Sold my Goodyear 8.50s to a friend with a 206 and installed the Desser smooth 8.50s. I got about a half dozen turf and asphalt landings on them today and I’m extremely happy with them. Much softer, much bouncier, quieter than the good years, about 6 lbs ea. lighter, and way cheaper! This is a winning combination for my 172.

Loved them tires on my old 172

Thanks for the info. Looks like an interesting 182 that is your hangar mate. Does it have a Sportsman leading edge?

180Marty wrote:Thanks for the info. Looks like an interesting 182 that is your hangar mate. Does it have a Sportsman leading edge?

His 182 does have the Sportsman kit and several other mods. Nice airplane

Looks great Jered!

How do they wear vs the standard 850’s on asphalt?

UT180 wrote:How do they wear vs the standard 850’s on asphalt?

Mine are holding up pretty good so far after 100+ hours.

I understand the alleged benefit of smoothies, that they don't kick gravel up as readily as tires with tread. But is there a downside, such as lower speed hydroplaning on wet surfaces? Or quicker wear on asphalt? Just guessing. Can someone educate me?

Cary

Mine looked brand new after 200+ landings but then I sold the plane. Hydroplaned pretty well. But handled the gravel much better that the tires they replaced. And so light!!!

I'll probably be replacing my 850 Desser recaps after the summer's flying.
Been leaning toward Airtracs but the Desser smoothies are a possibility.
I'm thinking the 4 ply would be cushier with the same tire pressure.
I'm sure they're plenty stout enough, although technically not since my 850 STC says 6 ply.
They're a few more bucks than the Airtracs, I'm assuming lighter also.
STA's website says 850-6 Airtracs are 16# each,
but Desser doesn't have any specs for this tire available on their website that I could find.

About seven pounds each plus tubes

robw56 wrote:

UT180 wrote:How do they wear vs the standard 850’s on asphalt?

Mine are holding up pretty good so far after 100+ hours.

How many landings?

rw2 wrote:

robw56 wrote:

UT180 wrote:How do they wear vs the standard 850’s on asphalt?

Mine are holding up pretty good so far after 100+ hours.

How many landings?

I guess I’ll have to go look in my log book and I’ll post later. I’ve been happy with the tires though.

I've been running them for a year and a half. I weighed mine up before I mounted them and I want to say the tire/tube came up to 10.5 lbs. My landings are about 50/50 hard surface-grass, and it might be my imagination, but I think that ground handling on hard surface does more damage to the tires than actual hard surface landings. 780# Tcraft.

88Echo wrote:About seven pounds each plus tubes

Only 7 pounds? Wow!
Website just says "under 10 pounds".

88Echo wrote:About seven pounds each plus tubes

These do not weigh 7 lbs. I have a set in my hangar now for my buggy. Tire and tube weight 10.5 per tire.

Bigrenna wrote:

88Echo wrote:About seven pounds each plus tubes

These do not weigh 7 lbs. I have a set in my hangar now for my buggy. Tire and tube weight 10.5 per tire.

Are you sure about that? Was that on a certified scale?

Bigrenna wrote:

88Echo wrote:About seven pounds each plus tubes

These do not weigh 7 lbs. I have a set in my hangar now for my buggy. Tire and tube weight 10.5 per tire.

Actual weight or calculated?

Got my Desser 8.50s on.

Had Goodyear 8.50s all the way around. Went to a 8.00 up front.

Great looking airplane, GPTC!

Is that a Horton or Sportsman leading edge?

Airglas fork? I don't think you can get an 8.00 inside a Cessna HD fork.