Desser Tundra tire survey

[airlina]

Been thinking about the switch to the Desser 8.50 Tundra tires but looking for some wear info from you users out there. How about a format like this: percentage of pavement to turf and hours of use on tire. I run 75% turf/25% pavement. I hear the horror stories of how fast the alaska bushwheels wear if you land on pavement and want to see if the Dessers are following the same kind of wear pattern. Thanks Bruce N199CL

[offroute]

Flight training with mine. Mostly pavement with lots of landings. Five-hundred hours on my first set of Dessers. I switch back and forth between the Dessers and 26" bushwheels when needed.

[PapuaPilot]

I have about 140 hours on mine and do about 75% of my landings on pavement with no discernible wear.

[airlina]

Thanks Fred and Phil, so far thats what I want to hear . Bruce

[David47]

I'm interested in the feedback on this too. My first flights will be with 26" Alaskan Bushwheel tyres but I'd like info on any alternates.

[Floog]

1,250 hours on 8.50s. 90 percent off pavement. Still show wear indicators with only one tire rotation. Still hope to get at least another 500 hours!

[airlina]

OK you guys sold me on the Desser 8.50 Tundras. Installed them yesterday and got a couple flights in. I find them to be just the right size for my ops. Noticeable ride improvement on my grass strip and did a few on blacktop and like how they handled that as well . When I first finished the plane in 2003, I had regular 6 ply 8.50's that weighed a bunch and handled poorly on hard surfaces due to the inertia required to spin them on touchdown (very grabby). Then I switched to 8.00's which was a big weight savings and much better handling. The 8.00's are what I replaced with the Tundras and they handle the best of the group. I was concerned that they would grab like the standard 8.50's did , but due to their low weight there was none of that . In fact weight wise , it was an even swap from the 8.00's to the Tundras, each weighing 12 lbs . with tire and tube. Early indications show I may have lost 2 mph with the bigger tires , but I can live with that. Bruce N199CL

[PapuaPilot]

Glad you listened to a couple of wise guys. ;)

As you already have noticed you are really going to like these tires.

[n85ae]

Looks good Bruce!

Jeff

[airlina]

Us IO-240 guys gotta stick together

[av8rps]

Those look huge for their size. Just curious, what is the inflated height?

[airlina]

Those look huge for their size. Just curious, what is the inflated height?

22" height

[jrevens]

OK you guys sold me on the Desser 8.50 Tundras. Installed them yesterday and got a couple flights in. I find them to be just the right size for my ops. Noticeable ride improvement on my grass strip and did a few on blacktop and like how they handled that as well . When I first finished the plane in 2003, I had regular 6 ply 8.50's that weighed a bunch and handled poorly on hard surfaces due to the inertia required to spin them on touchdown (very grabby). Then I switched to 8.00's which was a big weight savings and much better handling. The 8.00's are what I replaced with the Tundras and they handle the best of the group. I was concerned that they would grab like the standard 8.50's did , but due to their low weight there was none of that . In fact weight wise , it was an even swap from the 8.00's to the Tundras, each weighing 12 lbs . with tire and tube. Early indications show I may have lost 2 mph with the bigger tires , but I can live with that. Bruce N199CL




Are these the 22" 8.50-6 Aero Classic tires? Are there many others out there who are using these with their Kitfox? I like the idea & looks of them.

[PaulSS]

99% certain they're these, John:

Great Tyres (https://www.desser.com/pc_combined_results.asp?pc_id=D3ECF29F85FC419CB238 79D8A011A8B0&search_keyword=&opts=SHOP+BY+SIZE%2FPLY+RATING~opt1%3D850-6%7Copt2%3DTIRE%7Copt3%3D4%3B&faceted_search_terms=SHOP+BY+SIZE%2FPLY+RATING~A02 1D99708934C898EF626FA804CEC54)

I reckon they look better than the 26" tyres and have yet to read a bad thing about them. I'll be looking to convince the UK LAA that they're okay for my Eurofox :)

[airlina]

Yes John , 8.50x6 4 ply smooth Tundra tire( need tubes with these). Desser website has a good description. Shop around for pricing as it varies between vendors. Bruce N199CL

[kmach]

I am using the Desser 8.50-6 smooth tundras as well , really like them and they are a reasonably priced .
Just make sure to check tire pressure when it gets real cold out or you risk shearing a valve stem.
I run around 10psi, grass and pavement. :)

[airlina]

I am using the Desser 8.50-6 smooth tundras as well , really like them and they are a reasonably priced .
Just make sure to check tire pressure when it gets real cold out or you risk shearing a valve stem.
I run around 10psi, grass and pavement. :)

Kevin being as that I am a newbie with these tires and fear shearing the stem on a $90 tube, I have started out at 18 PSI. So you have had no issues as low as 10 PSI? Thanks Bruce

[kmach]

I have had no issues and feel pretty comfortable at 10-12 psi.



When I add air I set them at 11 to 12 psi.


I sheared one valve stem this past winter, my own fault , it was -25 C, I did not check the tire pressures for about a month and the temperature dipped.
I checked the good tube and tire after, its pressure read around 4-5 psi, way too low as well.


12 psi on pavement should be no issue, 18 psi is pretty firm. I started around there too.

[airlina]

I have had no issues and feel pretty comfortable at 10-12 psi.



When I add air I set them at 11 to 12 psi.


I sheared one valve stem this past winter, my own fault , it was -25 C, I did not check the tire pressures for about a month and the temperature dipped.
I checked the good tube and tire after, its pressure read around 4-5 psi, way too low as well.


12 psi on pavement should be no issue, 18 psi is pretty firm. I started around there too.

Thanks for the information Kevin, Think I'll drop down to 15 PSI see how that works, then down to 12 PSI if no issues. I have marked the tires to make sure there is no slippage that I check on preflight. So far really like the new tires. Bruce N199CL