Tires & Goatheads

photoadjuster · #1 07-22-2006, 12:44 PM

Are the tires that come with a van's kit thick enough to prevent punctures from goathead stickers when operating off of a grass strip ?

Mike Stephenson

NYTOM · #2 07-22-2006, 01:01 PM

OK I'll bite, what the heck's a "Goathead Sticker". I've landed all over the Northeast on grass strips and never saw or heard of one.
I think I'll Google it now!
NYTOM
WOW! just got back from Google. Are we lucky we don't have that problem here.
Bullheads, Puncturevines, Mexican & Texas Sandburs or what ever you call it. There's articles about destroying car tires, going through sneakers etc.
I can see your concern very clear now. Wish I could help.
NYTOM
6A

flyeyes · #3 07-22-2006, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoadjuster

Are the tires that come with a van's kit thick enough to prevent punctures from goathead stickers when operating off of a grass strip ?

Mike Stephenson

Short answer, no. We use the same tires on our AirCam (and a Maule tailwheel). I have opened the hangar and found all three tires flat.

I have even seen flats on a T-6 tailwheel that operates off our runway.

I'm too chicken to land the RV-8 on the grass when the goatheads are there.

James Freeman

TerryPancake · #4 07-23-2006, 05:06 PM

NY Tom if you want some Goatheads, I can arrange a whole bucket full.

They are no fun. I grew up in New Mexico. I think I have picked them out of tires, basketballs, baseballs, tennis balls, hands, knees, cats and dogs. They manage to punch a hole in everything they touch.

mdredmond · #5 07-24-2006, 03:43 PM

I wonder if you could put some of that green slime stuff in your tires to head off problems. I think they sell it at Home Depot for tractor tires and stuff. It basically sloshes around in there until there is a small puncture, then it seals it.

http://www.slimesealant.com/

???

joeboisselle · #6 07-24-2006, 08:35 PM

Matt's got it. I've always got that green goo (I don't recall what exactly it's called) in all three tires of my Luscombe. No flats since.

praterdj · #7 07-24-2006, 09:11 PM

It's called SLIME. It works really well. I have it in my mower tires. I was having flats every time I mowed (new house and yard) and I haven't had one since I put it in. I think it has a speed limitation so you might want to check that out before you fill em up.

NYTOM · #8 07-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Thanks Terry & Alex for the bucket offer and photo. I used to be jealous of you guys down south for the warm weather and nice flying conditions but my God, you have to worry about Killer snakes crawling up into your parked planes, killer spiders making nests, killer bee's attacking, fire ants and now goat heads. The usual problems that occur up here in the Northeast are an occasional splat of bird poop on your paint or a birds nest if you don't plug up your holes. Oh yea, and maybe two or three feet of snow once in a while. But other that its pretty tame.
NYTOM
From beautiful (goathead free) Upstate New York
That's way upstate in the woods, far, far from that big city with the same name.

TerryPancake · #9 07-26-2006, 10:10 AM

In New Mexico we also have these lovely creatures. These are known as Vingarone's. They will make you hurt yourself getting away. I have never heard anybody getting hurt any other way. They get as large as your hand.
Tom, if you want any of these let me know. I could FedEx a few to you.

redbeardmark · #10 07-26-2006, 05:45 PM

Flew to Cavanaugh Bay, Idaho to check it out. Landed at the grass strip. No lodging(and no sleeping bag), so flew to Sandpoint. Next morning, nosewheel was flat--pulled a hefty thorn(not a goathead) from the tire, borrowed the bicycle from the FBO and picked up a bottle of Slime and a foot pump at the auto parts store. Worked like a charm. But, now I can detect a slight shimmy. Planning to replace the tube, but will keep Slime and the footpump in the forward baggage for the next flat tire.