bigger tires shimmy
 

Hi Rocket Bob,
I can confirm that shimmy! with the larger Dresser tires. I'm going to investigate my wheel assemblies today and make sure it's not a bad bearing.
If it's just a out of balance tire the shimmy would continue even after liftoff but it occurs only on the runway. Sometimes I think my gear leg is going to break off as it shimmys so bad!

49clipper
 

Did you use vans wheel pants and did they require much hacking to make them work with the big tires? I about to order them as I fly off grass and its a real pain with the 5:00x5s. I ripped off a wheel pant yesterday in tall grass and lots of mowed grass laying on top. I need new tires anyway

Hi 49clipper,

A friend has the Van's wheel pants on 380 tyres on his -7. The bottom cutout obviously needs to be bigger but you will also find tha the pants need to be positioned higher too to give the required clearance on the inside above the tyre. As a consequence, the fit of the intersection fairing is different. Also, there was some interference with the brake caliper which required a small cut-out and the glassing in of a 'blister' to clear the caliper. This blister is inboard so does not show.

I have 380's on my in-build -7 but am yet to do all the above. Not long now though.

Hope that helps.

Smokey and others that are flying with 380 tires...what kind of tire clearance do you have at the top of the wheelpant? I have 1/4-1/2" and am wondering if this is adequate.

1/2 Clearance
 

I had a spacer during build of a 1/2 at the top so had a 1/2 inch clearance. Had NO problems and landed on everything from grass to dirt to mud to pavement/concrete. Really miss the easier ground handling, especially moving by hand.

Concerning an earlier post, my wheel pants did not need any mod to fit the brakes and my pant/gear fairing worked fine. I am using the same set up with no mods since i went back to thew 5.00/5.

Tailwinds!

An inch by any other means...
 

Hi Bob/Jim,

Close measurement on my HR2 shows exactly 1.5 inches clearance from the top and I cut 1/2 inches around the sides. (See photos in my earlier post) They are rock and mud tested with no issues, having never clogged up on me, nor required any blisters. I did however leave a small hole on the inside in lieu of one.
BTW, I just changed out the second set of 380's, approaching 350 hours with the "Big Un's modification! I will never go back to 500X5's.
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...hwheels+rocket
Link to original post

Smokey
HR2

PS: JJ, come up voice!
(check your email)

The tires I have (recapped 380's from Wilkerson Retreads) have a bit more of a square shape and aren't as rounded so they don't match the curvature of the wheel pants like the Aero Classic tires. So in order to get adequate clearance for the Grove double-puck caliper, the wheelpant, and the top of the tire, the space above the worked out to about 1/2". At the corners of the tires they're about 1/4".

Tall Vs. Short Gear and Larger Tires
 

I have the short gear with pressure recovery pants. Will the larger tires work well with the old style gear?
Gene McMullen
Angleton, TX

I know this is a crazy old thread, but I'm looking to see if someone has an old worn out 380 that I can use as a test fit on the matco wheels and brake setup I have.

Anyone got one? I'll pay.

Thanks

Mani

Oldie but goodie...
 

Hey Mani, I do, somewhere.
I relocated last Fall and brought along a worn out 380 I left with a friends shop nearby. If he still has it I'll get back 2U. Just cover the shipping.

BTW, it should fit on the Matco wheels no worries as I have placed a pair on 2 RV's with Matco wheels.

V/R
Smokey