Topic No.

-5
AIRCRAFT TYRES
Aircraft wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres which may be tubeless or have
an inner tube.
Tubes tend to be fitted to light and older aircraft.
Tyres are usually inflated with nitrogen which absorbs shock and supports the
weight of the aircraft.

Tyre Covers
The tyre cover consists of a
casing made of rubber which is
reinforced with plies of cotton,
rayon or nylon cords.
During the construction of the
cover, the plies are fitted in
pairs and set so that the cords
of adjacent plies are at 90
degrees to one another in the
case of bias (cross-ply) tyres
and from bead to bead at
approximately 90 degrees to the
centre line of the tyre in radial
tyres.

To absorb and distribute load shocks, and protect the casing from concussion
damage, two narrow plies embedded in thick layers of rubber are situated

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 between the casing and the tread, these special plies are termed breaker
strips

The casing is retained on the rim of the wheel by interlocking the plies around
inextensible steel wire coils to form ply overlaps, this portion of the cover is
known as the bead.
The tyre manufacturers give each tyre a ply rating. This rating does not relate
directly to the number of plies in the tyre, but is the index of the strength of
the tyre.

The Regions of the Tyre

CROWN
SHOULDER
SIDEWALL
BEAD

The most popular tread pattern is that

termed Ribbed, which has circumferential grooves
around the tyre to assist in water dispersion and to
help prevent aquaplaning (hydroplaning).
Nose wheel tyres, particularly those fitted to
aircraft with the engines mounted on the rear
fuselage, may have a chine moulded onto the
shoulder.

CHINE-This is to direct water away from the

engine intakes and so prevent flameouts due to water ingestion.

Inner Tubes
An inner tube is manufactured by an extruding machine, which forces a
compound of hot rubber through a circular die, thus producing a continuous

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 length of tubing. The requisite length is cut off, the ends are then butt welded
and a valve is fitted.
The Inflation Valve
Each inflation valve operates as a non-return valve.
The valve core is not considered to be a perfect seal.
The inflation valve must always be fitted with a valve cap, the valve cap also
prevents dirt entering the valve.
Tubeless Tyres
These tyres are similar in construction to that of a conventional cover for use
with a tube, but an extra rubber lining is vulcanized to the inner surface and the
underside of the beads. This lining, which retains the gas pressure, forms an gas
tight seal on the wheel rim.

Tyre Pressures
Low Pressure 25 - 35 psi , used on grass surfaces.

Medium Pressure 35 - 70 psi, used on grass surfaces or on medium firm

surfaces without a consolidated base.

High Pressure 70 - 90 psi, and is suitable for concrete runways.

Extra High Pressure Over 90 psi (some tyres of this type are inflated to 350
psi), the tyre is suitable for concrete runways.

RATED INFLATION PRESSURE

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Creep is less likely to occur if the tyre air pressure is correctly
maintained.

This figure applies to a cold tyre not under load, that is, a tyre not fitted
to an aircraft.

Distortion of the tyre cover when the weight of the aircraft is on it will
cause the tyre pressure to rise by 4%. When checking the tyre
pressure of a cold tyre fitted to an aircraft you should mentally add 4%
to the rated tyre pressure.

During use, that is during taxiing, take-off or landing, the tyres will
become heated. This can cause up to a further 10% rise in tyre
pressure.

Aquaplaning(DGCA)

Aquaplaning is a phenomenon caused by a wedge of water building up

under the tread of the tyre and breaking its contact with the ground.

Aquaplaning speed, in Nautical Miles per Hour, the speed that the tyre
loses contact can be found by applying the formula.

AQUAPLANING SPEED = 9 √P (where P = the tyre pressure in psi)

(OR) AQUAPLANING SPEED = 34 √P (where P = the tyre pressure in
kg/cm2, bar)

The possibility of aquaplaning increases as the depth of the tread is

reduced, it is therefore important that the amount of tread remaining is
accurately assessed

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Reduction of Tyre Wear
With the increased size of modern airports, taxi distances also increase, thus
increasing the amount of tyre wear and risk of damage.
To minimize tyre wear therefore, it is recommended that a speed of no more
than 25 mph (40 kph) should be reached during taxi.
Over-inflation will cause excessive wear to the crown of the tyres
whilst under-inflation is the cause of excessive shoulder wear.

Tyre Markings

 The letters ECTA or Conducting are used to indicate a tyre that has extra
carbon added to the rubber compound to make it electrically
conducting to provide earthing (grounding) between the aircraft and
ground.
 The size of a tyre is marked on its sidewall and includes the following
information:
The outside diameter in inches or millimetres.

The nominal width in inches or millimetres.

The inside diameter in inches.

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 The speed rating of the tyre denotes the
maximum rated ground speed in mph to
which the tyre has been tested and
approved
 Green or grey dots painted on the
sidewall of the tyre indicate the position
of the “. Awl vents prevent pressure
being trapped between the plies.
 A red dot or triangle indicates the
lightest part of the tyre. If this is placed opposite the valve during tyre
fitting then it assists in balancing the wheel assembly.
 The letters DRR printed in the code panel and the words “REINFORCED
TREAD” printed on the sidewall are indicative of the fact that the tyre has
a layer of fabric woven into the tread which may become visible during
normal wear.

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