Tire and Tube Brand Recommendation

[WDD]

What tire and tube brand would you recommend for a Skylane? The POH lists the mains as 6.00-6 with 6 ply, and the nose as 5.00-5 also 6 ply.

I currently have oversized tires that are worn out, and I'm looking to use the standard size tires and put the pants back on.

 

[Jim_R]

Goodyear Flight Custom III tire.

Any butyl rubber tube. Aero Classic Leakguard and Michelin Airstop are good choices.

 

[baboss]

I've had no problem with AirHawk tires on my Skyhawk.
Same with Michelin Airstop tubes, I rarely have to add air, and I don't use Nitrogen.

 

[AvNavCom]

Retreads, if your pants will accommodate them (i.e., not monster retreads). I have Desslers but they were bought out. I believe there's a different family-run retread business that's similar. Great value for money and a great tire that is showing almost no wear after many landings.

 

[Gary Ward]

I have had good service and no flats with AirHawks. I flew them hard with lots of landings.
Then I switched to monster retreads, they fit under my wheel pants. They are a more stable and heavier tire and made for much better landings on grass and asphalt. I do a lot of landings and they are almost worn out on one side from engine torque. I already have the next set of monster retreads and tubes at the hangar.
The front I switched to goodyear flight II. It’s been a good tire on a 172.

Month or 2 ago, my wife came to fly with me which is rare. I pulled the plane onto the ramp and we got in. As soon as I went to taxi something was wrong, the front tire went flat right in front of our hangar. Damn, wife hates drama. Lol
Lucky she was there and I had a dolly to help turn it into the hangar.
Tire was fine, got a goodyear tube from the fbo, changed it same day. A goodyear tube is what came out of it. I think it went flat from low pressure and high use.
Wife went home after we got it into the hangar. She haven't flown with me since.

 

[FORANE]

Any butyl rubber tube.

I second this. Lately the price of tubes has been high enough I chose to look elsewhere. I've been buying butyl rubber tubes from Napa and Amazon. Their performance has been indistinguishable from the expensive aircraft brands.

 

[Clip4]

For a typical owner of a172, the tire really doesn’t matter. Having quality tubes will save you a lot of headaches.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Retreads, if your pants will accommodate them (i.e., not monster retreads). I have Desslers but they were bought out.

VSE bought out Desser.
But I switched to Wilkerson at that time.
I have always used retreads even on thousands of hours in retractables (do a careful inspection during gear operation test on jacks)

Wilkerson Aircraft Tires

Aircraft Tire retreading Dunlop Goodyear

www.wilkersonaircrafttires.com

https://shop.vseaviation.com/

 

[AvNavCom]

But I switched to Wilkerson at that time.

That's the company I was thinking of! Thanks!

 

[WDD]

Goodyear Flight Custom III tire.

Any butyl rubber tube. Aero Classic Leakguard and Michelin Airstop are good choices.

Looks like a nice tire model, but it also looks like I'd spend twice as much for the Flight Custom to get 20% more tread life.
Instead of $1000 (not including tubes) I could spend $500 for Flight Special.

Are tires a place where you should get the most premium?

Learning a lot here.

 

[Jim_R]

You do pay a premium for the Goodyears Flight Customs. I am pretty sure there is better value out there, but time/effort is also a cost. I get a lot of years of life out of my tires, and spend a lot more money on other parts of the plane. I've never had a FC III rot or crack; they've always lasted long enough to wear out the treads. That's been good enough for me such that I haven't felt the need to experiment with other options. YMMV.

 

[schmookeeg]

I've switched from goodyears to the michelin air, pleased so far, although the tube prices are rather breathtaking.

 

[Racerx]

I believe there's a different family-run retread business that's similar. Great value for money and a great tire that is showing almost no wear after many landings.

Wilkerson tire! Great to deal with. Highly recommend. I think I tipped @Let'sgoflying! off to Wilkerson. I found out about them on another forum after VSE kept sending me emails 18 months after I bought Desser for tax info.

 

[Jdm]

I’ve bought from Desser and Spruce over the years but lately I’ve been using Textron. If you have an account the prices aren’t bad. Better than Spruce in many cases. The IPC and website offers pretty of approved options. Start with the original IPC part numbers. They will supersede to new Goodyear, Michelin, etc.

 

[SoCal 182 Driver]

Wilkerson is a great company. Highly recommended.

 

[Rcmutz]

Looks like a nice tire model, but it also looks like I'd spend twice as much for the Flight Custom to get 20% more tread life.
Instead of $1000 (not including tubes) I could spend $500 for Flight Special.

Are tires a place where you should get the most premium?

Learning a lot here.

For Sale Thread 'Edit: Goodyear Flight Special 2 - Price Drop'

Jun 25, 2025

Hi Folks,

My mistake, your gain! I have a set of 6x600 4-ply Goodyear Flight Special 2 tires that I bought by mistake for my Tiger two years ago from Aircraft Spruce. 130 hrs of mostly non-T/G flights. The Tiger requires 6-ply tires, and these are 4 ply. The 4-ply will work on the C-172, Piper 140/160, Traveler, and Cheetah. They were installed and show 4/32 tread depth on inside groove, and 5/32 on outside groove. Plenty of wear/life left. I am asking $80 plus shipping for the PAIR. Aircraft Spruce lists these as $184 EACH. Shipping weight will be around 15 lbs.

Richard...

• Rcmutz
• Replies: 4
• Forum: The Classifieds

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[WDD]

Uh …. I just don’t buy used tires.