Hello All,

I am about to pull the trigger on a set of either Goodyear or Michelin 8:50-6 tires. I have run both tires though smaller in size on my Bonanza and loved both. Now that I have a Maule which one would one suggest getting. Price is not a factor since the GY and M are within $10 of each other.

The specs from both GY and M data books indicate that they are the same size when inflated. Also, the only real difference between the tread patterns is that GY has the two outer most ribs on the edge of the tire whereas the M tire has the two outer ribs in about and inch or two.

have a look at STA Superhawk's at $50.00 less and as good and same tire tread grove

Your STA Superhawk pick looks like it will do the job. Same groove design as the Goodyear tire.

Looking at the price Differences

Spruce VS Desser VS Chief
850-6 STA Superhawk $289.95 VS $249.00 VS
850-6 Michelin Air $289.00 VS $307.82 VS
850-6 Goodyear Rib $297.00 VS $295.00 VS $287.50

Of Course, tubes MUST be purchased.
Both Companies give free shipping on tires

Retreading company:
http://wilkersonaircrafttires.com/

Interesting EAA Video on Aircraft Tires:
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1620037881001

I'll vouch for Wilkerson Aircraft Tires in Crew Virginia, they are just a few miles from me. I've had experience with lots of there recaps and all good!!
The recaps seem to out last new about 2:1.

They also are a small family based business just like Maule.

Forgot to mention that I'm currently have there recaps on my airplanes.

Vtail,

According to NASA TN D-2056, the presence of rib tread grooves does considerably increase tire/runway friction under partial hydroplaning compared with smooth tread, but tire inflation pressure is the most important single parameter in determining hydroplaning speed.

For a Maule rolling at less than 35 knots ground speed, 20 psi should be sufficient tire pressure to prevent hydroplaning, no matter which tire or tread pattern.

Conclusion, they're all bias belted tires, so if one of them wears a bit quicker on hot runways, it probably has a softer tread compound which ought to offer a bit more friction on ice.

ATB, Peter

P.S. NASA's TN D-2056 is long out of print, but it seems to be the seminal work on tire hydroplaning, and if anyone else is sufficiently interested in that kind of stuff, please PM and I'll gladly email a copy.

I switched to the Goodyear Aircraft Rib 8.50x6.00 tires and tubes in 2008 based on Jeremy's advice and I'm still running them. They're a bit heavier than the others but very tough. I'll probably have to replace them next year since the rib is almost worn off in the middle and now I'm based at an airport with hard surface runways, but 8 years on a set of tires is pretty good. Can't comment on the other brands. The tubes are so tough that we had trouble getting them on the wheels.

Has anyone tried a higher psi inflation on the Michelin 8.5x6? I replaced from wider profile Air Trac. For one i cant find a pressure chart from michelin. Desser recommends 30psi on a 8.5 tire. I like higher pressure since now Im based on hard grooved surface but 30p is too high. Typically I like 20-22. Anybody know michelin recommended pressure or what do you know?

I like 15. Kind of like a friend told me "when it gets hard to push around it's time to air them up a little".

I think the general guidance is to inflate the tires until the outside-most grooves are off the ground. With the Goodyear 8.50x6.00 tires that I used to have on my MX-7-180, that was about 25 psi with full mains and normal weight. I replaced them with 31" ABI tundra tires in 2016. So far they are still in good shape but that's because I use grass everywhere possible. When the 31s need to be replaced, I'm going to get the heavier-duty 31s from Airframes Alaska.

I run 25 on the Goodyears until it gets hard to push. They're usually around 15 or so by that point. Not the Michelins but another data point.

Neither
I like Desser Aero Classics, the 800:6 and 850:6 are smooth, lightweight 4 ply. Personally I think the 800:6 is the perfect (lower 48) backcountry tire unless you frequent soft sand or big rocks and costs much less.
My dos centavos
V/R
Smokey

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... -02501.php

t.

I have a set of Air Trac 8.5s with tubes that came with the airplane in August, the previous owner had switched to 7’s. I installed the 8.5s during my April annual and the mechanic aired to 28 psi. I too am having trouble with getting manufacture’s or Maule recommendations on tire pressure for operations. Read this thread sounds like the range is between 25 psi and no less than 15 depending on the mission?

I use those same tires part of the year. I run them at 18-20 psi.