I’m new here but will share our data point. We‘ve been using Dresser retreads for the last 10 years with great performance. You’d not know the difference from our first set of Michelins, except for less cost. That’s what I’ll be ordering at the next replacement😁
 
Being an aircraft tire guy, on the premium front, you have three choices, the Goodyear Flight Custom III, The Michelin Pilot , and the Specialty Tire of America SuperHawk . The GY FCIII is considered the longest life new tire, at the highest price point , but the new Michelin two groove Pilot is right behind and closing in on that price . That being said, GY has reduced prices on common GA size tires until the end of the 3rd quarter, so prices have come down 15 to 23% , depending on size. The -10 uses15/6.00-6 6PR on the mains, and the 5.00-5 6PR on the nose.The main tire retreads, have about the same depth of tread rubber as the new GY FCIII, so wear is similar , and are about 1/2 the cost of the new GY , and these are available in many casings, including GY, Michelin & Condor and Specialty Tires. The lowest price points are Specialty Tires , Air Trac and Air Hawk models., and the retreads. the "tweeners" are the GY Flight Special II and the Michelin Condor branded tire.

We always get asked the question, " how long should my (insert tire model) last?" It is a very subjective question, it depends on many variables such as , how many cycles(not hours) do you do per year, is it kept tied down or hangared ( weather and ozone checking ) , how often to do check pressures? ( pressure is paramount in tire wear) how do you land/taxi ( let the plane run out on the runway, brake slightly , taxi moderately , or hit the brakes to get the first turnoff because it is close to your hangar. So much depends on your type of flying. I will usually recommend new, lower priced tires to infrequent cycle fliers.(less than 50 cycles per year), and premium tires for high use, flight school , or multiple owner AC who fly more than 150 hours per year, as they will use the extra tread depth and longer wearing rubber on premium priced tires.

There are 8 manufacturers/models for the 15/600-6, and #11 for the 500-5 nose wheel, so the options from good, better, best are their for your choice of which tire is right for your type of flying, and your budget.
 
Desser retreads. Last twice as long and a fraction of the price.

If you are still building, fit the wheel pants for the retreads. If you do, you can always use either retreads or new tires. If you fit the pants for new tires, you will likely not be able to use retreads in the future without modifying the pants as the retreads are larger.
 
For those interested, VSE is finally fully integrating Dresser into their systems.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ken Faire <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2024, 05:05
Subject: OFFICIAL NOTICE - Desser is now VSE Aviation
 
August 19, 2024

OFFICIAL ASSET TRANSFER NOTICE. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS NECESSARY.


Dear Valued Customers & Suppliers:

A year ago, VSE Aviation acquired Desser Tire & Rubber. We are excited to announce that as of today our systems are integrated, and we are now selling our tire, tube, brake and battery product lines under the VSE Aviation name. By combining our businesses, we can offer our global customers a single-source solution with a broader range of products and services and provide more resources to better support you.

Desser Tire & Rubber will continue to manage the sale of hoses for the foreseeable future.

IMPORTANT:
Please add VSE Aviation, Inc. as a vendor in your system for all tire, tube, brake and battery product lines. Hoses will continue to be sold by Desser Tire & Rubber until further notice.
Effective August 19th, CHANGES APPLY to:
Orders submitted
US Tax ID Number
Desser email addresses
Sales email addresses
Billing email addresses
"Remit To" email address
Website
E-commerce

VSE Aviation, Inc.
#59-0912770
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
vseaviation.com
shop.vseaviation.com (new account needed)
NO CHANGES to:
CAGE Codes
QMS System
Your Desser contact(s)

Desser phone numbers, addresses
Pre-existing Purchase Orders in our system
Please click here for a PDF version of this notice along with FAQs and our new Remit To instructions.

We request that you distribute this message within your organization to ensure the necessary awareness. Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to working with you as VSE Aviation, Inc. in 2024 and beyond.
Regards,

Ken Fair
Vice President
 

VSE Aviation | 6900 Acco Street | Montebello, CA 90640 US
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The old rule of thumb is that if you fly a lot, get cheap tires because you’ll wear them out before age degradation sets in. If you fly less, get better tires because they last a longer period of time
 
I’ve used Monster retreads for 10 years and been quite happy. When I was regularly flying to Mexico I would change tires more often than probsblyn necessary for precautionary reasons.
I recommend all new builders to size their wheelpants to the larger tires so if you ever want to go to the larger tires you're ready for them.
As an aside, one time talking with the folks at OSH emergency aircraft repair, they mentioned their amazement at how many folks fly in with tires long past their duty life.
Walking back through HBC, I focused specifically on tires and saw both a lot of brand new ones, but also an amazing amount of tires so bald and thin, they needed gray air put into them.
 
