The International Cessna^® 170 Association

While at the Auburn airport swining to tail to position the aircraft into a tight spot I clipped the curb with the tailwheel. The tailwheel did not hit the curb hard but did clip it. I inspected the tailwheel assembly and tire and found not damage. However, this morning preflighting the airplane a discovered the tailwheel tread in one specifc spot has developed a definite S shape. The tailwheel is a Bushwheels tailwheel so I was surprised to see the plys distorted. I expect I will have to replace the tire. Has anyone experienced anything similar with the tailwheel tread?

I have seen numerous 10 inch tailwheels on a 185 come apart internally. It is first noticable as a squiggle in the tread and will progress to failure quickly if not caught on preflight. Some failed in the first 1-2 hours of operation some made it to 5 hours. Never really found out what was causing the failure. The cording just seemed to come unlaminated.

You are correct. Remember Firestone and their recall. Seriously it is the start of tread to core separation. albeit minor. Best to change it out. Close look at the rims a good idea as well. LK

Under-inflation damages tires, and most tailwheel tires have notoriously weak sidewalls. Running them under-inflated with damage them very quickly. Tread separation can result after only one flight run under-inflated.

34 psi is recommended....but if you were to err....do so on the high-side.

We tried inflation on both sides of recommended pressures, and nothing seemed to help the problem.

Is there a particulare brand of tire that is regularly failing?

The ones failing were the STA. AirClassic was as bad or worse. If they said McCreary they would run forever. They recently put the 185 on its back so that one will last a long time till they get it fixed and flying again. Brian