Narrative:

Aug/wed/00. I noted discrepancy of speed rating on new replacement nose tire for PA42 as specified by new piper. Notified piper aircraft on aug/thu/00. They indicated it was correct tire as per parts manual. I indicated to piper and FBO maintenance and FAA FSDO-11 offices that tire speed was 120 mph, and that my minimum rotation speed was 105 KIAS = 120.75 mph liftoff -- speed is 107 KIAS = 123.05 mph as per poh. Problem arose from my investigation of tire disintegration on landing with minor damage to aircraft on aug/tue/00. Submitted FAA form 8010-4 to FAA on aug/fri/00. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the original certification piper nose tire was a B.F. Goodrich with a 160 mph rating. The reporter said the replacement tire from the piper illustrated parts catalog is a michelin tire rated 120 mph, which does not meet technical standard order application. The reporter said this is a safety problem as this tire does not meet the minimum speeds called out in the poh. The reporter said the local FAA office will only state the tire is legal. The reporter said piper will not approve using the 160 mph rated tire and the reporter cannot understand the manufacturer's reluctant attitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA42 HAD NOSE TIRES REPLACED PER THE PIPER PARTS CATALOG SPD RATED AT 120 MPH WHICH DO NOT MEET THE POH MINIMUM ROTATION AND LIFTOFF SPDS.

Narrative: AUG/WED/00. I NOTED DISCREPANCY OF SPD RATING ON NEW REPLACEMENT NOSE TIRE FOR PA42 AS SPECIFIED BY NEW PIPER. NOTIFIED PIPER ACFT ON AUG/THU/00. THEY INDICATED IT WAS CORRECT TIRE AS PER PARTS MANUAL. I INDICATED TO PIPER AND FBO MAINT AND FAA FSDO-11 OFFICES THAT TIRE SPD WAS 120 MPH, AND THAT MY MINIMUM ROTATION SPD WAS 105 KIAS = 120.75 MPH LIFTOFF -- SPD IS 107 KIAS = 123.05 MPH AS PER POH. PROB AROSE FROM MY INVESTIGATION OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION ON LNDG WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO ACFT ON AUG/TUE/00. SUBMITTED FAA FORM 8010-4 TO FAA ON AUG/FRI/00. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION PIPER NOSE TIRE WAS A B.F. GOODRICH WITH A 160 MPH RATING. THE RPTR SAID THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM THE PIPER ILLUSTRATED PARTS CATALOG IS A MICHELIN TIRE RATED 120 MPH, WHICH DOES NOT MEET TECHNICAL STANDARD ORDER APPLICATION. THE RPTR SAID THIS IS A SAFETY PROB AS THIS TIRE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM SPDS CALLED OUT IN THE POH. THE RPTR SAID THE LCL FAA OFFICE WILL ONLY STATE THE TIRE IS LEGAL. THE RPTR SAID PIPER WILL NOT APPROVE USING THE 160 MPH RATED TIRE AND THE RPTR CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE MANUFACTURER'S RELUCTANT ATTITUDE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.