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  #1  
Old 05-14-2007, 08:16 AM
Andrew Griffin Andrew Griffin is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Kilcoy, QLD, Australia
Posts: 32
Default TUNDRA TYRES

Does anyone know if Tundra tyres (or another type of large tyre) has been installed on an RV?

No - I don't want to fly onto gravel bars or anything like that.

I live in Austrlia and do a fair bit of hunting on a friends cattle property. There are plenty of places to land that are slightly unimproved and I wouldn't mind the extra protecion of larger tyres for when I go hunting/camping. We're not talking really rough ground, just ground thats a little rougher than your average dirt/grass strip.

If anyone has pic's, info or opinions that would be great.
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Andy Griffin

rv8andy@gmail.com

RV-8 QB under construction.
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  #2  
Old 05-14-2007, 08:50 AM
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Mel Mel is online now
 
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Location: Dallas area
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Jay Shannon had 6:00 X 6 wheels & tires on his first -9. As far as I know, he never had a problem with them.
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Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
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  #3  
Old 05-14-2007, 06:42 PM
RV8N RV8N is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
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Years ago, Van's experimented with 6.00x6 tires and wheels on an RV-6. They called it "Bigfoot". The story I heard later was that they didn't notice any significant difference in rough field performance so gave up on the idea.

Karl
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  #4  
Old 05-14-2007, 07:52 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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Check with Michael Ice. He is building a -9 up in Alaska and had a custom pair of gear legs made so he could fit tundra tires (tyres for the rest of the world).

He is not going to fly with tundra tires but the larger axels were needed for the wheels he hopes to install. I seem to remember he said he was going to use 6" wheels and that mandated the larger axles, but I'm not sure.
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  #5  
Old 05-14-2007, 08:16 PM
CraigH@KRPH CraigH@KRPH is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Graham, TX
Posts: 354
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV8N
Years ago, Van's experimented with 6.00x6 tires and wheels on an RV-6. They called it "Bigfoot".
Funny, that's what I called my TriPacer on 8.50x6's.


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  #6  
Old 05-14-2007, 08:18 PM
Chuck Brietigam Chuck Brietigam is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 30
Smile Larger tires

Goodyear mades a Flight Custom tire, size 380x150/15x6.0-5, that works great. It fits directly on a 5.00x5 rim and uses a standard 5.00x5 tube. Its comes in a 6 ply rating. The tire has a larger rolling radius and much wider shoulder than the standard 5.00x5. I will be using it on my RV-6 and it looks like it will fit under Van's wheel pans without any big modification.
Blue skies,
Chuck Brietigam
in the seventh year of building an RV-6
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  #7  
Old 05-15-2007, 07:51 AM
Mike Ice Mike Ice is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sedro Wooley, WA
Posts: 147
Default Tundra Tires

Hello,

I am the guy that Bill mentioned in Alaska that is going to install larger wheels and tires on a RV-9.

I contacted Harmon Lang, the gent that makes Van's gear and had him make me a pair of gear legs with a one inch longer axle. I then asked Robbie Grove for a set of 6" wheels, same wheels that Cubs use. I also have a different tail sping and tail wheel assembly on order (should be here any day).

Where I live the words Tundra Tires conjure up a different mental image than 8:50 X 6's. Tundra tires are usually 25 to 35" in diameter, try Google for Alaska Bush Wheels to see what I mean.

I will be operating off of lots of gravel strips, I will even be operating off of some beaches, so a little larger tire makes sense for me. How large? I don't really know for sure right now but maybe 6:00 0r 7:00 X 6.

Wheel pants will still fit but if not there are gravel deflectors available or they can be made.

What ever, be safe, have fun,

Mike Ice
RV-9
Firewall Forward
Anchorage, Alaska
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  #8  
Old 05-15-2007, 09:36 AM
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osxuser osxuser is offline
 
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Location: Pasadena CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ice
Hello,

I am the guy that Bill mentioned in Alaska that is going to install larger wheels and tires on a RV-9.

I contacted Harmon Lang, the gent that makes Van's gear and had him make me a pair of gear legs with a one inch longer axle. I then asked Robbie Grove for a set of 6" wheels, same wheels that Cubs use. I also have a different tail sping and tail wheel assembly on order (should be here any day).

Where I live the words Tundra Tires conjure up a different mental image than 8:50 X 6's. Tundra tires are usually 25 to 35" in diameter, try Google for Alaska Bush Wheels to see what I mean.

I will be operating off of lots of gravel strips, I will even be operating off of some beaches, so a little larger tire makes sense for me. How large? I don't really know for sure right now but maybe 6:00 0r 7:00 X 6.

Wheel pants will still fit but if not there are gravel deflectors available or they can be made.

What ever, be safe, have fun,

Mike Ice
RV-9
Firewall Forward
Anchorage, Alaska
That is my EXACT plan with my -7. Either 6.00x6 with wheelpants or 8.00x6 with deflectors.
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  #9  
Old 05-15-2007, 09:49 AM
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jcaplins jcaplins is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Davis, CA, USA
Posts: 540
Default Bigger, much bigger!

Hmmm...So... what if someone went with a 20 inch (give or take) tyre? What would it look like? What would the the performance numbers look like? slower naturally. How much slower? Obviously wheel pants would be out of the question.

I would consider doing it, But I'm nowhere near that stage.


Jeff
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  #10  
Old 05-20-2007, 09:26 PM
phil9diesel phil9diesel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Upper ny
Posts: 78
Default big tires

tundra tires are great 'till you have to land with a flat. Vans are for fussy fields.
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