In a message dated 9/7/2005 1:45:29 P.M. Central Standard Time,=20 MikeEasley@aol.com writes:

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My ES manual says in the Handling, Service, and Maintenance section,=20 IV-12...

Nosewheel 32-35 psig, Main tires 55-65 psig.

Interesting thing is Lancair recommends 6 ply tires for the mains, bu= t=20 the 6 ply tires are supposed to be inflated to 44 psi. Should we be=20 using an 8 ply tire for the mains?

So the book pressures for Flight Custom III's are 44 on the mains 52=20= on=20 the nosewheel.

Is the nosewheel "safe" as far as speed rating, temperatures, weight=20 carrying, etc. at 32-35 psi?

This gets more interesting the more I look at=20 it.

Tire, 5" 8-Ply 11.40 X=20 5

Replacement nose tires use= d on=20 the Lancair 235, 320/360 & the Legacy 2000 plane. The 5" 8-ply is standa= rd.=20

QTY EA @ $16.00

>>>>>>>>>

Except these are the MAIN tires on the 235/320/360 also.&nb= sp;=20 Wee things that they are, I set my mains to 42 psi and the nose to 32 psi wh= ile=20 the tire is rated for 70 psi. These are the famous "CHIN" tires=20= -=20 clearly marked "Not for Highway Use" - meaning we cannot land on roads altho= ugh=20 a 60 to 70 Kt touchdown on a rotten runway is no problem (NP for short).

I believe the proper pressure could be calculated - how man= y=20 square inches of tire support the weight - let's say at some=20 gross weight my nose wheel is supporting 480 pounds. At 30 psi th= ere=20 is probably 16 sq in of tire (4 x 4) sitting on the ground.

All I look for over time is even wear of the tire although=20= I=20 expect more wear towards the center because of the spin up at landing (at le= ast=20 one squeak, but less than three on the mains means NP). The Chin tires= are=20 NP, but the tubes can be -- if not enough talc and air pressure are use= d,=20 tire sidewall flex can wear the side of the tube to the point that AIR can l= eak=20 out resulting in a FLAT, nose wheel shimmy notwithstanding.

Luckily, you ES types get to use larger, more expensiv= e=20 (more than $16) certified tires, guaranteed to keep you rolling regardl= ess=20 of runway, grass or highway. Oh, that's right, you don't have to stick= =20 those large wheels inside of a thin performance wing, NP.

Anybody filling their tubes with Nitrogen? If not, wh= y=20 not?

Scott Krueger AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB=20 89/96
Aurora, IL (KARR)