Tundra tires for better use of grass strip ?

[Z28]

Hello aviators

Quick question and possible suggestions.

I’m exploring the idea of replacing the tires on a flight training cessna 172 to maybe a larger tundra tire so we can utilize the grass runway much more due to crosswinds.

Any suggestions if we can put a larger tundra tire to withstand the harder grass strip and what kind of a price difference would that be?

It’s hard to not fly due to the crosswinds if we can use the grass strip.

Fly safe

[digits_]

Why would you need tundra tires on a 172 for a grass strip? Plenty of 172s operate on grass with normal tires. Is the condition of the grass strip that bad?

[Bede]

If you're going to put larger tires on a 172 (BTW is that approved?) you're going to putting more load on the nose gear, which kind of defeats the purpose of what you're trying to accomplish. If you want to put a bigger tire on the nose wheel, you need a bigger fork.

Airglas/Landis makes a nose wheel fork for larger tires for the C182 and C206. Not sure about a C172.
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[5x5]

Since the question is from a flight training perspective and is prompted by difficulty with crosswinds, the use of a grass-field to avoid the issue of pilot ability would be a definite backward step. Student pilots need to learn to effectively handle crosswinds on pavement since almost all strips these days are pavement and most all their flying days will be on hard surface.

Instead, focus on getting instructors up to speed on effectively dealing with, and teaching, cross-winds themselves (if that’s an issue) and then make sure people aren’t always using wind as an excuse not to fly.

[goingnowherefast]

+1 on crosswind training.

I kinda like a slight crosswind on landing. It allows me to place each main gear smoothly, one gear leg at a time. This is as opposed to smacking both mains at the same time.

I mention this to new FOs, and they make some comment about experience and skill. FFS, don't you learn how to deal with crosswinds in flight school? I'm definitely not . Yeager, but I can follow the crosswind landing techniques as recommended by the aircraft manufacturer and company procedures. Max bank angle and pitch on landing and such, it isn't brain science or rocket surgery.

[CensoredLF]

And a grass strip is the perfect place to learn to deal with crosswinds. Much less rubber left behind when you mess up.

YMMV
CLF

[7ECA]

Interesting idea... but why not just teach students how to handle crosswinds?

I mean don't throw your students into a POH maximum crosswind landing from the word go, but get them landing in 5-10 knots to get a feel for it. Demonstrate, have them practice, etc. I agree with goingnowherefast, it's an interesting exercise landing one main at a time - keeping the aircraft on one main for the roll, etc.

Whether or not a student can competently handle an aircraft comes down to how comfortable their instructor(s) are in handling the aircraft towards the corners of the envelope. I'm not suggesting pushing the limits, but explore those "corners" and build confidence in knowing how your bird handles. Maybe your student is only going to be a PPL who flies on gin clear days to get breakfast at a local spot - or maybe your students are going to go on to do some hardcore bush flying... why not give them the confidence and ability to fly their aircraft?

[Nick678]

just my two cents but landing on grass strips, or infield/outfield can be done perfectly fine on normal tires and not worth the added expense. Running tundra tires on asphalt wears them out quicker. The biggest advantage of the tundra tire is prop clearance, on a bumpy surface with full oleo compression you can hit a rock.