Tailwheel tire change

Fong

Fong

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2022
Messages
8
Location
TX
Hi all,
I have a fairly bald tailwheel tire. Just moved to new area and a very sleepy airport (central NJ, and looking for A&P btw) so turning to the internet for suggestions. I’ve been putting it off for no real reason—when does a bald-ish tire become grounding for all intents?
I have the tire and tube and a lot of YouTube preparation, probably just need to do it.
Thanks
Jeff
 
Jeff,

Welcome to the site and, more importantly, welcome to New Jersey!! Was reading your blog entries, which airport did you end up at? I was going to mention Bucks Airport but that might be too far south for you.

What's the question about the tailwheel? It's easy to change the tube/tire, just make sure when it's being reassembled that you ever so slightly tighten the nut that pinches the tailwheel forks onto the wheel assembly so the bearings are seated just so. If you leave it loose it'll vibrate back there......ask me how I know. :(

Welcome!
 
Thanks! I’m at Red Lion/JY73. The question is how bald is too bald until I get around to it? I googled everything I can about cords, plys, etc but can’t find any rules of thumb about when to change a tailwheel tire.
 
Change when the first sign of cord shows.

Also, keep it around 50 psi.

The cure for tailwheel flats is always carry a spare inflated tailwheel, with wrenches, cutters, and an extra cotter pin. I also carry a jack adapter for the main gear legs. Since I started doing that (15 years ago) I have not had a flat.

Did you know there is no TSO for tailwheels?
 
Fong said:
Hi all,
I have a fairly bald tailwheel tire. Just moved to new area and a very sleepy airport (central NJ, and looking for A&P btw) so turning to the internet for suggestions. I’ve been putting it off for no real reason—when does a bald-ish tire become grounding for all intents?
I have the tire and tube and a lot of YouTube preparation, probably just need to do it.
Thanks
Jeff
Click to expand...

Jeff,
Can you post a pic of the tire? If there's any trace of tread on it it's probably fine.
 
Thanks all for the sage advice! There’s a groove on the outside tread still visible but it’s pretty bald in between. No cord yet. Do they all have cords, including the mains? What about 8.5 smoothies?


edit for better pic I remembered to take yesterday. Sounds like everyone is describing this as flyable. Perhaps I’ll change it when it finally cools off
 

Attachments

  • B9265903-9589-4775-8D3B-74B4041AC952.webp
    B9265903-9589-4775-8D3B-74B4041AC952.webp
    193.6 KB · Views: 21
Last edited:
Yes. All tires have cords - even the $12 ones you get from the Amazon aviation dept.

Desser told me they would recap with slight cord showing.
 
Fong said:
Thanks all for the sage advice! Here’s a below-average shot from not too many landings ago. There’s a groove on the outside tread still visible but it’s pretty bald in between. No cord yet. Do they all have cords, including the mains? What about 8.5 smoothies?
Click to expand...

it's pretty much inevitable that the center of the tire will lose tread first as they're inflated to a pretty high pressure for such a small tire. if you're doing most of your landings on grass then that tire will last longer than you'd probably expect. they're not expensive though and it's good to learn the process so maybe swap it out and then see how long it lasts so you'll have a feel for when the new tire starts to look like the one in the pic

it's just a matter of removing the cotter pin and the axle, deflating the tire/tube, unbolting the two wheel halves, and then reassembling it taking care to powder the tube with talc so it doesn't grab and making sure the tube stem is nice and straight in the hole. also make sure the tube doesn't have a twist in it before you put the wheel halves together.
 
I buy the 6 ply x 8" tailwheel, they last way better less blowout. Spruce as them now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top