Top Five Tire Tips

While generally round and black in color, thats almost all the characteristics aircraft tires have in common with their automotive siblings. In fact, a major difference is the construction and materials used in their manufacture. Aircraft tires and tubes primarily incorporate natural rubber while automotive tires use synthetic compounds extensively. Aircraft tires are designed for a very specific job and are part of the landing gear system on almost every aircraft.

A Bartlett

Tuesday, March 07, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft tires are uniquely designed and require specific, diligent maintenance, with proper inflation being paramount for safety and longevity, necessitating frequent checks due to natural rubber's air diffusion.
Timely tire replacement, always with a new tube, is crucial, with higher-quality options generally offering better value and resistance to environmental factors like ozone cracking.
Operational habits, such as avoiding harsh braking, and environmental protection (e.g., shielding from sunlight or ozone-generating devices) significantly extend tire life and prevent issues like nose wheel shimmy.
All maintenance, including owner-performed preventive tasks, demands strict adherence to FAA-approved data, manufacturer guidelines, and safety protocols, such as fully deflating tires before disassembly and using calibrated tools.

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While generally round and black in color, that’s almost all the characteristics aircraft tires have in common with their automotive siblings. In fact, a major difference is the construction and materials used in their manufacture. Aircraft tires and tubes primarily incorporate natural rubber while automotive tires use synthetic compounds extensively. Aircraft tires are designed for a very specific job and are part of the landing gear system on almost every aircraft.

Properly serviced tires play a major role in the safe operation of an aircraft, and neglected tires can contribute to an accident. Since the aircraft tire is part of the landing gear system, it’s required to flex as much as three times the rate of an automotive tire during normal operation, especially landings. This flexing of the aircraft tire and the proper shock absorption of the landing gear system depend upon tires that are in good condition, of the proper size/ply rating and properly inflated. Which brings us to our first tip.