Tire Choice

[PapuaPilot]

I am using the Desser 850x6 (22") smoothie tires for the reasons stated by airlina and jiott. I don't think there is anywhere I would go that these tires wouldn't be sufficient. They hold up very well with landing on pavement which is over 50% of my landings.

I run them from 11-14 psi and have experienced a little slippage. I put slippage marks on tire and have gotten 1/4 to 3/8" movement in the course of a year (I fix it at the annual inspection). Like others have said . . . watch the valve stem.

BTW I got rid of the normal 8.50x6 tires that came with my plane (I bought mine as an unfinished project). Again, this was at the recommendation of others on this forum. They were very heavy and stiff.

[Fdxflier]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will change my order and get the smoothies.

[Floog]

I've had Desser 21" smoothies for almost 1,400 hours now. I'm hoping to get another 1,000 hours after rotating them last year. If and when the time comes, I will buy another set. Incidentally, I run with tubes and Slime. Only one leak due to landing on cat heads before the Slime and no slippage. Great tires! Nice compromise for a cheap ass.

[ken nougaret]

Bruce, got your pm and i replied. I dont think my pm's are going out. Got pics? Here's my eeeemail. nougaret at verizon dot net

[jiott]

Thanks for your comments Floog. Your experience is the main reason I plan to switch to the Desser 22" smoothies. I know you go anywhere Scott goes with his 26" airstreak bushwheels-Mile Hi, all over Idaho and Oregon, river bars, etc.

If finances allowed I would choose the bushwheels, but only for the cool factor, and more margin for bad or poorly chosen landing areas. They also would be easier on the landing gear/airframe in cases of rougher than anticipated landings. Maybe the Desser 22" tires make you a little better pilot in carefully evaluating your landing areas.

[jrthomas]

You asked for opinions so here's mine. I've been running the 22" Dessers with tubes for about 2 and a half years. I couldn't be any more pleased. For my type flying they're perfect. I fly out of a 6000' paved airport without an official grass runway but I do land on the grass a lot. I fly in and out of grass strips pretty often. I don't do sand bars or mountain tops. The Desser is a good compromise for pavement and grass. They wear very well on pavement and with the Grove gear the bumps are not very noticeable. They're a big improvement over the old hard 6.50's and I didn't notice any speed loss. I run around 15 pounds of air so I've never known them to move on the rim. They've been absolutely trouble free.