Questions on Desser Retreads

[1001001]

Hi Folks,  time to replace a tire on my 1978 201.  I'm looking for some advice.

First, let me say that I'm not interested in discussion on whether Desser retreads are safe/unsafe, long-life, short-life, or anything else.

I've searched all over the site and found some references to the Desser Monster retreads not fitting right or contacting zerk fittings, etc., but I can't determine whether these are based on personal experience or are just an OWT perpetuated by third-hand regurgitation of the same story.

The question I want to ask, is has anyone here had personal experience, on your M20J, with Desser Monster retread tires 6.00x6 (main gear)?  If not, do you personally know of a friend/acquaintance/hangar neighbor who has?  

If so, what is your experience with them?  Do they fit?  Do they rub?  I'm really only interested in whether they function correctly, retracting without interference into the gear wells, and rotating without interference on other part of the landing gear.

Sorry for the up-front limits on the discussion, but I've seen too many threads on here that seem to have devolved into way-off-topic discussions and bitter arguments over tires.  

Just trying to get some good real-world information.

Thanks in advance!

[1001001]

I'll just add one more question:  How about the Desser Elite Premium two-groove tire?  Any personal experiences with these?

[GeeBee]

There was a letter to Aviation Consumer August 2021 issue regarding a customer experience. Might want to look at that.

 

[N201MKTurbo]

I put monster retreads on my 201. 
 

DON’T DO IT!
 

They are too big. They will tear up your landing gear!

This is not hear say, it is actual experience.

That being said, they are still on the plane. They are holding up very well.

To make them work, I bought a tire grinder from Jegs and ground 1/4 inch of tread off of them.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Allstar+Performance/049/ALL44180/10002/-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-bOEvt3o8gIVPx6tBh2iRQeyEAQYAyABEgKwjfD_BwE

 

Edited September 5, 2021 by N201MKTurbo

[Shadrach]

I’ve never used Desser but I have repeatedly purchased Wilkerson retreads. I’m in MD and Wilkerson is in VA. I’ve never had clearance issues…I think that the monsters dimensional specs are different from from standard 6-600 and 5-500.

[jetdriven]

3 hours ago, 1001001 said:

I'll just add one more question:  How about the Desser Elite Premium two-groove tire?  Any personal experiences with these?

Fit perfect and wear like iron. 

[philiplane]

They are great for high wear environments like primary trainers. But with recent price increases, there is less difference between a high quality retread and a new Airhawk or Condor tire. 

For your own plane, you are better off with Goodyear Flight Custom III tires and Michelin Air Stop inner tubes. Sure they cost the most up front, but they wear better, don't dry rot like the cheaper tires, and your chance of a flat due to the inner tube failing is about zero. I can't say that about any of the other inner tubes. The Leak Guard tubes don't leak much, but they do tend to split at the seams, or at the valve stem. 

[1001001]

1 hour ago, jetdriven said:

Fit perfect and wear like iron. 

Thanks, I appreciate the reply.  I ended up buying a pair of these from Spruce to try out, along with some Michelin Airstop tubes.

[1001001]

2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I put monster retreads on my 201. 
 

DON’T DO IT!
 

They are too big. They will tear up your landing gear!

This is not hear say, it is actual experience.

That being said, they are still on the plane. They are holding up very well.

To make them work, I bought a tire grinder from Jegs and ground 1/4 inch of tread off of them.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Allstar+Performance/049/ALL44180/10002/-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-bOEvt3o8gIVPx6tBh2iRQeyEAQYAyABEgKwjfD_BwE

 

Thanks for the reply with your personal experience!  I appreciate it.

[1001001]

3 hours ago, GeeBee said:

There was a letter to Aviation Consumer August 2021 issue regarding a customer experience. Might want to look at that.

 

Thanks, I'm not a subscriber, but I'll check it out if I can.  I ended up buying a different Desser tire to try.  Thanks!

[Warren]

I put the standard Desser retreads on my M20K.  Retread is on a Flight Custom III base.  It fits fine with no clearance issues and I have about 200 hours with no issues.  No experience with the Monster retreads.

[Minivation]

Retreads and retractables generally don't mix well. Normally I'd recommend new Michelin or Goodyear tires, but the M20J I fly has been doing well with Condor tires (IIRC they are retreaded Michelin tires) for both the mains and the nose. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about the Condors being retread Michelins.

