On May 1, 1996, at 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N1828C, registered to and operated by the pilot, lost a tire while taxiing after landing and dragged a wingtip at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of fish spotting, departed Togiak, Alaska, and the destination was Dillingham. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on May 4, 1996, he stated that after landing, while taxiing to the ramp and applying the brakes, the tire rotated on the rim and sheared off the valve stem. The tire and rim then separated from the landing gear and the wingtip dragged the ground. According to the NTSB form 6120.1/2, submitted by the pilot, he stated that the bonding failed and the rim separated. He did not submit the rim for examination. The airplane was equipped with 8:50 size tires.