IV-P Flat Tires

Questions, best practices, and general info regarding getting your hands dirty

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Rock Barchfeld
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2023 11:49 am

So, I’ve owned my IV-PT for 4 years now and have had 3 flat tires, all on the Main Gear. Each time there was a small tear in the tube, (probably due to pinching, and yes I talc the tubes well).. I’ve been flying for a good while in many types of planes, and I’ve never seen this level of tube failure even though I would re-use tubes through several set of tires, (years), with good results. A 600X6 tube is listed as suitable for the 600X6-15 tire in Goodyear manuals.
A couple of questions for any IV owners.
1. Have you noticed an abnormally high rate of failure in the MLG tubes?
2. If you look hard you can find tubes listed as 600X6-15. Anybody ever bought one and is it indeed a distinct size? Do they perform better the straight 600X6 tubes?
3. Has anybody used the “GOOD”, (expensive), puncture resistant tubes? I assume they are a thicker stronger material, which I would think would contribute to any pinching issues. Am I wrong and are they worth the price?
Feed back welcomed.

Rock
J.C. Peterson
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:33 am

Rock,

Michelin tubes seemed to fix that issue in IV-Ps I flew regularly. The Goodyear tubes were notoriously leaky.
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Ryan Riley
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:59 am
Location: Phoenix

Tire pressure is usually the culprit for our main wheel tire tubes. Matt Speare recommended https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T ... UTF8&psc=1 and it works great for me. My tubes slowly leak out psi, especially if the plane sits for more than a few weeks.

I also use the GL-6020B Desser Tire 600-6 AERO CLASSIC BUTYL INNER TUBE TR-20 from Air Power, Inc. They work great.
-Ryan
Lancair ES Instructor
LOBO Webmaster
2007 Lancair ES
Robert Pastusek
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:48 pm

Rock
I agree w Ryan. Pressure is important.
I use Goodyear Flt Custom III’s & tubes on my Lancair IV-P, inflated to 60 psi. I’ve had a flat nose tire, but no main wheel flats in 16 years/2600 hours.
Bob
Rock Barchfeld
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2023 11:49 am

Just a note, that I had a set of Tire Pressure Monitoring systems on my main gear, (sensor on the nose gear was way too close to the fork). It worked fine until I geeked out and chromed the hubcaps, after all who wouldn’t have hubcaps on a retractable?
No more TPMS.

Rock
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Ryan Riley
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:59 am
Location: Phoenix

Rock Barchfeld wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 10:08 am Just a note, that I had a set of Tire Pressure Monitoring systems on my main gear, (sensor on the nose gear was way too close to the fork). It worked fine until I geeked out and chromed the hubcaps, after all who wouldn’t have hubcaps on a retractable?
No more TPMS.

Rock
That's a bummer. I'm still envious how easy the IV is to check and fill tires. It's a game of finger twister with the ES.
-Ryan
Lancair ES Instructor
LOBO Webmaster
2007 Lancair ES
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