[chrisk]

I put Air Hawks on several years ago.  Still going strong.  They are approximately the same price as a re-tread.  If I had to do it again, I would do the same thing.   --And the Air Hawks are available from Desser too

[MooneyMitch]

Used Dessers Flight Custom 3 retreads on my Ovation.  Excellent! No issues. 

[jetdriven]

On 9/7/2021 at 1:27 PM, Minivation said:

Retreads and retractables generally don't mix well  

 

What makes you say that?
The retread tires meet the TSO for tires which also includes the dimensions.  

[J0nathan225]

I'm another that installed, on my E, dresser retreads and specified Goodyear Flight custom III cores. No issue with them. Wouldn't try monster though. 

[philiplane]

On 9/7/2021 at 1:27 PM, Minivation said:

Retreads and retractables generally don't mix well. Normally I'd recommend new Michelin or Goodyear tires, but the M20J I fly has been doing well with Condor tires (IIRC they are retreaded Michelin tires) for both the mains and the nose. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about the Condors being retread Michelins.

Condor tires are made by Michelin as a lower cost tire, not unlike private label tires made by automotive tire companies. Condors come from the lower cost plants in Brazil and Thailand. I would rank the Condors just below Goodyear and Michelin, and well above anything Specialty Tires makes (Airhawk & Airtrac) for quality and durability.

[Minivation]

2 hours ago, jetdriven said:

What makes you say that?
The retread tires meet the TSO for tires which also includes the dimensions.  

The dimensions (namely, diameter) is my main concern, especially for aircraft with tight wheel wells. At least that is the case with a friend of mine who owns a 182RG, who prefers not to use retreads for that reason. However, you bring up a good point about the TSO standards including dimensional criteria, so I would love to stand corrected and I see amazing value behind quality retreads. 

[philiplane]

Don't forget to compare weights among tire selections. You want the highest quality tire at the lowest weight. Most times, those are not available in the same tire. A 600x6 Airhawk is much lighter than a Goodyear Flight Custom for example, although the Goodyear will outlast the Airhawk by a wide margin. And the Goodyear is more robust, so it handles better on the ground in crosswind landings. 

The downside of most retreads is the weight. The Monster retreads are much heavier. Multiply times three, and you may be carrying an extra 10-15 pounds in tires that you don't realize.

[A64Pilot]

Retreads are fine,  but the way I fly and usual landing surface etc, my tires if quality tires often dry rot about the time they wear out.

I think on a Mooney due to its low prop clearance I wouldn't want a retread on my nose gear as it’s my belief that retreads are more likely to fail than a quality new tire.

I think for flight school 172’s etc retreads are a great idea

[1001001]

I thought I'd follow up with a report ony my experience.   Based on the feedback I got here, I elected to get the Desser Elite Premium two-groove tires instead of the Desser Monsters.  I also heard from some people on my airport to avoid the Monster retreads in retract gear airplanes due to fit issues.  I installed them with Michelin Airstop tubes.  I've experienced no problems with retraction/extension or tire fit in the main gear wells (didn't replace the nosewheel).

The Desser Elite tires were built on Goodyear Flite Custom III cores.  The cores look to be in very good condition.  The tires overall are good--no balance issues I can detect and give a very smooth ride in taxi, takeoff, and rollout.

I can definitely recommend the Desser Elite Premium for the main gear based on my experience so far.

[carusoam]

Great initial pirep on the Dessers 10101!

Thanks for sharing the details…

Best regards,

-a-

[exM20K]

In other tire applications I’m familiar with (motorcycles and RV’S,) tire age is often the determinant of replacement.  While these are typically tubeless installations, I can’t believe a retread of unknown age will have the same life in it as a new tire.  
-dan

[N201MKTurbo]

20 minutes ago, exM20K said:

In other tire applications I’m familiar with (motorcycles and RV’S,) tire age is often the determinant of replacement.  While these are typically tubeless installations, I can’t believe a retread of unknown age will have the same life in it as a new tire.  
-dan

I believe tires deteriorate mostly from UV exposure. A tire kept in a hangar can last for decades where a tire kept on the ramp may only be good for a few years. I believe the retreaders inspect every tire before it is retreaded, this includes its date code.

For high usage airplanes, it just doesn't matter, you will wear the tread off long before the sidewalls start to crack. If you fly less than 100 hours a year, and park on the ramp, I would buy new tires.

[PeytonM]

Been flying with a Wilkerson retread on FCIII core on one of the mains. At one-third the price, a great value, with excellent wear characteristics compared to FCIII, side by side for over 300hours. Air is 78% nitrogen, so…