T-6 SNJ Tires available... ?

[Mike Robinson]

Friend just asked me where to get good recaps for his SNJ-5

Which means I will have to put them on.

Of course I don't like recaps amongst stories that if they are capped right they last longer.

But what is out there now?







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[Stoney]

Convair nose gear tires last a long time.

[Mike Robinson]

Hmmmmmmmm

Wish I had known that I had some new ones that were in the fly away kit of a written off 440 ten years ago.

But I guess they wouldn't be any good now.

Albeit those IA refresher course Good Year briefing that Good Years are always good.

Any others?




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[JBoyle]

Of course I don't like recaps amongst stories that if they are capped right they last longer.

Don't distrust recaps for the sake of them being recaps.
Most airliner tires are recaps as were the tires on the B-1 fleet based on my USAF experience.

If they can take landing speeds of 160 mph...they should be good enough for a T-6.

[Matt Gunsch]

If you have a standard category T-6, I would stay away from the convair tires unless it is listed on the TCDS. For recaps, Desser Tire, we ran them for years and averaged double the life out of the recaps than we did from new tires, for a fraction of the costs. I think we were getting them for $50-75 each.

[Mike Robinson]

Yeah that was the first word I uttered when he called. (Desser)

I'll look em up right now.

I have seen a lot of recaps on the airliners I have been on. But I never knew "first hand" how they last compared to the new ones because I was never on the same aircraft for long and the mechanics there didn't care much to talk about it.

I always bought new for my own plane.

Looking up Desser.

Thanks




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[Matt Gunsch]

The cap that is put on is a harder compound than the original tires. We would get about a year of service from new tires and 2 to 2 1/2 years from recaps while operating from asphalt/concrete runways. Your hulls can be recapped several times as long as the bead and sidewalls are in good shape.
I wish I could get the flight school I work for to run them, then I would not have to change tires so often.

[mlenoch]

Wilkerson also does recaps. Very popular amoungst the vintage crowd, because they do last longer than new tires.
VL

[Mike Robinson]

Wilkerson Retreads 434-645-9641
http://www.wilkersonaircrafttires.com/range.html
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Desser 800-247-8473 800-AIR-TIRE
http://www.desser.com/products_tires_aero-classic.php

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Thank you

[Bill Greenwood]

I dont' have a T-6, however on my plane we prefer to use Dunlops, very strong and well built , about 10 ply. Since you really don't use brakes much, or I try not to, they last years on a Spitfire. especially with the larger size tires and wheels like mine. When the tread does wear out , we get the Wilkerson retread and they last well, seems a slightly harder tread. You can retread at least a couple of times. I have once used Firestone tires and seems ok too.

[Glenn Wegman]

Do a gear swing after installing retreads to make sure they clear everything in the wheel wells, as they are slightly larger in diameter.

[Matt Gunsch]

recapped tires have to conform to the same specs as new tires when it comes to diameter and thickness, so a retract test should not be required unless you have a modified A/C. The only difference between old tires and new are a harder compounded rubber is bonded to the hull.

[Chunks]

Well, I had been told not to use recaps for the very reason Glenn stated, so I appreciate the comments based on everyone's experience. Since I don't have any recaps or new tires, I can't take a comparative measurement.

Chunks

[Matt Gunsch]

The airlines do not do a gear swing every time they change tires and they use recaps. I did a retract after installing the first set, but never after that. Can you imagine what would happen to a recapper if they sell a tire that was over sized and it caused a accident ? All recapped tires are issued with a yellow tag, they have been repaired and returned to service.

[Glenn Wegman]

recapped tires have to conform to the same specs as new tires when it comes to diameter and thickness, so a retract test should not be required

I did a retract after installing the first set