When Should You Repair or Replace Aircraft Tires?
Aircraft tires are one of the most important components of an aircraft for taxiing, takeoff, and landing. Because of the high amount of stress that is endured with each flight, it is critical that they are regularly inspected and replaced as necessary. There are many factors that may decide whether a tire should undergo MRO, and monitoring these signs and more can help you know when it is time for repair and replacement.
Even with a perfect landing of aircraft, there still is a lot of stress, twisting of treads, and heavy braking of tires that can cause great wear and tear. Because of this, aircraft tires must be manufactured with extremely high standards. Tire wear can cause issues such as uneven balance of tires, change in pressure, and flat spots. While these issues may not be extreme, they are important to maintain and remedy for optimal performance and safety.
General ways that one can gauge if replacement of the tire is needed is through examining the treads. If there is any point on the tire in which the tread has been worn to their groove, they should be replaced. If the tire shows any inner fabric structure of the tread, then it is even more important to replace it. For general inspection of pressure and flat spots, one can check the tread wear for how even it is. If the tire is worn more in the middle rather than the sides, then the tires are most likely overinflated. If the opposite is present, then the aircraft tires are underinflated. Through normal use, aircraft tires will lose their pressure over time and this can affect performance such as traction and increase tread wear.
For a tire that has worn treads but has a stable and sturdy core, a solution can be found in retreading. By restoring the tread of the tire, and fully recapping if necessary, the tire can be used in continued service without the need to fully replace it. For retreaded tires, it is recommended that they do not exceed over 100 landings. This life expectancy can change with weathering factors such as heat, rain, runway conditions, and more. Altogether, maintaining the tires of an aircraft is extremely important for smooth takeoffs and landings. Tires prove to be one of the most important aircraft parts, and knowing what to look for can help make repair and replacement easier.
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