Wheel size for Long EZ

[Charles Davis]

500x5 or 500x4 ?

It looks like most LongEZ's use 500x4 as the tires are cheaper and you pick up about 3 kts.

I plan to fly only off of good paved strips.  My Long EZ will have an IO-320 and will not be light (probably 875 to 900 lbs estimated).

[Harry A]

Hi Charles,

Looks like you have answered your own question on the tire size.

As far as finished weight, I will be quite impressed if you come in under 950lbs with an all up O-320 and nose lift system.

A Long Eze under 900lbs. is light.

500x5 or 500x4 ?

It looks like most LongEZ's use 500x4 as the tires are cheaper and you pick up about 3 kts.

I plan to fly only off of good paved strips.  My Long EZ will have an IO-320 and will not be light (probably 875 to 900 lbs estimated).

[Dan Patch]

Harry,

I thought that almost all of the LEZ guys were using what used to be called the "Lamb" size tire, alternatively identified as a 11.400x5 by Rutan and liisted as such in the ACS catalog?  

Doesn't the "x5" indicate the rim diameter, so that a 500x4 would be a no-go on any 5 inch wheel?

Even the original VariEze used a 3.40x5 (3.4" wide x 5" rim diameter).  The Spruce Catalog says that the 11.400x5 is intermediate between the 3.40 and a full size aircraft 5.00x5 tire (i.e., it's the "Lamb" size).  Speeking out of school as a VariEze guy, the 5.00x5's look like monsters to me (ugly!).  

I seem to recall that the first number is the tire width and that the 11.400 is in cm rather than inches (nice mixed units!), so 11.4 cm = ~4.5 inches wide.

[Charles Davis]

Harry,

The weight is a SWAG based on what others have done with IFR Longs.  I actually have no idea, except that the completed components are very close to what they should be.

I'll let you know as soon as I can make a good estimate as she gets closer to completion.