Lowflynjack
En-Route
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
- Messages
- 4,066
- Display Name
Display name:
Jack Fleetwood
So in the last two weeks, I've had people mention they had flats. Each time I asked them if it was an Aero Classic Leakguard tube. Both times it was. Both times, pinholes in the side of the tube.
I've replaced at least 5 of these, on two different planes, all for pinholes in the sidewall area. Don't buy this junk!!! You'll save a little money until you have a flat and have to call you buddy to fly you a new tube, or pay a mechanic their weekend rate!
There are a lot of good reviews, but when you start looking at the bad reviews, they almost all mention pinholes in the sidewalls.
Below are reviews... all from the first page on Aircraft Spruce. This is not a new issue, review go back to 2016 and they're still getting bad reviews today. They should be ashamed to sell them.
Last annual I replaced my original Leakguard tubes with new. 9 months later 1 tube developed a pin hole leak in the side causing deflation and damage to the wheel pant. Upon disassembly and inspection 3 more spots on the same side of the tube show potential pin holes developing, indicating possible manufacturing defect.
These WILL develop a pin holes after a very short time and leave you with a flat unexpectedly. I thought maybe it was a bad batch or something so I tried another order and same thing happened.
Had this 500x5 tube in my nose wheel for 17 months. Tube went flat for no reason. Found pin hole on side at mold seam. Shop told me they have had a large number of these tubes failing.
I have used these for years, on my personal aircraft, my company aircraft and my clients aircraft. In the last three years I have had 6 failures in 6.00x6 LeakGuards due to either pin holes in the sidewalls or failed seams.
Never again. This is the second Aero Classics tube that has failed on my antique airplane that is flown often with meticulous attention paid to tire pressure, tire condition, wheel condition, etc. This failure was a pin hole opposite the valve stem. I own three vintage taildraggers that fly all the time - my daily driver flies 100+ hours per year. I cant risk a high value vintage airplane over a poorly made inner tube. Just ordered six Michelin Airstops from Aero Performance - all the Aero Classics junk is going in the trash where it belongs.
I only had my old one for less than fifteen hours when it developed a pin hole leak. The material appears to have broken down.
Did not last 4 months before it had pin hole leaks, pay me now or pay me later - get michelin.
Another pinhole failure report for Aero Classic Leak-Guard 6.00-6. It lasted 3.4 years (and 137h TT). No crease in the pinhole location.
I replaced both tires and tubes on my Stinson three years ago and both have failed due to the same pin hole flaws in the sidewalls. I use 700x6 tubes and got two replacements from a friend and both failed with the same flaws in the sidewall.
I've replaced at least 5 of these, on two different planes, all for pinholes in the sidewall area. Don't buy this junk!!! You'll save a little money until you have a flat and have to call you buddy to fly you a new tube, or pay a mechanic their weekend rate!
There are a lot of good reviews, but when you start looking at the bad reviews, they almost all mention pinholes in the sidewalls.
Below are reviews... all from the first page on Aircraft Spruce. This is not a new issue, review go back to 2016 and they're still getting bad reviews today. They should be ashamed to sell them.
Last annual I replaced my original Leakguard tubes with new. 9 months later 1 tube developed a pin hole leak in the side causing deflation and damage to the wheel pant. Upon disassembly and inspection 3 more spots on the same side of the tube show potential pin holes developing, indicating possible manufacturing defect.
These WILL develop a pin holes after a very short time and leave you with a flat unexpectedly. I thought maybe it was a bad batch or something so I tried another order and same thing happened.
Had this 500x5 tube in my nose wheel for 17 months. Tube went flat for no reason. Found pin hole on side at mold seam. Shop told me they have had a large number of these tubes failing.
I have used these for years, on my personal aircraft, my company aircraft and my clients aircraft. In the last three years I have had 6 failures in 6.00x6 LeakGuards due to either pin holes in the sidewalls or failed seams.
Never again. This is the second Aero Classics tube that has failed on my antique airplane that is flown often with meticulous attention paid to tire pressure, tire condition, wheel condition, etc. This failure was a pin hole opposite the valve stem. I own three vintage taildraggers that fly all the time - my daily driver flies 100+ hours per year. I cant risk a high value vintage airplane over a poorly made inner tube. Just ordered six Michelin Airstops from Aero Performance - all the Aero Classics junk is going in the trash where it belongs.
I only had my old one for less than fifteen hours when it developed a pin hole leak. The material appears to have broken down.
Did not last 4 months before it had pin hole leaks, pay me now or pay me later - get michelin.
Another pinhole failure report for Aero Classic Leak-Guard 6.00-6. It lasted 3.4 years (and 137h TT). No crease in the pinhole location.
I replaced both tires and tubes on my Stinson three years ago and both have failed due to the same pin hole flaws in the sidewalls. I use 700x6 tubes and got two replacements from a friend and both failed with the same flaws in the sidewall.
So I’ll probably be stuck with them for awhile.
