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Tires and Brake Pads

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garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:42 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

What kind of hours are folks getting on tires and brake pads?  I have 135 

hours on my 7A and the outside of the tires are bald and the brake pads are 

worn about 90%.  In talking with Vans they said the original tires shipped 

with the kit aren't supposed to last more than 100 hours........ditto with 

the brake pads.  This doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of experience do 

others have?  Also, any recommendations on what brand of tires to replace 

them with?



Garry Stout

Tampa, FL

garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

Is your wear primarily on the outside edge of the main gear tires?  If so, 

reverse the tires on the wheels and you'll probably get 100 more hours.



There is a lot of back and forth in the archives on tires.  I'm using 

Michelins (and airstop tubes) myself.



My understanding is that the -A models use more brakes than the tailwheel 

versions since brakes are the only steering mechanism. That said, I've 

replaced the pads once on my -6 in over 500 hours.



Kyle Boatright

2001 RV-6 N46KB

---

carl.froehlich(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

300 hours on my 8A.  This included a lot of cross country however.



Carl Froehlich

RV-8A (450 hrs)

RV-10 (wings)

Dogwood Airpark (VA42)



--

Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

I rotated the original tires on my 6A at about 100 hours then replaced them 

at 160 hours. My brakes were at about 90% worn when I replaced them at 187 

hours.

Dale Ensing



---

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

Larygagnon(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

I had just the left tire wearing on the outside faster then the right and swapping them got me to 140 hours before changing to Michelins.   I had just one brake pad wear from too much pressure in one direction because the brake line got tweaked and put pressure on that side.   I'm told the original tires are not known for there longevity.

 

 Larry Gagnon

 RV6   N6LG   160 hrs

 RV6A   N3158Y   Going to airport soon 

**************

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denis.walsh(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

Since I keep track of my number of landings and have done so for the  

last 11 years, I would like to comment on this.  I hear this same  

question a lot, and it is a good one, of interest to all.  One thing  

to understand why tires sometimes go in a hurry, is the rod spring  

gear.  A marvelous design, elegantly simple.  But in lieu of shock  

absorbing oleos, it uses a sprongy motion which scrubs the tires upon  

landing and uses the friction thus to dissipate the landing shock.



My plane is an RV-6A.  Since I am a cheapskate, I can assure you I use  

all known methods to extend brake and tire wear.  I have logged 3600  

landings in my 2100 hours.  About 1.8 landings per hour.



first to answer the question.  My average landings per set has been  

between 250 and 500.  Brakes are around 700.  Most folks are in this  

range.  Based on my numbers I would say you are doing well on tires,  

and not quite as well as you could on brakes.  I would check for   

scorching, and other signs of dragging brakes.



My opinion of why the huge variation?  Some variables: type of tire,  

type of use (surface), braking/steering habits, landing/takeoff  

speeds, number if touch and goes, average weight.



I reverse the tires  when halfway through, and the outside gets smooth.



My longest wearing tires have been the cheapest and the most  

expensive.  Cheapest being the retreads , most expensive being the  

Goodyear FC III.  My current philosophy is go for the middle grade.   

The retreads and FCIII are too heavy for my taste and I think more  

prone to shake.  I love the new low leak tubes, and like to keep a  

higher pressure than most in the mains, 40psi.



I prefer the other brand of pads (RAPCO).  Wear is about the same as  

Cleveland, but Rapco has a wear indicator, which really helps me to  

check in the  dim light under the wheel.



My personal opinion is the best thing you can do to minimize yuor tire  

and brake wear is land and take off at the minimum speed.  But if you  

are more comfortable landing fast go ahead, it won't break the bank.



One last bit of free advice.  Don't run on smooth tires.  When you get  

both halves worn smooth, replace them, and the tubes please.



DLW

On Apr 13, 2008, at 4:38 PM, Garry wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 What kind of hours are folks getting on tires and brake pads?  I  

 have 135 hours on my 7A and the outside of the tires are bald and  

 the brake pads are worn about 90%.  In talking with Vans they said  

 the original tires shipped with the kit aren't supposed to last more  

 than 100 hours........ditto with the brake pads.  This doesn't make  

 sense to me.  What kind of experience do others have?  Also, any  

 recommendations on what brand of tires to replace them with?



 Garry Stout

 Tampa, FL

 garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com

Jerry Grimmonpre'

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 144
Location: Huntley, Illinois 60142

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:27 am Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

Good Morning Listers ...

