Tire time! Goodyear Flight Special II or Airhawk, $50/tire difference. Which one?

Kiddo's Driver

Kiddo's Driver

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Jim
Like the title says.
They are going on a Socata Tampico, TB9.
The only twist is that my son is going to be using the plane to learn to fly.
Also, I assume Michelin AirStop is the way to go for tubes.

Nose: 5.00x5 6PR
Mains: 15x6.00x6 6PR
 
Goodyear + Airstop for last 20 years no issues.
 
Been flying Airhawks on my B55 Baron for 4-years with airstop tubes - no issues. Flew them on my Mooney for 7 years - excellent performance. For a Tampico, I'd do Airhawks.
 
For airplane tires, get recaps. They can use a harder rubber compound on the tread that way, so they'll last even longer than new tires.

www.aviationconsumer.com

Tire Retreads: Strong, Cheaper - Aviation Consumer

Aircraft tires are highly engineered and are remarkably strong for their size. They often go from 0 MPH to 80 or more MPH in an instant without distorting enough to come off of the rim, plus they have to hold pressure at these high speeds. If the airplane is a little cockeyed on landing, the...
www.aviationconsumer.com www.aviationconsumer.com
 
Airstop and Airhawk for my Mooney for 10 years as well.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
For airplane tires, get recaps. They can use a harder rubber compound on the tread that way, so they'll last even longer than new tires.

www.aviationconsumer.com

Tire Retreads: Strong, Cheaper - Aviation Consumer

Aircraft tires are highly engineered and are remarkably strong for their size. They often go from 0 MPH to 80 or more MPH in an instant without distorting enough to come off of the rim, plus they have to hold pressure at these high speeds. If the airplane is a little cockeyed on landing, the...
www.aviationconsumer.com www.aviationconsumer.com
Click to expand...

Do the hard compound retreads have any traction problems on rainy crosswind landings?
 
Kiddo's Driver said:
Like the title says.
They are going on a Socata Tampico, TB9.
The only twist is that my son is going to be using the plane to learn to fly.
Also, I assume Michelin AirStop is the way to go for tubes.

Nose: 5.00x5 6PR
Mains: 15x6.00x6 6PR
Click to expand...
Goodyear
 
FWIW:

I put an Airhawk on my Lance when I bought it. It's bald now, but no cords through yet. 4 years, ~600 hours, ~700 landings. Getting replaced with a new Airhawk now.

Airhawks are what the local flight school uses as well.
 
Bill said:
Do the hard compound retreads have any traction problems on rainy crosswind landings?
Click to expand...
Not that I've ever been able to notice. I would think they'd have to be hard as a rock before it had any significant effect.
 
I went with the Goodyear tires, mostly because they are the ones listed in the Pilot's Information Manual and because the $150 price difference wasn't enough to scare me off. I went with Michelin AirStop tubes. Expensive little buggers. The nose tube was more expensive than the nose tire. Ended up having to buy a bent stem tube for the nose because they didn't have a straight stem tube. Surely that will cause the engine to fall off.
 
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According to my plane's manufacturer, only the Goodyear are approved...
 
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