Hi Roy,
I have a 1300 lb gross limit on the plane. Very seldom fly loaded past
1250 lbs. The S-83 tire load-rating is very conservative, probably
greater by 50%, because
they are used on two wheel motor scooters and a tire failure (i.e.
liability) would put the rider on the ground rather quickly. The tires I
use are the same and I'd consider the rating adequate for any HDS. They
have 125 hours on them with no perceptible wear. The S-83 (not S38) is a
very high quality tire with good sidewalls and fit for the
Matco 4 x 8 wheel. Do use inner tubes with the bent stems to assure
that you're not dependent on a tubeless assembly.
I initially had problems with the tube stems during assembly because the
edges of the wheel stem holes were sharp and I had to round edges off
and add a 1/16th x 1-1/2 diameter rubber washer with an I.D, the size
of the stem. Beyond that and pressuring back up to 24 lbs each since
cold weather, I've had no problems.
see links,
http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/tubetireandwasher.gif
http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/tubewasherassy.gif
http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/pantforkbracketrh.gif
Note the fit of the tire and proportions, which are very good for this
wheel.
(Disregard the pant fork bracket as it's changed that to a better design)
I think you'll like these tires,
Larry McFarland
Roy Thoma wrote:
> Larry,
>
> I have a set of Michelin S38 tires for my CH601HDS and have delayed
> installing them because the max load rating of is 375 lbs. I'm curious
> if the S38's you use have the same max load rating? Obviously 3 x 375
> is 1125lbs, 75lbs less than the recommended gross weight for the HDS
> and 175lbs than the gross weight for my HDS.
>
> What is the gross weight for your HDS? Are there standard margins for
> tires that make you comfortable to exceed the max load rating of the
> tires? Is there something else I'm missing?
>
> I hope this does not sound like I'm criticizing your choice to use
> these tires; I am interested in using them also. I admire the work you
> did building and flying your HDS. Thanks for your
> continued contributions to the community. Feel free to post my
> question and your answer to the Matronics site if you feel it is
> appropriate.
>
> Regards,
>
> Roy Thoma
>
> N601RT: 2002 CH601HDS, nose gear, Rotax 912ULS, All electric, IFR
> equipped, 1080hrs
