I am a relatively new Maule owner and am based in Virginia. Not many backcountry strips out this way, so most of my landings are on pavement. On the 4th I wound up with a flat tire landing at KOKV. I managed to keep the plane straight, but I still shut down the airport for several hours. When we finally got a dolly under the flat tire and towed the plane off the runway, the mechanic found a small hole on the inboard sidewall of the left tire. The tube failed at that spot. Now I'm shopping for replacement tires. I'm willing to go larger than the 8.00 X 6 tires currently on the plane, but want feedback on how large is practical for a plane that will spend most of its time on pavement or groomed grass strips. I want something that will last a while, and am thinking that 26ers probably won't fit my mission. Is the 8.5 X 6 tire a good compromise for a plane that mostly sees concrete, but will visit the few grass strips in the area?

I have 850's on my C150/150TD, as do friends with bigger airplanes (C170, C180). They seem to handle anything that's at all groomed or maintained as an airstrip just fine (so far). They don't have the cool factor of bigger tires but they work for me. FYI Airtrac 850's are about 14.5# a pair heavier than their 800's. IMHO you don't need the cost, weight, or drag of 26" GY's or 26/29/31" BW's unless you're doing off-airport, and sometimes not even then.

Hey Gary, I have a set of 8.50s still on wheels over here in the hangar if you wanna see the difference. They were fine for my mission but I wanted the cool factor. Lol

Desser tire retreads are the bomb. Last longer than any other tires.

FWIW, I've stuck with stock size tires on my P172D, because except for occasional well groomed grass strips, most of my landings are on pavement. I know it's heresy, but heck, I even keep the wheel pants on year around (ducks head in shame ). I switched from whatever was on the airplane when I bought her 9 1/2 years ago to Michelins at the first annual after purchase, and this last annual this Spring after about 500 hours finally had to replace one of the mains--still had tread, but it was getting close, apparently due to a little tweaking necessary to the alignment on that side. I've been impressed not only with the tread wear, but also the balance--absolutely no vibration at all.

Cary

Have 8:50 X 6 on the Pacer.... Work fine for the type of off airport flying it does.... Our Super Cub has a set of 8:50 X 10's on Gar Aero adapters... Really only have them because dad traded an annual inspection on a 170B for them 30 years ago.. Ran 8:50 X 6 on it before then...

Brian

I went from 7.00x6 to 8.50x6 on my Maule. I run them a little soft, 18psi, noticeable difference when landing on grass, much smoother, read less stress on gear. IMHO

8.50's are a good compromise...they sound like they'll meet your mission for flying around VA. You won't see much (if any) performance loss as far as AS with them over what you've got already. That said, I LOVE my 29" ABWs...got to find something to challenge them in VA though...

Sounds like we've got a little bit of a VA splinter-group forming! We ought to get together one of these weekends!

Mr Fly Hound,

What is the maximum gross weight for your aircraft? Just curious.

I use 8.5 on pavement but would not mind operating on a smaller less expensive tire. I called the factory and they advised not to go any smaller than 8.5, because it was not approved.

My aircraft gross weight is 2150 ( normal) and 2600 ( restricted ).

Thanks.

I'm now running 29 11 10's on my M4 for our desert back country places here and my Idaho trips... but I gotta tell ya.. when I had my tripacer I flew into most of the Idaho strips on 600 6's from Desser,(retreads) I also did one trip to Idaho with 800's on the M4 and had no problems at all..my avatar picture was taken at Big Bar on the Snake river on 800's.. I can't immagine anyplace fairly rough that 8 50's can't go..good luck... by the way,, I've been told that if you go to a 10 inch wheel from ABW , 8.50 10's are the same size as 26 6's abw bush wheels..that would be a bit more expensive but the cool factor and 850's might satisfy two problems for you...

8GCBC wrote:.......I use 8.5 on pavement but would not mind operating on a smaller less expensive tire. I called the factory and they advised not to go any smaller than 8.5, because it was not approved..............

This is sure opposite the normal trend on this site!
I found it interesting that 850's are the only MLG tires approved for your airplane.Just out of curiosity, I looked up the TCDS for the 8GCBC. It's got the newer format, ike the TCDS for my 1964 Cessna, which I don't much care for-- lists engines & props, and CG information, but nothing about much of anything else. The older format TCDS listed approved options for basically everythng on the airplane that could be removed, such as tires, including weight and station (arm) for W&B purposes.

Fly hound,

Your FIRST task should be to find out what tires are approved or "approvable" on your airplane. Not all tires are approved on all planes, and in some districts of FAA it is impossible to get tires approved that aren't STCd.

MTV

hotrod150 wrote:

8GCBC wrote:.......I use 8.5 on pavement but would not mind operating on a smaller less expensive tire. I called the factory and they advised not to go any smaller than 8.5, because it was not approved..............

This is sure opposite the normal trend on this site!
I found it interesting that 850's are the only MLG tires approved for your airplane.Just out of curiosity, I looked up the TCDS for the 8GCBC. It's got the newer format, ike the TCDS for my 1964 Cessna, which I don't much care for-- lists engines & props, and CG information, but nothing about much of anything else. The older format TCDS listed approved options for basically everythng on the airplane that could be removed, such as tires, including weight and station (arm) for W&B purposes.

For long distance flights and/or operating off of solid runways, I would use small tires if they were approved. But...Backcountry flying is much safer with FAT tires! Fuel and rubber is getting expensive!

check with Wup at ABW.. he can tell you what you want to know about tires approved for the Maule... I think about any tire can go on your Maule.. I've seen just about every tire on various Maules.... 8:50's ,800"s. 26"s,29's, 31's, and 35's...