| After my best landing in the last 2 years, as I was taxing back, my right tire went flat. I put on the Grove (Cleveland) wheels and all new tires and tubes at my last annual 36 hours and 66 days ago. The Grove wheels mount with the bleeder valve having only about 1" of clearance from the ground. A fast flat would grind off the bleeder valve. I stopped the plane in time to only lose the rubber bleeder cover.
The Lamb tube had a whole in it right in the middle. Neither the mechanic or myself could find anything wrong with the tire. I changed it anyway. The tube just seemed to develop a small hole after 36 hours of use. I have had this happen in the past.
It is my experience that once the Lamb tires become "broken in", the is after about 2 months. If you don't have a flat by that time, you will not have tire trouble for the next 200 hours, even if the tires are bald.
Except for the proximity of the bleeder valve to the ground, I do like the Grove wheels. I can put the tires on without the cardboard in the center. The tires themselves seem to be wearing better. When I put my next set of tires on the plane, I will report on how long the tires actually lasted with both the Matco and Grove wheels. -- Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, DynaComm, Corp. LNC2, O-320-D1F, 1,100 hrs, N31161, Y47, SE Michigan
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