Question Desser tires?

[Neal]

I've heard of Desser tires in the past and as I'm forced on pavement ops at my home base, even if there is a great grass area to land on, the airport manager isn't entertaining it, but I digress. I watched a video last night by Bowen Aero, also a Beringer distributor, about his using Desser 27.5's with Beringer 8 inch wheels. I knew the Dessers used the 8 inch wheels which is going to be an initial cost hit, but I didn't realize I could keep my brake setup for 6 inch wheels that I use now.

I have 31 inch AK bushwheels and they are great but they cost a fortune and I'm not really doing anything backcountry, everything grass is well groomed. The problem though is CubCrafters says the minimize tire size with the 83" prop is 29 inches. Years ago though I believe they used 26 inch tires. In the end, it's only 1.5 inches different in prop clearance and certification requirements such as for XCubs may have determined the 26 inch tires didn't meet the required clearance I'm guessing.

Long story longer, I wouldn't mind using Desser tires and am waiting for a quote from Bowen Aero on 8 inch wheels. Over time it may be a more affordable option as a Desser tire is about 1/3rd the cost of an AK bushwheel (heavy tread) that I use now.

I welcome any thoughts and opinions on Desser vs AK bushwheels on groomed grass and paved runways, no real backcountry use.

 

[Cubonaut875]

Here is my Bushwheel story: My previous PA18, I quickly replaced the 8:50's with 31" Bushwheels, that was in 2011. There was an unbelievable difference in landing, taxi and overall utility. I was also very concerned about wear. In reading the Supercub.org forum I was doubly concerned with rapid wear as it seems in Alaska they wear out quickly. I would only rarely land on pavement and went so far as taxiing on grass whenever possible. Then as I was taking the plane cross country I needed to land on pavement for fuel and really did not know how it would handle pavement with Bushwheels so I tried it, there really was not a whole lot of difference. So then I thought what the heck let's not give a care and see what happens. So after about 6 months of avoiding all pavement I just gave up and treated them like any other tire, with the exception of no locked wheel turns. I made it a point to land on pavement at least two time every flight, crosswind practice etc. I sold the plane in 2023 with 700 hours on those Bushwheels with no noticeable cords showing or wear that was evident, and that was without the extra rubber they put on now. My theory is that the runway surfaces are different in Alaska they are finished with a sandpaper like surface, I'm just guessing I have not witnessed that first hand. I have a friend in Wisconsin who lived on a private air estate that had a sandpaper like coating applied to the runway at the estate he lived on. He hated it as it wore through his J3 Cub tires, but his neighbors wanted it as it made the runway less slick in the winter. My point being that they may not wear out as quickly as some lead us to believe. I'm flying my tires just as I did with my previous PA18, only time will tell.

 

[Neal]

Bryan from Bowen Aero got back to me with my inquiry about 8 inch Beringer's and Desser tires. Here is what he said:

Unfortunately the 8” wheel is limited to aircraft under 1600 lbs and it only works with the small caliper and tampered axle brake kits.

 

[Neal]

Here is my Bushwheel story: My previous PA18, I quickly replaced the 8:50's with 31" Bushwheels, that was in 2011. There was an unbelievable difference in landing, taxi and overall utility. I was also very concerned about wear. In reading the Supercub.org forum I was doubly concerned with rapid wear as it seems in Alaska they wear out quickly. I would only rarely land on pavement and went so far as taxiing on grass whenever possible. Then as I was taking the plane cross country I needed to land on pavement for fuel and really did not know how it would handle pavement with Bushwheels so I tried it, there really was not a whole lot of difference. So then I thought what the heck let's not give a care and see what happens. So after about 6 months of avoiding all pavement I just gave up and treated them like any other tire, with the exception of no locked wheel turns. I made it a point to land on pavement at least two time every flight, crosswind practice etc. I sold the plane in 2023 with 700 hours on those Bushwheels with no noticeable cords showing or wear that was evident, and that was without the extra rubber they put on now. My theory is that the runway surfaces are different in Alaska they are finished with a sandpaper like surface, I'm just guessing I have not witnessed that first hand. I have a friend in Wisconsin who lived on a private air estate that had a sandpaper like coating applied to the runway at the estate he lived on. He hated it as it wore through his J3 Cub tires, but his neighbors wanted it as it made the runway less slick in the winter. My point being that they may not wear out as quickly as some lead us to believe. I'm flying my tires just as I did with my previous PA18, only time will tell.

Great to hear. I guess I'll just have wait and see how these tires work out. I typically do only 3 point on pavement to have the least energy at touch down but I know we've had that conversation and you do wheel landings and it has worked out.

I would probably prefer 29's but chose 31's for various reasons, and probably will do the same next time:

1. Larger circumference means more surface area and hopefully longer wear and durability
2. Larger tire gives just a bit more safety factor in the backcountry such as larger holes, ditches, whatever I would imagine.

Downside is drag and me being short I can't see over the nose. I will rotate them on the rim every 100 hours per AK bushwheels care guide which I did a video on. I'm coming up on this time, have done it once on the last plane. Reasoning is at touchdown our wheels are canted so we are wearing not on the center but that outed edge which is not the thickest. So keeping that outer edge rotated inside to outside every 100 hours hopefully will improve longevity.