Aircraft Tyres - 4ply versus 6ply?
Aged aircraft tyres tend to exhibit signs that they are reaching the end of there life.
Firstly ageing crazing and cracking of the side walls.
Secondly splitting between the treads exposing the top layers of the carcass.
The above (other than cuts) are the only reason we ever replace nosewheel tyres on our helicopters. Other than taxiing there are no loads and wear is negligeable.
There is no comparison between the stresses on a car tyre and a light aircraft tyre.
The tyres on our 150 are around 18 years old and serviceable, however the inner tubes have been changed a couple of times purely for peace of mind.
Our experience is similar to some of the posters above. One owner/pilot, a mix of grass and tarmac.
Firstly ageing crazing and cracking of the side walls.
Secondly splitting between the treads exposing the top layers of the carcass.
The above (other than cuts) are the only reason we ever replace nosewheel tyres on our helicopters. Other than taxiing there are no loads and wear is negligeable.
There is no comparison between the stresses on a car tyre and a light aircraft tyre.
The tyres on our 150 are around 18 years old and serviceable, however the inner tubes have been changed a couple of times purely for peace of mind.
Our experience is similar to some of the posters above. One owner/pilot, a mix of grass and tarmac.
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Would you believe it?
Went out in the fog today to polish the aircraft and check on the tyre make. And would you believe it - the 20 year old tyres ARE 6 ply already - the same Condors exactly as recommended by Watts Aviation. Decision made! Thanks for everyone's input. Curly.
Why would anyone risk their neck putting £15 wheelbarrow tyres on any aeroplane?
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Curlytips
After a few calculations I find I am getting about 1200 landings per tyre ( using the type of tyre you have chosen ).
As most privately owned aircraft fly about 100 hours a year and probably do 1.5 landings per hour this would give a tyre life of around eight years operating from hard runways and double that on grass making it probable that a lightly used aircraft operating from grass could be sitting on twenty year old tyres.
As most privately owned aircraft fly about 100 hours a year and probably do 1.5 landings per hour this would give a tyre life of around eight years operating from hard runways and double that on grass making it probable that a lightly used aircraft operating from grass could be sitting on twenty year old tyres.
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A and C
Perfect calculation. Can't see any reason why I would upgrade (or downgrade for that matter). Am saving up the £300 ready for adding to annual (including new tubes, of course).
