Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

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Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby Afsbz » Tue Feb 03, 2015 12:12 pm

For winter time flying, I would like to put some larger tires/wheels on my Sonex for winter flying that would be better in light snow conditions. I do take the wheel pants off to decrease the chance of snow/ice buildup around the wheels. Has anyone done this? I'm looking for some recommendations. In Wisconsin we generally have a lot of snow, and I fly off of a grass strip that is regularly plowed, but I think larger tires could be a benefit.
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Re: Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby tonyr » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:33 pm

I operate out of gravel, grass and rarely bitumen strips and have 5.00 x 5 Air Hawks on the standard Azura wheels.

Image

They do fit under the Sonex wheelpants with a bit of rework. I cut the underside seam opened them out about 1-1.5" at the wheel hole, then glassed in a wedge section.

Image

PS What's snow?

Cheers
Tony
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Re: Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby Afsbz » Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:46 am

Thanks for the info Tony. Snow is white, fluffy or sticky dependent on temperature and loves to hang up in wheel pants. Nice looking bird you have.
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Re: Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby Sonex355 » Mon Mar 16, 2015 5:01 pm

tonyr wrote:I operate out of gravel, grass and rarely bitumen strips and have 5.00 x 5 Air Hawks on the standard Azura wheels.

[im]http://sonexaus.wikispaces.com/file/view/Richo_will_it_fly.JPG[/img]

They do fit under the Sonex wheelpants with a bit of rework. I cut the underside seam opened them out about 1-1.5" at the wheel hole, then glassed in a wedge section.

[im]http://sonexaus.wikispaces.com/file/view/Richo_aldinga1.jpg[/img]

PS What's snow?

Cheers
Tony


I have the same setup on tires, works very well.
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Re: Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby Darick » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:05 pm

tonyr wrote:I operate out of gravel, grass and rarely bitumen strips and have 5.00 x 5 Air Hawks on the standard Azura wheels.


They do fit under the Sonex wheelpants with a bit of rework. I cut the underside seam opened them out about 1-1.5" at the wheel hole, then glassed in a wedge section.



Cheers
Tony


Did you use the same inner tubes or get ones for the 5.00 x 5 tires? I've read some guys have used the smaller tubes in the larger tires.
Darick Gundy
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Re: Larger tires on Sonex, need recommendations

Postby DCASonex » Tue Mar 17, 2015 1:31 pm

Did essentially same as Tony, No problems. Those pair nicely with 6" tail wheel. Using tubes for 5.00 x 5 tires, and run about 25 PSI.

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