the taxi MAY be a half mile. We do have a turf runway, but it's further away from GA hangars. And taxi ops EAT Bushwheels. At $4762 a set.....
If your airport is friendlier to Bushwheels, good for you.
