200/300 series Lancairians,

 

I have operated my 320 with TK-5s for the last 8 years.  Checking my electronic flight log, that covers 735 hours and 699 landings.  Miles and miles of taxiing on some of the worse surfaces possible for our grocery-cart wheels.  This winter I will contact Tim on whether or not they should be overhauled at the recommended service interval of 8 years.

 

I have flown into airports all over the country - good surface, bad surface, high altitude, high temperature, low altitude, low temperature and even a landing and takeoff at Logan, UT on a washboard surface because they were paving the main runway.

 

I have used them with lower nitrogen pressure - nice soft ride but a high AOA when fully loaded. I have used them at higher pressures with a firmer ride and flatter AOA.  In all cases, the wheels tend to stay in contact with the runway and give the pilot much more control than the donuts (not counting pilot induced bouncing).

 

With respect to their failure resulting in delays whilst awaiting repair or replacement, consider other components that can cause the same kind of delays.  One example is the tire we use since they are not stocked locally as standard equipment (doesn't everyone carry a spare?).