A short intro from a guy off list for a year.  I got off track while lost in 

my basement building guest quarters.  That project is done so building and 

flying  funds are more available.   I live in Northern Illinois and at work 

on an RV8A.



The subject ... (tires and brake pads)   is on the list to do for an RV4 I 

fly.



My question is about Airstop Tubes.   What brand would you recommend and do 

I order straight tube stems or the bent ones?

Thanks for any info and I'm happy to be back ...

Jerry

dcw(at)mnwing.org
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:17 am Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

Jerry:



Personally I would not scrimp on tubes.  I found that the cheap ones 

leak (especially those that come with Van's kits).  Spring for quality 

Goodyear or Michelin.  Money well spent.



Doug Weiler

N722DW, RV-4, 450 hrs



Jerry Grimmonpre wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Good Morning Listers ...

 A short intro from a guy off list for a year.  I got off track while 

 lost in my basement building guest quarters.  That project is done so 

 building and flying  funds are more available.   I live in Northern 

 Illinois and at work on an RV8A.

 

 The subject ... (tires and brake pads)   is on the list to do for an RV4 

 I fly.

 

 My question is about Airstop Tubes.   What brand would you recommend and 

 do I order straight tube stems or the bent ones?

 Thanks for any info and I'm happy to be back ...

 Jerry

JFLEISC(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

In a message dated 4/13/2008 10:00:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  Larygagnon(at)aol.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I had just the left tire wearing on the outside faster then    the right and swapping them got me to 140 hours before changing to    Michelins.  I had just one brake pad wear from too much pressure in one    direction because the brake line got tweaked and put pressure on that    side.  I'm told the original tires are not known for there    longevity.

	


 

 Dumb question; Where can I get some Michelins? I assume they are  radial?

  

 Jim



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Vanremog(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

In a message dated 4/14/2008 3:27:11 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  JFLEISC(at)aol.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Dumb question; Where can I get some Michelins? I assume they are    radial?

	


 

 Desser   

 N1GV (RV-6A, Flying 887hrs, O-360-A1A, C/S, Silicon  Valley) 





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jhstarn(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

We bought recaps for HRII N561FS but they have lots of options.   "sales(at)desser.com or phone us at 800-247-8473 (323-721-4900 "  KABONG

  Dumb question; Where can I get some Michelins? I assume they are   radial?Desser  N1GV (RV-6A, Flying 887hrs, O-360-A1A, C/S, Silicon Valley) 

 	  Quote:

HCRV6(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

I got just under 90 hours on the Aero Trainer tires that came with my finish kit in 2001, even after rotating them to even wear.  I replaced them with Goodyear FClll's at that point and now have about 360 hours on the FClll's and estimate that they will need to be replaced in another 100 to 150 hours at the current rate of wear.  I rotate and reverse them every 100 hours or so to even out wear.  I also installed low leak tubes when I installed the GY FClll's and now have to add 1 or at most 2 psi every month or so instead of 4 or 5 psi every few weeks as I did with the original tubes.  As I recall I paid about $120 each for the FClll's vs about $35 at the time for the lowest price brands from Desser.  I will replace these with FClll's when the time comes.



I'm on the second set of brake pads (Rapco) now at 460 hours and will probably have to replace these in another 100 hours or so.  I average about two landings per hour and sometimes brake aggressively to make an early turn off but otherwise try to stay off the brakes as much as possible.



--

Harry Crosby

RV-6 N16CX, flying - 460 hours



 -------------- Original message ----------------------

From: "Garry" <garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com>

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 What kind of hours are folks getting on tires and brake pads?  I have 135 

 hours on my 7A and the outside of the tires are bald and the brake pads are 

 worn about 90%.  In talking with Vans they said the original tires shipped 

 with the kit aren't supposed to last more than 100 hours........ditto with 

 the brake pads.  This doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of experience do 

 others have?  Also, any recommendations on what brand of tires to replace 

 them with?

 

 Garry Stout

 Tampa, FL

 garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com

Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: Tires and Brake Pads

Hi Jerry,

Good to hear from you once again and glad your back on the RV project.. I 

would recommend the Michelin Air Stop tubes. (I think Air Stop is their 

brand name). The wheels on my 6A require the bent stems.

Had a flight last month out of 3CK with a friend.  Was nice to see the old 

stomping grounds once again.



Dale Ensing



---

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

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