How often should you check your aircraft’s tires?
In fact, an aircraft tire can lose up to 5 percent of its pressure in 24 hours and still be perfectly serviceable. Why check the tires before a flight rather than after? It’s important to check tire pressures when they are cold if at all possible. Michelin recommends checking a tire’s pressure no sooner than three hours after it has last rolled.
How long does it take for tire pressure to drop after flight?
It can take up to 3 hours or more after a flight for tire temperatures to return to ambient. A tire/wheel assembly can lose as much as five percent (5%) of the inflation pressure in a 24-hour period and still be considered normal.
How to inflate airplane tires?
• Inflate tire to rated pressure in a safety cage using dry nitrogen. • After 12-hour stretch period, reinflate to rated inflation pressure with dry nitrogen. IMPORTANT Check inflation pressure daily or before first flight when tires are cool.
When should I check the tire pressure?
Tire pressures should always be checked with the tire at ambient temperatures. Tire temperatures can rise in excess of 200°F (93°C) above ambient during operation. A temperature change of 5°F (3°C) produces approximately one percent (1%) pressure change. It can take up to 3 hours or more after a flight for tire temperatures to return to ambient.
How long should you wait after a flight before checking tire pressure?
All tires will stretch after the initial inflation, causing a volume increase and thus a drop in pressure. Tires should not be placed in service until they've been inflated for a minimum of 12 hours. The pressure should then be checked and inflation added, if necessary.
How do you check tire pressure on a plane?
1:365:40Ground School: Aviation Tire Inspection Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what's the best way to check the pressure. Definitely with a calibrated. Pressure gauge digitalMoreSo what's the best way to check the pressure. Definitely with a calibrated. Pressure gauge digital gauge or a round dial gauge either is fine check your Poh.
Do planes need new tires after every landing?
Tires are changed every 120 to 400 landings depending on a number of factors. Aircraft tires need to withstand an extremely wide range of temperatures that go from minus 60 degrees Celsius at an altitude of 10,000 meters to extremely high temperatures when landing in the world's hottest regions.
What effects does under inflation have on aircraft tires?
Under inflation of a tire can cause uneven tire wear and greatly increases stress and flex heating in the tire, which shortens tire life and can lead to tire blowouts.
What does the red dot on an aircraft tire mean?
A: The red dot or triangle indicates the. circumferential location of the light spot on the tire. This mark should be aligned with the valve stem or the tube balance mark when mounting the tire.
Do aircraft tires have a shelf life?
Tyres can be inflated at operational pressure if allowed by the aviation authorities. The assemblies can be stored like this for up to 12 months.
How many landings can a airplane tires last?
about 500 landingsThe typical airplane tire can go through about 500 landings before it needs to be repaired. Usually, the top layer of tread is simply peeled off and replaced with new tread. That way, the other parts don't need to be replaced.
Can a pilot change his own tire?
Most aircraft maintenance tasks are the domain of licensed A&P mechanics. However, with the proper training and tools, changing a tire is something any aircraft owner or operator can do.
How often do planes get flat tires?
But even so, commercial airplane tires can touch down about 500 times before they need to be re-tread, and a tire can be restored this way up to seven times over the course of its life. Of course, blowouts on airplanes do happen occasionally, usually due to under-inflation.
Why should you wait three hours after flight to check tire pressures?
Why is it important to check the pressure every day? Because of the high pressures and extreme temperatures at which aircraft tires operate, they do not hold air perfectly. In fact, an aircraft tire can lose up to 5 percent of its pressure in 24 hours and still be perfectly serviceable.
What is considered over inflated tires?
As long as you stay below the maximum tire pressure listed on the tire's sidewall (which is different from the recommended pressure), you can overinflate your tires by 10 percent or even more without too much concern.
Is it better to over inflate or Underinflate tires?
When a tire is under-inflated or over-inflated, it loses stability, negatively affecting handling, cornering, and stopping. Eventually the tire will also start to wear unevenly. Under-inflated tires tend to show wear on the outside edges of the tread, while over-inflated tires show wear down the middle of the tread.
How do I know if my tire needs air without a gauge?
Feeling the Wheels Also known as hand pressure, it involves pressing the tire using your hand or foot. If the tire feels soft, it means that you need to inflate it. If it feels firm, then it has sufficient pressure and is good for the road.
How do I know if my tires have enough air?
1:142:36How To: Check Tire Pressure and Inflate Tires - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimple you can buy a tire gauge for a couple of dollars. At most any department store or auto partsMoreSimple you can buy a tire gauge for a couple of dollars. At most any department store or auto parts store and then you can check your tires yourself.
How do I check air in my tires at a gas station?
0:501:53How To: Fill Your Cars Tires With Air At The Gas Station - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay so the first thing you do is you take the nozzle. You stick it on right here. And then look atMoreOkay so the first thing you do is you take the nozzle. You stick it on right here. And then look at the gauge.
How do you read a pressure gauge?
