They look great but who cares if you never see them under the wheel pants. Here are some cons for Beringer that haven't been brought up. They are tubeless tires so if you get a flat somewhere you will not be able to fix it and good luck finding a local supplier for tires. To change a tire you need a special press that you need to fabricate or purchase from Beringer so even if you patched or found a new tire you still need the press to change it. The tires are more expensive. The pads do not last as long and are more expensive than Cleveland and Matco. To bleed the system you need to unbolt the master cylinders and hold them horizontal. They use DOT 4 or 5 (I can't remember which) brake fluid instead of hydraulic fluid. Brake fluid is hygroscopic so the system needs to be flushed every year or two.
There is nothing wrong with the Cleveland and Matco brakes that most RV's have been using flawlessly for many years. Going with Beringer is a luxury without any true benefit. There is no problem you would be curing by going with them.
1) Yes, they do look great but that is a minor reason people use them:
2) Yes, they are tubeless. I carry a spare in my travel bag along with a light duty bar-clamp, jack-point, .041 safety wire, 6 mm Allen, and inner O-ring. Hydraulic lift every airport has one close-by.
3) You don't need a press just a light duty bar-clamp. Very easy to break the bead.
4) Most people I know who use tubes use Michelin Airstops. Check pricing for these plus a tire.
5) As far as pads not lasting as long can you reference where you obtained this data? On average I get ~ 400 cycles on my tires and pads and that is on asphalt with runway lengths between 2,200 ft and 3,700 ft the later my home airport with power lines on one end and tall trees on the other. 2 Vans builders that I know quite well we now have over 2,000 cycles and not a single issue. (Fingers crossed) They now have a patented pad design that is said to triple the pad life compared to their old pads.
6) Bleeding is a 10-minute job and yes easier to disconnect the master's which I have never had to do in 800 cycles.
7) True tire pressure and temperature measurement without a single point of failure as stem mounted sensors have.
8) Considerable lighter than others on the market
9) Anti-locking feature works excellent!
10) And last Beringer brakes on Vans aircraft, Cirrus airframes and tons of certified aircraft DO NOT use DOT 4 or 5 but MIL-PRF-87257 a synthetic hydraulic fluid used in certified aircraft systems.
Brakes, tires and wheels are one of the weakest parts of our airframes. I'm willing to pay extra to increase my margin of hassle and safety.
