Owais Crawford
Aircraft tyres, or tires, are an essential component of any plane. They are designed to withstand heavy loads for short durations and facilitate stability in high crosswind conditions. They are usually inflated with nitrogen to minimise expansion and contraction from extreme changes in temperature and pressure. Aircraft tyres are small in proportion to the vehicle they support, and the number of tyres required increases with the weight of the aircraft. Tyre manufacturers include Dunlop, Kumho Tire, and Yokohama Rubber. A flat tyre on an aircraft can cause delays, as planes do not usually carry spares, but some airlines have a flat tyre rule that lets gate agents accommodate passengers without charge.
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What You'll Learn
Aircraft tyre design
The first step in designing an aircraft tyre is determining the size and weight requirements provided by the aircraft manufacturer. Engineers then face the challenge of designing tyres with cool-running, heat-resistant materials while also meeting tyre service requirements. Tyre prototypes undergo rigorous testing to simulate the demanding conditions they will face, including taxiing, takeoff, landing, braking, overload, and overspeed conditions. These tests ensure that the tyres exceed everyday operating conditions and perform as expected under stress.
Aircraft tyres are constructed to support the weight of the aircraft while on the ground and provide the necessary traction for braking and stopping. They also absorb the shock of landing and provide cushioning during taxi, takeoff, and rollout operations. Retreading is a crucial aspect of tyre design, as it allows for the restoration of worn tyres by renewing the tread area or even the entire sidewall.
Tyre manufacturers also consider the tread pattern, which is designed to meet specific aircraft operational requirements. The popular ribbed tread design, for example, provides good traction under varying runway conditions. Additionally, the sidewall is a protective layer of rubber that covers the outer casing ply, providing durability.
One notable innovation in aircraft tyre design is the Aircraft Tire Tension Control Optimization Theory (ACOT), developed by Bridgestone engineers. This technology optimises weight reduction and overload performance, allowing for the creation of tyres that meet the specific needs of individual aircraft. ACOT has led to the development of improved bias tyres (IBT) and Performance Weight Optimized Tires (PWO), which have achieved significant weight reductions while maintaining durability.
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Tyre manufacturing companies
A "tyre" or "tire", is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground. Aircraft tires are designed to withstand extremely heavy loads for short durations. They are usually inflated with nitrogen to minimize expansion and contraction from extreme changes in temperature and pressure.
Aircraft tires are manufactured by a variety of companies around the world. The largest tire manufacturers in the world as of 2021 were Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, and Sumitomo. Michelin ended Bridgestone's 11-year reign as the world's top tire maker in 2021.
There are several other smaller industry players, particularly in China, where Zhongce Rubber is the largest manufacturer, followed by Linglong Tire. In India, Apollo Tyres Ltd is the highest-revenue tyre maker.
Other notable tyre manufacturers include Dunlop, which is the smallest player among the major firms; Kumho Tire, which produces aircraft tires for Asiana Airlines; and Yokohama Rubber, a Japanese company that manufactured aircraft tires from 1940 to 2009.
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Tyre pressure
Aircraft tyres are designed to withstand extremely heavy loads for short durations. They are generally small in proportion to the vehicle they support, to conserve weight and space. The number of tyres required increases with the weight of the aircraft, to distribute weight more evenly. Aircraft tyre tread patterns are designed to facilitate stability in high crosswind conditions, prevent hydroplaning, and for braking effect.
Aircraft tyres are not the same as car or truck tyres, and their care and service requirements differ. They operate at high extremes of pressure, load, and speed, and do not reach thermal equilibrium. As a result, they require more care than the tyres on a car or motorcycle. Tyre pressure is critical to the safe operation of the aircraft. Underinflating the tyre or allowing it to operate when underinflated will prevent the parts from working together as intended. The most serious consequence of this is the structural failure of the tyre. If the tyre is underinflated or overloaded, the nylon cords that form the tyre's structure weaken and can eventually break, leading to the failure of the entire structure.
