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Hi Don,

This topic seems to come up every few years. It’s not always easy to find older stuff on VAF. Here is a link to an old thread describing an RV with 8.50x600 on Matco wheels ...

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=120098

Addendum: there are a number of RV’s with 380x15 tyres which fit on the standard Bans axles. There are also several RV’s flying with 6.00 tires including a very nice RV-14 which also used a Maule tailwheel.

I have 380 x 150 - 5 tires on my RV-8. On grass strips, gravel, even packed sandy surfaces like at my gliderport, the larger tires are great, a really noticeable improvement.

I would not say, however, that they rise to the level of back-country tires. I wouldn't land on sand dunes or gravel bars with them, or even a field full of squirrel holes.