Tires & Tubes or Tubeless?

Daleandee

Daleandee

Final Approach
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Dale Andee
My plane is experimental with small 5" tires. I was looking to see if tubeless rims were available for it (Goodyear has the tires). I did find one supplier but the price was prohibitive (see ETA).

I'm not greatly concerned with finding these as I recently replaced the tires and tubes but I am curious as to who may supply this item and if other owners on here are using or prefer tubeless tires if available.

Are there advantages to either choice?

ETA: Tost does appear to have these for glider applications at $565.00 each viewed here on Wings & Wheels
 
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Cessna’s of the early ‘60’s came with tubeless tires.

Inflation was through the sidewall with a “ football pin”.

150’s had 5:00 x 5 on the mains.

Most converted to tubes.

There were folks that used a tube inside tubeless tires.

Then someone would try to inflate with the pin!
 
Magman said:
Most converted to tubes.
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There are a some very good reasons to go with tubes for aircraft tires.

Generally they are less costly and easier to repair i.e. replacing the tube instead of removing the tire to patch it internally. A sidewall puncture on a tubeless would not be good as, I would believe, it would render the tire useless.

Tires that run lower pressures (for backcountry flying) would be safer with tubes as there would be no air loss if the rim seal were opened during a hard side load event.

For such small tires (5") I would think the need for a split rim would be advantageous for ease in tire mounting. I understand that such rims are available with an O-ring seal between the two halves.
 
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As mentioned above, trying to mount a tubeless 5 inch tire - yikes. You don't want to do that.
 
DJTorrente said:
Does that strike anyone else as a shockingly large collection of balance weights? :eek:
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Yep ... I also wonder how you destroy both tires at the same time unless it was a "brakes locked until tires blow" kinda landing ... :smilewinkgrin:
 
WDD said:
trying to mount a tubeless 5 inch tire - yikes. You don't want to do that.
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Agreed! That's why I believe a split rim is the only answer to putting a tubeless 5" on a rim. Might be another way to do it but I really strive to never use the kinda language that might come from attempting to do that ...
 
I dumped my tubes. Bought the o-ring for my wheels and added valve stems.
 
Daleandee said:
Generally they are less costly and easier to repair i.e. replacing the tube instead of removing the tire to patch it internally.
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I wouldn't want to try an replace a tube unless I took the tire off.
 
DJTorrente said:
Does that strike anyone else as a shockingly large collection of balance weights? :eek:

Not sure how that relates to flat-spotting the tire, though...
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It does seem like a lot, they are 700 tires I believe, so it takes a little more weight right?

The mechanic said they think they landed with the brakes locked. Mechanic said the owner said the plane floated and it was a calm day so not much wind to help slow down. I think he was braking before he landed?

Our runway got recoated a couple years ago and is like sandpaper now. It eats my tires.
 
pfarber said:
I wouldn't want to try an replace a tube unless I took the tire off.
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My 5" rims are split and it's quite easy to replace the tube. So yes, the tire comes off the rim.

With a tubeless it could be plugged in an emergency if no other options were available.

Curious as to what rims you have that can use an O-ring.
 
Daleandee said:
My 5" rims are split and it's quite easy to replace the tube. So yes, the tire comes off the rim.

With a tubeless it could be plugged in an emergency if no other options were available.

Curious as to what rims you have that can use an O-ring.
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They are off a 50's Bellanca. Original Goodyear Brakes. Split rim. The parts manual gave the O-ring for the rims. About $10 for both. All I had to do was figure out what valve stem I liked the most and done.
 
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