0:443:33How to read a pressure gauge - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst identify the major units around the gauge. These are represented by the largest marks alongMoreFirst identify the major units around the gauge. These are represented by the largest marks along the edge. And are typically labeled with a number in. This example we see 0 100 200 300 and 400.
Why do airplane tires need to be replaced?
Tires are replaced most often for deterioration caused by sunlight, weather extremes or ozone-related cracking. Any time fabric or casing is exposed, the tire is not airworthy. And a tire can look perfectly fine yet be well past its sell-by date. For example, we’re aware of a tire/tube combination in long-time, regular service on a hangared airplane without any visible problems except minute cracking. Then it started losing air and was retired. Records reflect it was on the airplane for some 15 years.
How to get best performance from an aircraft tire?
The key to obtaining best performance from an aircraft tire is maintaining proper inflation. Proper inflation according to your specific aircraft requirements— no matter how difficult it may be with wheel pants installed—is a must. The proper pressure can be obtained from an aircraft maintenance manual and may also be listed in an operating handbook for your aircraft. It is not possible to eyeball a tire and determine it is inflated to the proper pressure. Instead, a properly calibrated pressure gauge (preferably a dial or digital type) used when the tire is cool is a must.
Why do my tires vibrate?
Nose wheel tires that are cupped from excessive wear must be replaced as although wear does occur, cups in the nose tire contribute to vibration and increase wear of nose wheel steering components. Tire/wheel assemblies that have vibration issues can have multiple causes and several of the issues can be prevented or corrected by following aircraft, tire, or wheel manufacturers maintenance procedures. Most tire/wheel vibration issues are not caused by balance. Some issues that can cause vibration are: cracked or bent wheel, improperly torque axle nut, improperly installed tube, improperly assembled tubeless tire, flat spotted tire due to wear (landing with the brakes on) and cupping of the tire.
How to prevent ozone from aging tires?
Ideally, the airplane to which the tires are attached would be hangared, helping minimize the damaging effects of weather and sunlight. Ozone cracking and weather deterioration of tires is a major problem. If your tires are outside on a tiedown, cover and protect them from sunlight. If they’re hangared, do not park or store tires close to electric motors, high intensity lighting, battery chargers and/or electric welders. The ozone generated by these devices can accelerate tire aging. Prevent and clean (using soap and water) any contamination of the tire from such items as hydraulic fluid, fuel and oil.
How to properly maintain a tire?
I cannot stress enough the importance of following proper safety procedures regarding tire and wheel maintenance. Always completely deflate tires before removing the axle nut, wear eye protection and follow recommended maintenance procedures. When replacing a tire/tube assembly, always check for cracks, corrosion and damage to the wheel. Tasks to perform when changing a tire/tube include cleaning, inspection and replacing grease on the bearing and races. Use only cleaning chemicals approved for aircraft use as unapproved materials have caused corrosion and failure of the wheel. It is absolutely necessary to have a properly calibrated torque wrench so that the assembly of the wheel tie bolts can be done uniformly as guessing or using the calibrated elbow will cause eventual failure of the wheel.
Why are aircraft tires important?
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.
What is the best air to use for aircraft tires?
The best medium for servicing aircraft tires is nitrogen, although clean, dry air can be used. One aircraft tire manufacturer specifies clean, dry air may be used as long as the oxygen content does not exceed five percent of the total tire volume. With higher oxygen content, excessive heat build up resulting from hot brakes, a locked wheel, etc., can result in an explosion when mixed with the hydrocarbons from the heated tire.
What does the red dot on an aircraft tire mean?
The red dot on an aircraft tire generally indicates the --- weight point of the tire.
What does ply rating mean on tires?
The ply rating of a tire indicates the number of fabric piles in the tire.
What is the most popular tread pattern found on aircraft today?
The most popular tread pattern found on aircraft today is the all weather tread.
How wide are tire slippage marks?
Tire slippage marks are one inch wide and two inches long and painted ---.
What is the purpose of the tire tube?
A. to eliminate all the air between the tube and the inside of the tire
What is a wheel inspection?
A. removed from the wheel and inspected for carcass and tread damage
How to check tire pressure before removing?
Before deflating and removing tire, check the valve. Put a drop of water or soap solution on the end of the valve and watch for bubbles indicating escaping pressure. Tighten valve core if loose. Replace valve core if nonfunctional and repeat leak test to check. Check the valve stem and its mounting for leaks with a soap solution. If a leak is detected, deflate the tire/ wheel assembly and replace the valve core and/or valve assembly. Make certain that every valve has a cap to retain inflation and prevent dirt, oil, and moisture from damaging the core.
What is an aircraft tire?
The modern aircraft tire is a highly- engineered composite structure designed to carry heavy loads at high speeds in the smallest and lightest configuration practical.
Why should all tires be inflated equally?
To prevent one tire on a gear from carrying extra load, all tires on a single gear should be inflated equally. The mate tire(s) will share the load, allowing individual tires to run underinflated or overloaded if pressures are unequal, because all tires on the gear will deflect identically.
Why is correct mounting and demounting of aircraft tires and tubes important?
