Tire quality

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JohnWF

Pre-takeoff checklist
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John at Salida
I purchased two new 500-5 6-ply tires that I am not happy with.

I want high quality tires, but can't really determine who makes the best quality tires...not interested in retreads, or low cost units, just best quality.

Your recommendations?
 
Goodyears are spendy, but I've been satisfied with the quality so far. I haven't worked out the numbers, but the extra expense seems to be offset by the longer life you'll get out of them, as long as you don't have someone who drags a brake on landing or something.
 
Friend has three brand new Goodyears on his C152 and he swears they are the stickiest tires he's ever owned. Says the roll resistance is remarkable. Time will tell how they last.

I have a monster retread on my nose, also new. We'll see how well that one does by comparison.
 
http://www.desser.com/store/quicksearch.php?type=tire&size=500-5&ply=

Based on experience with auto tires if I wanted the best (and was willing to pay for it) I would choose the Michelins.
Currently have the 8 ply Lambs of the Lancair which do not last long on the mains at least.
Had the Aero classic on the RV, replaced with Monster Retread.

How do you define quality of an aircraft tire? Number of landings? Balance?
 
I like the good years,have to remember to be easy on the brakes,since you own the tires.
 
They are soooo important to your well being and that of the aircraft. Get good ones. I had new good years on the Stearman, never recaps.
 
Goodyear Flight Custom III's with Michelin air stop tubes.

No compromises on maintenance.
 
Michelin Pilot Power 3's!!

Good enough for the motorcycle, should work for the airplane.
 
My flight school swears by retreads. They claim they last way longer than new tires.
 
LDJones said:
My flight school swears by retreads. They claim they last way longer than new tires.
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We used Desser "Monster Retreads" on both Cherokees with good results. Those things have TONS of rubber, and never wear out.

I just put three new Condors (by Michelin) on the RV last week. I would have gone with Monsters, but the wheel pants on the -8A are very, very tight, and I would have had to enlarge them to fit the beefier retreads.

Since the plane had Condors on it since new in 2003, I figure I'll get good wear out of them.

BTW: I also went with the Michelin Airstop inner tubes. I was amazed that they cost almost exactly the same as the tires themselves. Yikes! Gold-plated inner tubes. :lol:
 
The air-stop tubes are critical, unless your are religiously on top of keeping your tires properly inflated. We've seen a huge difference in loss-rate between standard tubes and Michelin Air-Stop ones. With the air-stop tubes, we've found the Condor tires have provided the best value for us. Yes, could have spent more and the Flight Custom III might last longer, but not longer enough for us to justify the cost.
 
Some planes don't allow for recaps as the gear gets stuck in the well.
 
Henning said:
Some planes don't allow for recaps as the gear gets stuck in the well.
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Well, that would make them last longer!

If fixed gear then monster retreads and leak guard tubes. You can spec your carcass when ordering monsters, mine came on Michelin carcasses.
 
I ordered retreads from Aircraft Spruce in March. When I got them (15-6.00x6) I noticed right away they were NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE SAME SIZE!

One carcass was Goodyear one was Condor. Side by side the GY tire was a full 3/4" taller than the Condor. The crown of the GY was in the center, the condor was nowhere close to the center of the tread. The Condor was noticably lighter. In short; they sucked!

It cost me $25.00 to send them back but my plane is exciting enough to land without running different size tires on the mains...

It's Goodyear II's for the 'bipe.

JMPO,
Chris
 
Thanks for the chart No Heat.

Now I can make amends on another forum for a comment I made about Air Hawk when I meant Condor.
 
For years I flew with Flight Customs. This time around the mechanic recommended Air Hawks. I looked at him as if he was from Mars since my only recollection of McCreary's was on basic trainers from years ago. Short story, I went with them 2 years ago and they have been doing great.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The 'kota had one new Air Hawk on it when I bought it. I put another on a year later and then a new one on the nose a couple years ago. It's just about time to change the first one after about 5 or 600 landings. Good tires, sticky enough that I've never locked them while in motion. I air them up every couple months - I know that's the tube not the tire, just mentioning that as a point of maintenance.
 
We talk about tire tread depth a lot, but there are other considerations. Landing in the winter on an icy runway, low on fuel, braking action poor to nil is a religious experience. Tire compound means everything on ice. Flight custom III's are the best I've used in those conditions and probably saved my butt.
 
Jay Honeck said:
We used Desser "Monster Retreads" on both Cherokees with good results. Those things have TONS of rubber, and never wear out.

I just put three new Condors (by Michelin) on the RV last week. I would have gone with Monsters, but the wheel pants on the -8A are very, very tight, and I would have had to enlarge them to fit the beefier retreads.

Since the plane had Condors on it since new in 2003, I figure I'll get good wear out of them.

BTW: I also went with the Michelin Airstop inner tubes. I was amazed that they cost almost exactly the same as the tires themselves. Yikes! Gold-plated inner tubes. :lol:
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Geez.....

What is it with aircraft inner tubes:dunno::dunno:...

My Zenith 801 kit came with Condor 8.00X6 tires and the tubes provided came from this agriculture outfit...

http://www.gemplers.com/small-industrial..

I NEVER have to add air more the once a year during the conditional inspection.. And even then it is only 2-4 PSI....

My set up needs those special " angled fill tubes" TR 76 series.... 25 bucks for high quality tubes is about the correct price in my mind... I have not looked up the cost of these " Airstop" inner tubes, but , if they cost as much as a tire I would have a heart attack...:eek:
 
Jay Honeck said:
BTW: I also went with the Michelin Airstop inner tubes. I was amazed that they cost almost exactly the same as the tires themselves. Yikes! Gold-plated inner tubes. :lol:
Click to expand...

But worth every penny!

Leakguards are a little cheaper but not much. But, If you're flying a bird with wheelpants that make it a PITA to check air...well a few bucks per year per tire is well worth it to only having to add air once between annuals.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Interesting. They surely do not.

Normally, more rubber is a good thing, but not when your wheel pants have only 1/4" - 1/2" of clearance on the sides, like mine do.
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Agree. As the previous owner of my tightly-panted RV learned the hard way... ;-/
 
JoeSelch said:
Agree. As the previous owner of my tightly-panted RV learned the hard way... ;-/
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Yup. My left wheel pant has repairs on the *bottom*, consistent with what would happen if you ran too big a tire (or a flat tire) on a firm landing.

I love Monster retreads, but I hate repairing Fiberglass even more.
 
I forgot.....the mains on my Stearman were Goodyear. The tail wheel was a front tire from a snapper comet lawn mower, the exact fit which many were using at that time. Worked great. 15 bucks.
 
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