I'm thinking about getting bigger tires for my 7GCBC, that would also fit a C180 if my Citabria sells soon. I'm in between the 29x10s with the Gar Aero adapters or 29" Bushwheels? Do the 29x10s last longer? I mostly fly off airport and gravel strips.

Ive got the 29 11 10 airhawks which I got from ABW... haven't been disappointed yet... they seem to wear very little and get me anywhere I want so far... they will slow you down in cruise though but that doesn't bother me....most talk in the past seems to indicate they wear longer than the straight bushwheels... anyway you'll spend a little more since you need 10 inch wheels as opposed to the 6 inch 29's or 31's.... also everyone who goes from 29's to 31's says they should have done it sooner....that's the dilemma you'll have.... so I hope I've confused you more....lol

anyway if you go to the 29 11 10's you can some day go to the 35 10's good luck

I had 31" ABWs on my Citabria and they were awesome. Been debating with myself all summer on whether I should put 29" or 31" on my 180 in the spring. Apparently its a tough choice as I still haven't decided...

I started with the 29X 10's on the 180 this spring. I now have 29" ABW's and couldn't be happier. If "off airport" describes any portion of your mission, you won't be happy with anything but ABW's

Has anybody on here ever ran 29" Airstreaks on a 7GCBC before? The LEGAL gross weight is 1650.

iceman wrote:anyway if you go to the 29 11 10's you can some day go to the 35 10's good luck

The 10" for the 35's are NOT the same. And won't work.

I know airstreaks aren't ideal for a Citabria, but i got these for my J3 yesterday. Honestly, I'm only posting this picture hoping Alaskan Bushwheels will hire my daughter to model for them so I can get free tires.

Tom wrote:

iceman wrote:anyway if you go to the 29 11 10's you can some day go to the 35 10's good luck

The 10" for the 35's are NOT the same. And won't work.

didn[t know that... thought the 35's fit the 10 inch wheel...

29 11 10's on an airplane as light as yours will be rock hard, rock heavy pigs that do nothing more than give you the big tire look. Rolling radius without some measure of cushion is of very little advantage. If you just want to join in on the big tire look they will work, but cost you 70#'s or so of precious weight capacity

If I were in your shoes the choices would be something like this;

1) 31" bushwheels
2) 29" airstreaks
3) 29" bushwheels
4) 26" airstreaks
5) 26"bushwheels
6) used 30" airstreaks (the old school ones installed via 337 and Alaska tundra tire worksheet)
7) 26" good years and a bag over my head...
8 ) wore out loaner POS tires covered in herculiner....
.....
9999) POS 29 11 10 Airhawks

FWIW I derive this opinion from years of owning every size tire bushwheel has made (including the pre Wup and Dunkin years) on multiple airplanes... but as always YMMV
Take care, Rob

FWIW, airstreaks may work on the Citabria but won't work on the 180.
Also, not sure what gar aero adapters cost, but to get 10" wheels and tires costs the same if not more then just buying bushwheels.

What you need Rob, is some video shot from the back of your Cub demonstrating how 31s soak up rocks.

Sorry if my post sounded condescending, but I doubt anyone who's 'been there, done that' , would find much fault with it unless their mission differs vastly from the intended use of the tire

Just to clarify on choice # 7 ... I have used Goodyears on Cub, Maule, and C180 sized airplanes and think they are wonderful. In fact I happen to be of the opinion that if your mission does not require Bushwheels, Goodyears are a much better choice on a C180, but too much of a compromise for the lighter airframes of cub types..

I have also used Airhawks (29 11 10's) on both cub and C180 sized aircraft. It is my opinion that the only place they shine is on Part 135 driven C18x - C20x sized aircraft , where the financial concern of replacing Bushweels frequently just doesn't pencil out. The same could be said for private use on heavier than cub sized airframes with higher than cub GW's, but in those cases, it is my opinion that you probably could have gotten by with Goodyears and saved yourself a couple grand and a bunch of useful load all of which will be fwd of the CG....

