We often see planes weighing as much as a small office building landing on a tarmac at speeds of 258 kilometers per hour, yet airplane tires rarely malfunction. Why is that?
Airplane tires are a marvel of engineering. They can withstand 500 landings before needing to be retreaded, and they can be retreaded 7 times before reaching the end of their lifespan! Besides the astounding number of landings they endure, have you ever noticed how rarely airplane tires blow out? Actually, there are three reasons why airplanes rarely experience tire blowouts: structure, tire pressure, and tread pattern.
According to aviation regulations, an airplane tire must be able to withstand four times its rated pressure for 3 seconds in order to be considered compliant. The strongest airplane tires can land smoothly at speeds of 460 km/h. So, trying to inflate an airplane tire to the point of explosion is nearly impossible.
The extraordinary strength of airplane tires is thanks to the nylon cords and a synthetic polymer called aramid that are embedded in the rubber. These materials help the tire resist greater tensile forces. The tire walls are not exceptionally thick, and the…