Correct mounting and demounting of aircraft tires and tubes are essential for maximum safety and economy. It is a specialized job that should be done only by fully trained persons with the proper tools and with careful attention to specific instructions and established procedures.
Why are Goodyear tires inspected?
In Goodyear’s manufacturing facilities, stringent finished tire inspection is performed to help ensure that Good year tires are shipped to the customer in first class condition. Because of the characteristics of rubber, special care is taken to inspect shipping containers, pallets and trucks for obvious conditions that could cause damage to these tires. However, aircraft tires may be damaged during shipping or handling after the tires leave the control of our facilities and prior to entering service. Damage of this nature is the responsibility of the freight carrier and needs to be handled between the receiving facility and the freight handler as soon as possible after receipt of the tire(s). It should be kept in mind that some of this damage can be so slight that it escapes incoming inspection procedures and is noticed later or after the tire is mounted on the wheel assembly and inflated.
When should tires be removed?
Tires should be removed when tread has worn to the base of any groove at any spot, or up to 1/8 of the tire circumference.
Where are tubeless tires vents?
All tubeless tires have been vented in the lower sidewall area during the tire manufacturing process. These vents prevent separation by relieving pressure buildup in the casing plies and under the sidewall rubber. These vent holes (marked by green dots) will not cause undue pressure loss and do not close. Covering them with water or a soap solution may show an intermittent bubbling, which is normal.
Why is it important to make sure your aircraft tires are properly inflated?
Making sure that the aircraft tires are properly inflated is a crucial part of preflight and routine service checks which can go a long way to maximizing tire utilization and minimizing risks to safe operations.
How long does it take for an aircraft tire to lose air pressure?
In fact, an aircraft tire can lose up to 5 percent of its pressure in 24 hours and still be perfectly serviceable.
Why are aircraft tires important?
High inflation pressure and high deflection rates – 2.5 times greater than a car tire – allow relatively small tires to support the high loads of an aircraft. Because aircraft tires operate at such high extremes of pressure, load, and speed, their care and service is critically important.
What is the most important action an operator can take to prevent tire-related events?
The most important action an operator can take to prevent tire-related events is to maintain proper tire inflation pressure. Failure to keep aircraft tires properly inflated can lead to very serious consequences. The most serious of these is the structural failure of the tire.
Why do passenger car and truck tires operate continuously?
Additionally, the passenger car and truck tires are able to operate continuously because they reach thermal equilibrium while aircraft tires do not. An aircraft tire which taxis continuously at rated load and 40 mph will continue to heat up until the tire fails.
What is the recommended tire pressure for Michelin?
Michelin recommends always servicing the tires to the top of that range – 105 percent. If the pressure is found to be between 95 and 100 percent of operating pressure, service the tire to 105 percent; this is considered normal pressure loss. If it is between 90 and 95 percent, the pressure loss is no longer normal.
What happens if tire pressure is 90?
If the pressure is again found to be in the 90 to 95 percent range, remove the tire and troubleshoot the reason for the pressure loss. If the tire has operated at less than 90 percent of the targeted operating pressure, it is no longer serviceable and must be removed.
Proper Inflation
Tire Replacement
- Aircraft owners holding at least a private pilot certificate may replace tires on their own aircraft under the preventive maintenance provisions of FAR 43 Appendix A. While that’s not this article’s topic, I encourage aircraft owners to become involved in the maintenance of their aircraft. If you have never performed this task, it is very wise and legally required to use FAA-approved data air…
Operations and Servicing
- When replacing a tire, always use a new tube. Over time, the old tube will have stretched to conform to the old tire and will not re-size itself to fit the new tire, potentially leaving folds or wrinkles that will eventually fail. Always use tire talc during assembly of the tire/tube, not talc from the drug store, as other materials such as perfume are added and may damage the tube/tire. Ide…
Troubleshooting
- Nose wheel shimmy is often a complaint and can be a safety of flight issue if not corrected in a timely manner. Do not continue to operate an aircraft with severe nose wheel shimmy; seek professional help and correct the problem before the next flight, saving money in repairs and preventing an accident. Mechanical wear of multiple parts in the nose wheel steering can accum…
Wheels
- I cannot stress enough the importance of following proper safety procedures regarding tire and wheel maintenance. Always completely deflate tires before removing the axle nut, wear eye protection and follow recommended maintenance procedures. When replacing a tire/tube assembly, always check for cracks, corrosion and damage to the wheel. Tasks to perform when …
Re-Caps
- An age-old debate among owners and operators is whether to use re-capped tires. Re-caps, of course, are used tires with new tread molded onto them. Heavy trucks, and even airlines, use them with success. Are they a good option for typical owners? Maybe. Re-capped tires are only as good as the carcass, inspection methods, materials and attention to overall quality control em…
Diy Resources
- Even if you’re a private pilot performing preventive maintenance on your own airplane, the FAA requires you to have approved manufacturer data. The good news is there aren’t that many documents, manuals or other technical information necessary to properly service tires. Even better is most everything you need is available online. Aircraft tire manufacturers such as Goody…