I have an old Aug/Sep 2000 issue of Northern Pilot, it has an article about the Alaskan Bushwheels then being produced by JIm Pazsint.
The article mentioned at the end that the business had been sold to Bill Duncan of Joseph OR. I don't know if he did a better job of marketing them or just what, but since then Bushwheels have really gotten popular-- to the point that it's almost unusual to see a STOL-type airplane that isn't wearing a set.

But I'm kinda of wondering what kind of "tundra tires" people ran before BW's came along & got so popular.
I know about the old Airwheels & follow-on (?) original Airstreaks, but as far as I know they were generally intended for Cubs & other lightweight aircraft with 4" wheels. What did the 170/180/185 and Maule crowd use? I'm assuming the most common was the 26" GY smoothie but maybe there were some others?

I think that the Gar-Aero wheel adapters with 8.50 x 10s have been around for quite a while.

This is the Schneider Racing Slick setup here:

For decades before Alaska Bushwheel's were produced, many of us in Alaska used the old Goodyear Airwheels. The most commonly used Airwheels were the 25x11x4 but Goodyear also made a 36 inc Airwheels as well. And it's been a few years, but I think Goodyear made one other size as well.

These were great tires, and wore a lot better than the new Bushwheel's do, but they weren't as flexible either. And they were the "original" tundra tires.

One of the Super Cubs I was assigned wore EDO 2000 floats in summer, and 25 inch Airwheels and modified AWB 2500 wheel skis in winter.

MTV

http://www.fepco.com/BF.chapter9.html

His 206 and cub chapters go into detail a little too. Old school.

Before Bushwheels there were pretty much two options for bigger than cub planes - gar-aeros and 8.50s. Gar-aeros were the obvious choice if bigger was really needed. Plenty of working planes on 8.50s tho. For those really pushing it, some used the Mikey Thompson racing slicks. They supposedly were great for flotation and absorption, but limited by sidewall flex, making crosswinds wicked.

Yeah, bushwheels are probably put on a lot of planes that don't really need them nowadays, but man are they a great option to have!

Goodyear Air Wheels



Mickey Thompson

Anyone know when GarAero started producing their 6x10" wheel adapters?

North River wrote:http://www.fepco.com/BF.chapter9.html

His 206 and cub chapters go into detail a little too. Old school.

Before Bushwheels there were pretty much two options for bigger than cub planes - gar-aeros and 8.50s. Gar-aeros were the obvious choice if bigger was really needed. Plenty of working planes on 8.50s tho. For those really pushing it, some used the Mikey Thompson racing slicks. They supposedly were great for flotation and absorption, but limited by sidewall flex, making crosswinds wicked.

Yeah, bushwheels are probably put on a lot of planes that don't really need them nowadays, but man are they a great option to have!

For some, it's a lot like some folks having a lifted 4WD pickup on 32" M&S tires--totally unnecessary for where the truck is used, but if it makes the owner feel good, so be it.

Cary

hotrod180 wrote:Anyone know when GarAero started producing their 6x10" wheel adapters?

I think I put the set on my Cub in 1986, but they'd been out a bit earlier, I think.

MTV

Late '70s early '80s there were the Multi Purpose Tyre Co 26" no tubes like AK bushwheel style.
There were also 29" Goodyear icebreaker tyres which had multiple coils of steel around the tyre embedded in the rubber. I believe they had 4" centres however it was not unknown for a sawzall to help in making that centre hole 6".

maules.com wrote:…. I believe they had 4" centres however it was not unknown for a sawzall to help in making that centre hole 6".

Thread revival....
seems like I've read about open ing up the ID on other tire sizes also.
I'm curious how well that holesawed / sawzalled 6" ID on the tire worked without a bead to seat on the wheel rim?

hotrod180 wrote:

maules.com wrote:…. I believe they had 4" centres however it was not unknown for a sawzall to help in making that centre hole 6".

Thread revival....
seems like I've read about open ing up the ID on other tire sizes also.
I'm curious how well that holesawed / sawzalled 6" ID on the tire worked without a bead to seat on the wheel rim?

Worked fine. Staked them and no issues.

MTV

Atlas Aviation operated Super Cubs, Beavers and Twin Otters on shaved down Racer tires in the 70's in the Eastern Canadian High Arctic

Over here in New Zealand, the "hunter-pilots" did a whole lot of commercial off airport work in the 1950s and 60s before helicopters took over. For 20 years or so, the backcountry airspace was busy.

From what I understand, back then everyone used 8.50s, being the largest commonly available aircraft tire which fit the planes of the time. Mostly they used Super Cubs, Austers, Maules, and 180s/185s later in the piece.

I have seen old photos and occasionally videos of planes landed in places which look wholly unsuitable for modern bushwheels, using just 8.50s.

It just goes to show, a good pilot is usually a better solution than a great aircraft.

Battson wrote:…. a good pilot is usually a better solution than a great aircraft.

Something esp for new pilots to ralize.
Hence the "spend your money on gas, not gadgets" advise that is often given here.

Does anyone have the contact information for Gary Stevenson, the founder and original owner of Gar Aero? He used to have a place at Anchor Point and Borrego. I would like to talk with him if he is still around. Thanks. David.