Another Dresser retread fan.
Click to expand...
We‘ve been using Dresser retreads for the last 10 years with great performance.
Click to expand...
Never heard of Dresser tire.
Is this a Desser tire that has been dressed with tire dressing?
Or is it a Dresser tire that has been undressed to become a Desser tire?
It looks like the tire question has been addressed 🤣
 
Ordered just last Monday. I wasn't aware of the new name.
Their website was a bit flaky showing the retreads I wanted as out of stock.
Called the old Desser # and it worked. The employee helped me get the tires ordered and I received them 3 days later.
 
Traash said:
Ordered just last Monday. I wasn't aware of the new name.
Their website was a bit flaky showing the retreads I wanted as out of stock.
Called the old Desser # and it worked. The employee helped me get the tires ordered and I received them 3 days later.
Click to expand...
Dresser Monster retread fan. 500 landings on the last 4 1/2 years. 50 psi, per Vic S. Always land real slow, nose way up, let it roll out, light on the brakes. Former WN driver, so you know how fast I taxi. Very pleased with the advice I got 4 1/2 years ago.
 
thodgdon said:
For those interested, VSE is finally fully integrating Desser into their systems.
Click to expand...

FWIW, their integration sucks. I just tried to buy a non-RV tailwheel tire from the new site. It's hard to use but I gutted it out because of past loyalty to Desser but finally abandoned my cart when they estimated $50 shipping for a $40 8" tire. I went to another vendor.
 
woxofswa said:
I’ve used Monster retreads for 10 years and been quite happy. When I was regularly flying to Mexico I would change tires more often than probsblyn necessary for precautionary reasons.
I recommend all new builders to size their wheelpants to the larger tires so if you ever want to go to the larger tires you're ready for them.
As an aside, one time talking with the folks at OSH emergency aircraft repair, they mentioned their amazement at how many folks fly in with tires long past their duty life.
Walking back through HBC, I focused specifically on tires and saw both a lot of brand new ones, but also an amazing amount of tires so bald and thin, they needed gray air put into them.
Click to expand...
building an RV10 and buying the tires, thinking of getting the Monster retreads, what tubes do you recommend with them? and is the 90 degree still helpful with the monsters?
Bdh55 said:
Dresser Monster retread fan. 500 landings on the last 4 1/2 years. 50 psi, per Vic S. Always land real slow, nose way up, let it roll out, light on the brakes. Former WN driver, so you know how fast I taxi. Very pleased with the advice I got 4 1/2 years ago.
Click to expand...
Bdh55 said:
Dresser Monster retread fan. 500 landings on the last 4 1/2 years. 50 psi, per Vic S. Always land real slow, nose way up, let it roll out, light on the brakes. Former WN driver, so you know how fast I taxi. Very pleased with the advice I got 4 1/2 years ago.
Click to expand...
what tubes are you using?
 
How much bigger is a retread over a new tire? Fitting wheel pants onto ours now which has new tires but like to keep open the option of using retreads.
 
jfr3 said:
building an RV10 and buying the tires, thinking of getting the Monster retreads, what tubes do you recommend with them? and is the 90 degree still helpful with the monsters?


what tubes are you using?
Click to expand...
For tubes, I have both the house brand leak stop from dresser and goodyears. Much Prefer the latter. I bought retreads from dresser for years. Placing an order last spring, i choked on the new vse influenced price. Double from the last set i bought. Called wilkerson for a quote and they were much more reasonable. Done with dresser now. They don’t make the monster tire in the rv10 size.
 
Since this post was dug up I'll add my tire/tube question here instead of creating a new thread.

