Diamond tread tires

Mark V · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:08 am

I know a number of P-51's and other warbirds use these tires and very authentic they look.

Can anyone with practical experience advise on how they wear compared with regular radial tread tires (for use mainly on hard runways). Some people refer to them as 'grass tyres' but I am not so sure.

pbeegle1 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:03 am

Mark:
When we were using them on the CAF’s 51 they would wear out pretty quickly, but they looked good. About 3 years ago the Wing decided to switch to harder tires and I think they are running Goodyear tires on it now.

Next time I am at the hanger I will take a look for you, if you want me to.

skymstr02 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:03 am

Standard tires are bias ply, not radial, on most airplanes. The rubber compound is the same, so the wear rate is the same. Operating from sod surfaces makes all tires seem to last indefinitely.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:46 am

We run them on the nose of the B-24 & B-29. We've only run one season on the B-24, but there seems to be no difference in wear at this point.

Gary

HELLDIVERS · **Joined:** Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:38 pm **Posts:** 642

Hi,

We have ran them on several different a/c and they are great on grass but give you about half life on hard surface. We operated them on a B25 T-6s, BT-13, Stearmans, a Travel Air, Ect. and they do seem to wear out much quicker. When you order them they usually inform you that they have a shorter life when used on a hard surface runway. They still look great as a matter of fact when I recovered the main gear from the wrecked A25 in Utah it had diamond tread tires on it. I would like to find a set for final display any leads?

Thanks Mike

Mark V · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:51 am

Thanks for your answers guys - much appreciated. Seems there is a mix of experiences with these tires from half the life of a standard tire to no difference!

The consistent message is they look great

Has anyone specific P-51 experience of these?

mlenoch · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:22 am

On the P-51, the diamond treads do wear faster than the channel treads. The diamonds were good for about 200-250 hours of flying. The channel treads would last 400+ hours. Both are available through Desser tire and are about the same price....little more for diamonds, of course.
VL

Mark V · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:37 am

vlado wrote:

On the P-51, the diamond treads do wear faster than the channel treads. The diamonds were good for about 200-250 hours of flying. The channel treads would last 400+ hours. Both are available through Desser tire and are about the same price....little more for diamonds, of course.
VL

Hi Vlado - thanks for that - I think we may obtain a pair of these.

Yak 11 Fan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:10 am

I take it you know where to get them from in the UK? They look a lot better certainly than the ribbed tyres. Nice to see the aircraft overhead on Sunday.....

usaf ssgt · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:07 pm

skymstr02 wrote:

Standard tires are bias ply, not radial, on most airplanes. The rubber compound is the same, so the wear rate is the same. Operating from sod surfaces makes all tires seem to last indefinitely.

I think the question about the "radial" tire was in reference to the tread design, and not the construction.

Radial=Ribbed tread around the circumfrence of the tire. Instead of the diamond tread design.

The diamond treads seal the "look", on any warbird!

Leon

whiteside · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:44 pm

Anyone know if any are available in 400 Cessna sizes. Would look good on a Yak 11.

famvburg · **Joined:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:41 am **Posts:** 540

I think he meant that the tread grooves go around the tire, not 'radial tires'.

skymstr02 wrote:

Standard tires are bias ply, not radial, on most airplanes. The rubber compound is the same, so the wear rate is the same. Operating from sod surfaces makes all tires seem to last indefinitely.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:46 am

Anyone flying around with the Block tread design????? We had them on our N for a long time until the weather checking really got bad and did not want to chance it. Dad and I both miss the look, we now went 2nd best to the diamond tread.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:49 am

vlado wrote:

On the P-51, the diamond treads do wear faster than the channel treads. The diamonds were good for about 200-250 hours of flying. The channel treads would last 400+ hours. Both are available through Desser tire and are about the same price....little more for diamonds, of course.
VL

Did not know that tires even got worn while flying????? WOW them mustangs must really be fast:)

skymstr02 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:55 am

[quote="famvburg"]I think he meant that the tread grooves go around the tire, not 'radial tires'.

There is a difference between radial and rib. Ribs on an aircraft tire are circumferal. When you use the term radial and tire in the same sentence, you are normally referring to the casing construction. This is not limited to aviation tires either.

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