Hi A1, you are correct, my post was directed at the OP. In your shoes, I would by 29 Bushwheels and never look back. For what I like the 31's make a better C180 tire, but the 29's have a more appropriate GW, and are really one of the best things you can add to that Cessna.


Speedbump!

WHOLLY SHIZ! where have you been brother! Shoot me a pm with some contact info, It would be awesome to catch up some! FWIW the cub you experienced got screwed in a hailstorm several years back and when I rebuilt it (again ) I put it on 35's. Lots of mixed feelings about those, but way beyond of the scope of this thread. I do still have some 31's in the barn though, so if you'r interested in being the video guy, or pilot while I video we could probably cobble together something to suit your suggestion

Take care, Rob

Nothing wrong with 4 ply 8.50X10 on Gar Aero or 10" bush wheels for your GCBC/potential C180 upgrade either. Not as tall as 29 X 10 but not as heavy either. 29" Bushwheels for sure if limited pavement ops.

Rob wrote:29 11 10's on an airplane as light as yours will be rock hard, rock heavy pigs that do nothing more than give you the big tire look. Rolling radius without some measure of cushion is of very little advantage. If you just want to join in on the big tire look they will work, but cost you 70#'s or so of precious weight capacity

If I were in your shoes the choices would be something like this;

1) 31" bushwheels
2) 29" airstreaks
3) 29" bushwheels
4) 26" airstreaks
5) 26"bushwheels
6) used 30" airstreaks (the old school ones installed via 337 and Alaska tundra tire worksheet)
7) 26" good years and a bag over my head...
8 ) wore out loaner POS tires covered in herculiner....


.....
9999) POS 29 11 10 Airhawks

FWIW I derive this opinion from years of owning every size tire bushwheel has made (including the pre Wup and Dunkin years) on multiple airplanes... but as always YMMV
Take care, Rob

I was worried that the airhawks were going to be to stiff of a tire for that light of a plane. Looks like 29" ABWs.

If the long range goal is tires for the 180 the stiffer sidewall will do better in crosswinds and sidehill landing. If you wants tires for the fabric plane than it is bush wheels all the way. Just adding gas to the fire
DENNY

gbflyer wrote:Nothing wrong with 4 ply 8.50X10 on Gar Aero or 10" bush wheels for your GCBC/potential C180 upgrade either. Not as tall as 29 X 10 but not as heavy either. 29" Bushwheels for sure if limited pavement ops.

I'm kinda curious why no one seems to be into the 850x10 Airtracs? Per Desser, about 36# & $570 for the pair plus tubes. Plus a set of ABW 10" black wheels at $2K or GarAero adapters at $1600. So black wheels, tires, and tubes add up to about $2770 or so, less money up front than a pair of let's say 29" BW's at 62# & close to $3300 for the pair. At tire replacement time it's about $770 for the 850x10's vs that same $3300 for the BW's.

ajfriz wrote:I know airstreaks aren't ideal for a Citabria, but i got these for my J3 yesterday. Honestly, I'm only posting this picture hoping Alaskan Bushwheels will hire my daughter to model for them so I can get free tires.

That's the cutest damn thing I've seen in a while! She get my vote for Bushwheel babe!

Rob wrote: Just to clarify on choice # 7 ... I have used Goodyears on Cub, Maule, and C180 sized airplanes and think they are wonderful. In fact I happen to be of the opinion that if your mission does not require Bushwheels, Goodyears are a much better choice on a C180, but too much of a compromise for the lighter airframes of cub types..

I couldn't be more pleased with the Goodyears. Running them on a 180, and they wear better than any other tire I've used, barely slow the beast down, and have a little more cool factor than 8.50s. We never get tired of talking tires on this forum!

iceman wrote:

Tom wrote:

iceman wrote:anyway if you go to the 29 11 10's you can some day go to the 35 10's good luck

The 10" for the 35's are NOT the same. And won't work.

didn[t know that... thought the 35's fit the 10 inch wheel...

ABW website indicates their 6.5" x 10" wheels are for the 35" Bushwheels, and their 10" x 10" wheels are for 29's.