Source: 2026 Issue 1 Beartracks

Ryan Spencer is the owner of the 4-Place Bearhawk originally built by Phil Johnson, N125PJ. Last month he made some videos and a Facebook post about using wheels intended for ground Utility Vehicle wheels. There is also a more detailed video of the installation here. Ryan sourced adapters from https://www.stolwheelz.com/ which bolt onto the typical Cleveland/Alaska Bushwheel style brake disk. That adapter then allows for bolting on a large variety of wheels that are manufactured for side-by-side utility vehicles. The machined aluminum adapter hub uses sealed ball bearings, unlike the tapered roller bearings that we see in more traditional aviation setups. There are several tire options, some of which represent a weight savings over similarly-sized Alaskan Bushwheels. Ryan is using a wheel that allows for a bead lock so that he can reduce the tire pressure. 

The Facebook post included some discussion about the structural loading of the wheels and the axle, and some questions about whether they would be as dampening as the ABWs, with their shorter sidewalls. These were good questions with good discussions, and while these wheels might not be universally better than the most expensive ABWs in every regard, they provide a significant cost savings and for many types of operation, might prove to be good enough and a good value. As a fellow Bearhawk operator I’m grateful to Ryan for sharing his experience. Compared to even traditional airplane tires and not ABWs, today’s price at Aircraft Spruce for just a single 850×6 inner tube is $227. One 8.50×6 tire is $377. I’m interested to keep an eye on Ryan’s experience with these adapters, and I hope they will serve as a viable alternative.