I totally agree with VICK. If you are using approved fields be they hard or dirt why even bother with a 800 much less a 8:50. Small tires are fine for those with small ba//s.

mtv wrote: ....Perhaps the more important thing is that Goodyears have MUCH more UV resistance, so when the plane is outside, those tires will last much longer than McCreary's or recaps. ..............MTV

Never heard that one before. Documented, or personal experience? Seems like it'd be hard to prove one way or the other, without having one of each brand on the airplane. Better yet, a true test -- stake out one of each in the sun for a few years.
One thing I don't like about the Goodyear tires is the square corners. Since my MLG set-up has some camber to it, I prefer the round corners on the Airtracs. I rotate them on the wheels as required to even out the wear.
The tallness could be a factor, but any (alleged) longer wear by the Goodyears would have to be weighed against the lower cost of the Airtracs.

Eric (stirring things up....)

zero one victor,

The UV issue may not be a big deal for aircraft that are normally hangared, but in Fairbanks, McCreary tires didn't hold up long before their sidewalls became severely weather checked. I've discussed that with a couple of tire retailers, and they concur. Again, that may not be an issue if you hangar your plane, and it does'nt spend much time outdoors.

Desser lists $196 for Goodyears and 165 for McCrearys. If the Goodyears last one more season than the McCrearys, that difference in price is easily amortized, and I can just about guarantee that the Goodyears will significantly outlast the McCrearys.

I don't know about square sides. Goodyears are 8 ply, I believe (which is why they last longer, probably). My Goodyears look just like the McCrearys do, except they are two inches taller.

MTV

Well...the 8.50's won out. Snoopydoc wanted the bigger tires...Ya, I know, I'm a lucky man. By next year she'll insist we have bushwheels. Or at least a fatter tail wheel...

While I changed the tires my mechanic put in a set of BAS shoulder harnesses. Fricken Sweet! I figure the comfort alone is worth the thousand dollars, and if we ever need to use them, then they're simply priceless.

7853H wrote:.... Small tires are fine for those with small ba//s.

How about female pilots, where do they fit into your scheme of things?

Hammer,

Tires aside, you will never regret the added safety of those BAS harness systems. They are simply the best, and well worth the cost.

MTV

zero.one.victor wrote:

7853H wrote:.... Small tires are fine for those with small ba//s.

How about female pilots, where do they fit into your scheme of things?

I guess voting for the 8.50s could be interpreted as a subconscious cry for a breast augmentation; in which case we don't have to ever worry about bushwheels for me.

I guess voting for the 8.50s could be interpreted as a subconscious cry for a breast augmentation; in which case we don't have to ever worry about bushwheels for me.

Snoopydoc, you know I'm a leg man

And nothing looks better on a set of legs than a round bottom...and there's no better way to protect your round bottom than with a larger tailwheel!

Jeeez... Get a room you two

Gump

Doc, I just noticed that your tagline sez "better living thru altitude". Personally, mine is more like "better living thru attitude".

Eric

zero.one.victor wrote:Doc, I just noticed that your taglinesez "better living thru altitude". Personally, mine is more like "better living thru attitude".

Eric

I wanted to go with my old adage "better living through pharmacology" but I thought I'd try to make it more site specific... and I didn't want to give anything away

The motto me & alot of my friends used back in the old days was "better living thru chemistry".... but none of us were doctors or scientists.... 'nuff said.