Looking for some feedback and recommendations on a set of tundra tires for my 180. My airstrip will be done later this fall, and am considering going to a set of tundra tires instead of wheel-skis. 31" ABW's is what I have in mind.

The strip will be relatively flat, bumpy, snow covered frozen ground. I can plow the snow from it as needed with equipment. My question is, realistically, what kind of life can I expect from the tires when landing/taxiing on pavement? The plane isn't used a lot in the winter (floats all summer), but I will be going south and will be landing on pavement often. Any experience here with pavement use?

Thanks,

upnorth180 wrote:...My airstrip will be done later this fall, and am considering going to a set of tundra tires instead of wheel-skis. 31" ABW's is what I have in mind...

Friendly head's up that braking action can be drastically reduced with Bushwheels on any amount of snow. My 29's slide easier than my skis some days. Nothing a float pilot isn't probably used to.
-DP

Good to know...Thanks!

Order the bushwheels with extra “Skywagon” rubber, make gradual turns, land slow and soft, and they’ll last a decent time with pavement landings.

Nearly all airports have some kind of turf somewhere you can either land on or begin turning your wheels on. Towered airports can be difficult (okay almost impossible) to get controllers to let you land “off runway”, but every now and then you’ll fine one who will. Just don’t take out the landing lights.

Yes some experience. About half pavement / half off pavement. Tires worn out in 200 hours, estimated 500 landings. Worth it at the time but would not be for pure recreation at my pay grade.

8.50X10 or shaved 29X10 are the best compromise for mixed use.

I am running Dresser 31x10 tundra tires on my 180 and 29 inch bush wheels on my 170.
The 180 melted thu the bush wheels like hot butter. The lighter 170 works great with bush wheels. I ran 29x10 air Hawks they were stiff and threw rocks. The Dessers are soft sided yet show no wear marks from paved landings and turn scuffs. I am so pleased I plan to put Dessers on my 170 when the bush wheels wear out.

Dresser says the tires compatible with the Grove wheel and brakes. Are you using those or Alaska Bushwheel? Also, description says they work with or without tubes? Are you using tubes?

Thanks, good feedback on the Dressers! L

If you are saying you want to to land on snow I would stay with some type of ski. Bushwheels are great tires but every year I see local planes upside down or on the nose because they tried to land on snow with TIRES. Even on packed ski strips!! In the spring the snow gets soft and the tires sink in flipping the plane.
DENNY

88H ,I bought 29-10 air Hawks on 10 in Alaska bush wheels as a package. Those were the wheels I mounted the 31 Dessers with tubes on. Next set will be on tubeless wheels . I've had no issues but if I pick up a thorn or a nail , no tube shredding would be a positive. Plus the weight savings

B:

Great info, thanks!! L

ABW is the only way to go if you're getting out away from home. Don't know what the load rating is I think some are limited to 29's due to gross wt.

I also just happen to have a like new set of 31's available for sale...

Had 4 sets of ABW on the wagon, two 29's, on the second set of 31's now. Out of the first three, averaged bout 600 hours per set, only one showed chord at around 700 hours, others got really bad weather-checking or divots(29s). Pavement ops maybe 30% of the time, majority on sharp basalt gravel. The 8.50's that came with the plane didn't really last much longer FWIW. 90% of time at 8psi, never more than 10. As mentioned previously, get the extra rubber if buying new. Deals can be had used, current set of 31s I got was like new off an S7 with only 200 hours on grass at almost half price.

IMO running ABW at higher psi than 8-10 defeats the purpose, and may be detrimental to the life of the Tire. Seems like a lot of the owners, that only get 200 hours out of ABW, keep the tires pumped way up (for pavement?) and make sharp turns. Regardless of the surface, I try to always keep both tires rolling.


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