For all of the RV10 owners out there with the upgraded Matco WHLWI600XLT-2 wheel/brake kit, what tubes are you running on the mains and nose wheel?
Matco's website says this about tubes: "For RV-10 builders with the new style VANS axle nut with integral wheel pant support, Desser Tire offers a LeakGuard tube with a TR87 stem at a 70 degree bend that directs the valve stem close to the RIM ID and parallel to the axle center-line."

I have read that some folks have had issues checking tire pressures with some valve stem options. Given that fact I deleted the tubes from my VANS kit order (back when you could still delete items) but I am now at the point of needing to figure out what tubes to order/install.

Thanks
 
auburnaviator said:
Since this post was dug up I'll add my tire/tube question here instead of creating a new thread.

For all of the RV10 owners out there with the upgraded Matco WHLWI600XLT-2 wheel/brake kit, what tubes are you running on the mains and nose wheel?
Matco's website says this about tubes: "For RV-10 builders with the new style VANS axle nut with integral wheel pant support, Desser Tire offers a LeakGuard tube with a TR87 stem at a 70 degree bend that directs the valve stem close to the RIM ID and parallel to the axle center-line."

I have read that some folks have had issues checking tire pressures with some valve stem options. Given that fact I deleted the tubes from my VANS kit order (back when you could still delete items) but I am now at the point of needing to figure out what tubes to order/install.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I don’t have the leakguards but have the TR87 stems. I added extensions to the stems so I can reach in through some plugs in the wheel pants to inflate them. Seems to work ok.
Keith
 

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I had over 1600 hours on Goodyear Flight Custom III's when I replaced them before Oshkosh this year and they still had some tread. The original stock tires lasted around 180 hours. My home airfield is a grass runway..
 
N402RH said:
I had over 1600 hours on Goodyear Flight Custom III's when I replaced them before Oshkosh this year and they still had some tread. The original stock tires lasted around 180 hours. My home airfield is a grass runway..
Click to expand...
Since Flight Custom III's come in a tubeless design just to confirm you got 1,600 hours (I realize hrs. is relative but even at an average of 5 hrs. a landing would be impressive) and how many years from a single set of Custom III's?

BTW Custom III's weigh 12 lbs., and the Michelin weigh 9 lbs., 6.00-6 TL both.
 
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Installed Goodyear Flight Custom III's
1/3/2010 Hobbs Time 271

Installed new Goodyear Flight Custom III's
7/10/2025 Hobbs Time 1934

15 Years and 1,663 Hours

My home airport is a grass runway without fuel, I would guess 30% of my landings are on pavement.
 
N402RH said:
Installed Goodyear Flight Custom III's
1/3/2010 Hobbs Time 271

Installed new Goodyear Flight Custom III's
7/10/2025 Hobbs Time 1934

15 Years and 1,663 Hours

My home airport is a grass runway without fuel, I would guess 30% of my landings are on pavement.
Click to expand...
Any other Goodyear Flight Custom III's users out there? 15 years and 1,663 hours is amazing. (I thought getting almost 400 hours on my Michelin Airs was good)

Looking to hear from 1,500 hr. + users?
 
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Yup--Goodyear Flight Custom III are great tires! But, I use Michelin tubes, which don't lose air over time like many of the others.
 
rocketman1988 said:
Desser retreads. Last twice as long and a fraction of the price.

If you are still building, fit the wheel pants for the retreads. If you do, you can always use either retreads or new tires. If you fit the pants for new tires, you will likely not be able to use retreads in the future without modifying the pants as the retreads are larger.
Click to expand...
How much
 
Jesse23 said:
How much
Click to expand...
VSE states that the retread for the 5.00x5 nose tire is up to 1/2 larger diameter. Should not be a problem with the 1 1/4”spacer block called out in the plans on top of tire used for setup of wheel pant clearance.

VSE
Tire 071-312-0 5.00-5 6 PR Michelin retread $125
Valve GL-5087B 5.00-5 TUBE TR-87 Aero Classic SHORT STEM 90° $103
Long stem TR-67
 

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Jesse23 said:
VSE states that the retread for the 5.00x5 nose tire is up to 1/2 larger diameter. Should not be a problem with the 1 1/4”spacer block called out in the plans on top of tire used for setup of wheel pant clearance.
Click to expand...
I am still building so this is a concern for me also. It may not be a height concern as much as a tire width concern. Maybe the retreads are not only taller but also wider???
 
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