Could someone running the Desser smooth 8.50s post some data on the diameter of these tires, inflated an mounted on a plane?

MTV

I've got a set of Desser-recapped GY 850's on my C180 now, but I'll probably replace them with a set of 850 Airtracs.
Unlike some others here, I've ran several sets of McCreary Airtrac 850's on both my C170 & my C150TD and had no complaints.
They're a bit cheaper (and maybe a bit lighter too) than 850 GY's, and I like the rounded profile better than the GY's more squared-off shape.

FWIW Desser sells 26" GY's, right now they're listed at $723 each.
https://www.desser.com/Aircraft-Tires-a ... 69-440.asp
They might be available elsewhere for a bit less, maybe Spruce or Skygeek.

mtv wrote:Could someone running the Desser smooth 8.50s post some data on the diameter of these tires, inflated an mounted on a plane?

MTV

MTV

I'm seeing about 21 3/8" to 21 1/2" on my 180 at 18-20 PSI. I think the Goodyear 8.50's have it beat by 1/2" or so (full tread).

I've come to like these little tires on my 180 for my mission. They wear well, don't throw rocks, soak up the bumps within reason, and haven't slipped. I have about 65 hours / 125 landings on them (60/40 pavement / grass).

mountainmatt wrote:

mtv wrote:Could someone running the Desser smooth 8.50s post some data on the diameter of these tires, inflated an mounted on a plane?

MTV

MTV

I'm seeing about 21 3/8" to 21 1/2" on my 180 at 18-20 PSI. I think the Goodyear 8.50's have it beat by 1/2" or so (full tread).

I've come to like these little tires on my 180 for my mission. They wear well, don't throw rocks, soak up the bumps within reason, and haven't slipped. I have about 65 hours / 125 landings on them (60/40 pavement / grass).

Thanks. Yes, my experience with Goodyears has been they're right at 22 inches.

Keep us posted on your experience with them......they look like a decent option.

MTV

MTV,
I had those Desser smooth 8:50s on my Taylorcraft for a couple of years and I really liked them. In addition to their being big enough and soft, they do not weigh any more that the regular 8:00s. I now have them on my Cessna 172. They would do very well on your champ, however, since they are rated for only 1600 Lbs., I would worry about them on anything bigger than a C-172.
Charles

8.50 Goodyear, 8.00 Goodyear, 8.50 Airtrac

Very helpful picture North River, thanks for posting.

North River wrote:

8.50 Goodyear, 8.00 Goodyear, 8.50 Airtrac

You sure those aren't 26" Goodyears? Goodyear's own specs show a much smaller difference between the diameters of the Goodyear 8.50's and what Airtrac claims for theirs...

Agreed - that 8.50 goodyear looks bigger then other side by sides I've seen.
According to Goodyear:
8.00x6 is 19.5" diameter
8.50x6 is 22.1" diameter

In that picture the 8.50 looks a lot bigger then 2.6 inches over the GY 8.00

I have been running the 8.5 Goodyears on my 185 for quite some time now. I had them re-capped and like the new compound much better, the tire tread rubber is a bit harder than the Goodyear's original. The diameter increased a bit over stock, I'd say about~1 inch from original. While they grind the original carcass smooth during the process, the belt they add is fairly thick. Turn around time was also fairly quick ~ a week and quite cheap. So if your 8.5's do not have sidewall deterioration, it is an excellent path for a fraction of the price.

corefile wrote:Agreed - that 8.50 goodyear looks bigger then other side by sides I've seen.
According to Goodyear:
8.00x6 is 19.5" diameter
8.50x6 is 22.1" diameter

In that picture the 8.50 looks a lot bigger then 2.6 inches over the GY 8.00

Photos can be deceiving, but that one looks about right to me. Bear in mind that the two tires on the left would "flatten out" a bit if mounted, inflated and with the weight of an airplane on them. The 8.50 Goodyear would lose a bit more diameter from this than would the 8.00.

Nevertheless, this is a good photo to illustrate the difference in size of different brand 8.50s.

MTV

Geez, you guys don't even believe a photo! Just posting what I had handy. All tires are mounted and inflated, not sure of PSI, but the 8.00s are harder than the 8.50s. As MTV said, if the tires were mounted on the aircraft they would look a little different with the weight on them. I was really surprised when I bought the 8.00s how much smaller they were. But then again, I have bought new 31's and they were a couple inches smaller (inflated) than my old 31's! Bushwheel told me that as tires age they grow. May be the case here as those 8.50 goodyears are pretty old and the 8.00s are brand new.

BTW, 26in Goodyears have no tread.

A couple pictures of minor off-roading with 8.00s and 8.50s. can't really recommend it if soft or rough at all. I'll stick to the 31's!

Did someone photoshop those little tires on that 180? Just doesn't seem right.

North River wrote: Geez, you guys don't even believe a photo! ......

"Who you gonna believe-- me, or your lying eyes?"

The apparent size difference is surprising.
I've ran 850 Airtracs in the past, and a couple buddies run them,
and while my Desser-recapped GY 850's seem a bit bigger,
they're not THAT much bigger.
But pictures do speak louder than words.

Today I measured the horizontal diameter of a couple of 850x6's, using a framing square & a combination square.
Both tires were inflated to normal pressures, & were mounted on parked airplanes.
Both were showing a similar amount of wear, but had plenty of life left in them,
The Desser recaps (on GY carcasses) on my C180 were just a whisker under 22",
the Airtracs on a friend's C182 were 21-1/4".
So approx 3/4" difference, which would be 3/8" difference in height at the axle.
resulting in maybe a 1/2" difference in height at the spinner for the 180.
Not enough to be a factor in choosing between them IMHO.

I'm really happy with the Desser 8.50s as well. Verrry cushy for a non bushwheel.

The compound in the tread area is soft just like the sidewall, although doesn't appear to be as soft. I locked up the brakes on a gravel strip the first landing and put some pretty good scratches in them. The scratches are superficial but they are there none the less.

Those tires really make that 182 look cool!!!!!

If I were advertising for Cessna back in 57.

Crzyivan13 wrote:

If I were advertising for Cessna back in 57.

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