Bill,

 

Ahh!  Everything should be checked for experimental suitability.  The Chin tires have a limitation of "Not for Highway Use" - I guess they were ok for runway use.  The Desser tires were meant for LSAs and, if I remember correctly, have a limitation of "not for use over 65 mph".  The Chins had a max psi of 70 that was later raised to 90.  Remember that an 8-ply rating does not mean 8 plies, only that it meets the standard of "durability" that an actual 8 ply tire would meet.  I don't remember the pressure restriction on the Dessers.

 

What tire is actually suitable for the grocery cart 5-inch wheels that we use?  The Chin tires, if under inflated, wore the side walls of the tubes leading to pin holes that caused flats.  Europeans discovered a solution by over inflating Lancair's recommendations by about 10 psi.  The result was no more mysterious flats.

 

The last Chin tire I took off a main was worn to the valleys between the treads.  I could not believe how thin the remaining tire felt...............

 

I always make "firm" landings (TK5's take the pain away).  I am quite comfortable with the Desser tire and its stiffer composition along with its thicker inner tubes.

 

Here is some weird info:

 

For unmounted (no pressure) tires, the Chins have a tread depth of 3.5mm whilst the Dessers are 4.0mm.  My current Dessers have suffered 45 takeoffs and landings and the mains have a tread depth of 3mm while the nose is at 3+mm.  Too bad I didn't measure the tread depth when they were newly mounted and pressurized.

 

Scott

 

PS My landing technique it more like the plopping of a tired moose after jumping off a cliff rather than a butterfly in a tutu. 

 

Those tires have a load rating of 500 pounds!  With two of them you can put 1000 pounds on the mains….are you saying that you always land like a butterfly with sore feet???!!!

 

Bill B 

 

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From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Sky2high@aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:47 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Tires for a 360

Egads!  Yes, it is as Bucky said.  Aero Classic 11-400-5 at 39.95 and TU 11/400-5 tubes at 10.95 (they include a packet of talc).

 

Scott Krueger

 

In a message dated 3/12/2010 5:16:39 A.M. Central Standard Time, Sky2high@aol.com writes:

Randy,

 

I have switched to Desser tires (http://www.desser.com/aerotires.shtml) and I think they are the Aero Classic 400-4.  The next time I go to the airport I will call you.  They wear much better (harder rubber) than Chins.

 

Scott Krueger

 

In a message dated 3/11/2010 9:34:47 P.M. Central Standard Time, randy@aoaircrafters.com writes:

I have just completed my Annual Condition Inspection on my 360 and am surprised that I need new tires.  I have logged only 80 hours on my most recent set of tires (mains) and have very little tread left on both right and left sides.  I will now purchase another set of tires  but I am not sure if I should get another set of the Cheng Shin tires (around $18 each) or if I should throw more dollars at some better tires, if any are available.  What I am curious about is what options I might have and what any of the other 300 series owners have for tire-wear experience.  The tires are 11x4-5's and I haven't seen that exact size with the other tire manufacturers so maybe I don't understand the numbering scheme.  Any help or experience would be great.

 

Randy Hartman

N360DE - 210 hours