Aircraft tyres are usually inflated with nitrogen to minimize expansion and contraction from extreme changes in ambient temperature and pressure experienced during flight. Dry nitrogen expands at the same rate as other dry atmospheric gases, but common compressed air sources may contain moisture, which increases the expansion rate with temperature.
To ensure that an aircraft's tyres are properly inflated, it is recommended to check the inflation pressure with a calibrated gauge before the first flight of the day or before each flight if not flown daily. This is a crucial part of pre-flight and routine service checks, which can help maximize tyre utilization and minimize risks to safe operations.
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Tyre tread patterns
A tyre's tread pattern is a vital part of its makeup, as it is the only thing between the driver and the road. The tread pattern affects the tyre's traction, handling, performance in different weather conditions, and resistance to abrasion. It also determines the tyre's performance, efficiency, and longevity.
There are four main tread patterns for passenger tyre vehicles: directional (or unidirectional), symmetrical (or multi-directional), asymmetrical, and directional/asymmetrical. Symmetrical tyre tread patterns are the most common, with the same pattern across the whole width of the tyre tread, found on various daily-use passenger cars. Asymmetrical treads, on the other hand, combine different tread types to deliver maximum wet and dry road grip, with parts of the inner and middle tread optimised for wet or winter/all-season traction, and larger and rigid tread blocks on the other tyre to improve cornering. Directional tread patterns have an arrow or V-shaped pattern that serves as a water channel, providing high-speed stability and handling.
Grooves in the tread pattern create voids within the tread face, which are essential for effective water channeling on wet roads. This reduces the risk of hydroplaning and enhances the tyre’s contact with the road. Lateral grooves, for example, break up water wedges at higher speeds, while circumferential grooves efficiently channel water around the tyre. Grooves also reduce contact pressure at the tread edge, increasing resistance to wear and enhancing durability.
Tread blocks are the raised individual elements set in a particular format and order, which are the points where the tyre makes contact with the road or other surfaces. Sipes are small slits moulded into the tread face to increase traction in wet conditions by dispersing water.
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Tyre inflation
Aircraft tyres are generally inflated with nitrogen instead of regular air to minimise expansion and contraction due to extreme temperature and pressure changes during flight. Nitrogen maintains a consistent volume, reducing the risk of tyre failure. The inflation pressure can reach up to 200 psi (14 bar; 1,400 kPa) for airliners and even higher for business jets. For instance, the Concorde's main landing gear tyres were inflated to 232 psi (16.0 bar), while its tail bumper gear tyres reached 294 psi (20.3 bar).
The number of tyres on an aircraft depends on its weight, distributing the load evenly. Aircraft tyre tread patterns are designed for stability in crosswinds, water channeling to prevent hydroplaning, and effective braking. Fusible plugs inside the tyres melt at a certain temperature, deflating the tyre in a controlled manner to prevent explosions during overheating, thus minimising damage to the aircraft and its surroundings.
To optimise tyre inflation, it is crucial to check the pressure when the tyres are cold, typically after the aircraft has been stationary for a while or following a short, slow journey. Aircraft manufacturers provide recommended pressure guidelines, usually found in the owner's manual or on a label inside the aircraft. Regular tyre pressure checks, at least once a month and before long journeys, are essential for safety and performance.
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Frequently asked questions
A tyre is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim. Aircraft tyres are designed to withstand extremely heavy loads for short durations. They are usually inflated with nitrogen to minimise expansion and contraction from extreme changes in temperature and pressure.
Aircraft tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric, wire, carbon black and other chemical compounds.
Aircraft tyres generally operate at high pressures, up to 200 psi (14 bar; 1,400 kPa) for airliners, and even higher for business jets. Tests have shown that aircraft tyres can sustain pressures of up to 800 psi (55 bar; 5,500 kPa) before bursting.
The number of tyres required for an aircraft increases with the weight of the aircraft. Aircraft tyres are small in proportion to the vehicle they support to conserve weight and space.
Some companies that manufacture aircraft tyres include Kumho Tire, Dunlop, and Triangle Group.
