Aircraft tires education and training may not seem to be a top priority to the general public. Although airplanes do not travel on their tires for a lengthy period of time, proper functioning aircraft tires are essential for safe take-offs and landings. That's why pilots, aircraft mechanics, and airplane manufacturers all need aircraft tires education and training.

Aircraft tires education and training consists of learning about the proper size of tire for the airplane. Flight companies must be aware of air pressure and tire maintenance. Mechanics need training in tire service, repair, and replacement. Consider the following when thinking about how your employees can gain aircraft tire training:

1. Aircraft mechanic courses offer information pertaining to tires for airplanes.

2. Articles offer information about aircraft tire servicing and purchasing.

3. Manufacturers offer resources about caring for and using their aircraft tires.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for schools offering aircraft mechanic courses that discuss aircraft tires

Trade institutes often offer aircraft mechanic courses and certificates. Included in the aircraft mechanic program is information on servicing and repairing tires for aircrafts. These courses offer in-depth study into the proper safety measures to take when working on tires for aircraft. Courses are typically a combination of lecture and hands-on instruction.

I recommend: Take aircraft tire care and maintenance courses from Aero Learn. Aircraft Mechanic School in Van Nuys, CA, also offers a course pertaining to the maintenance of aircraft parts.

Study articles describing how to care for and maintain aircraft tires

Articles from magazines and websites often offer tips and advice about the proper storage, repair, and maintenance of aircraft tires. These articles discuss various tire brands and manufacturers. Aviation magazines and websites are great places to begin a search for articles that offer aircraft tire information. Those who have aircraft tires for sale also often print articles about taking care of tires.

I recommend: Sky Trends has an article that discusses the proper techniques for storing and handling aircraft tires. The article gives details on conditions to avoid as well as the proper measure to take. Boeing features an article discussing the proper servicing procedures for aircraft tires. The article also discusses tire explosions.

Check websites of aircraft tire manufacturers for resources about tires for planes

Many automobile tire manufacturers also make airplane tires. Most of these manufacturers offer aircraft tire resources such as manuals and articles. These resources are geared directly toward the manufacturer's brand of tires and may or may not apply to other aircraft tire brands. Check out the websites of various manufacturers that make plane tires.

I recommend: The Good Year site offers a Good Year Aviation section featuring a fact and question sheet about their Good Year aircraft tires. The site includes illustrations. Air Michelin has a variety of resources available about their aircraft tires. Resources include care and service manuals and certified training manuals.

Whether you need to tire up cargo, commuter, corporate, experimental, glider, warbird, agricultural or helicopter aircraft, finding the right aircraft tires is a critical issue both for safety and your budget.

You can decide to opt for new tires for aircrafts or go with retreaded, but either way, purchasing from a quality manufacturer through a quality vendor is key.

To find out more about airplane tires and aircraft tire information:

1. Determine what your budget is. Maintenance on airplane tires should be allotted a large chunk of your aviation budget.

2. Look into retread tires for planes to see if their advantages of cost and carbon footprint appeal to your business.

3. Make a decision if you plan to buy new, retreaded or used aircraft tires for sale.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go with brand new tires for airplanes

If your budget allows it, consider purchasing brand new tires for airplanes. With brand new tires, there should be no existing quality control issues that may sneak in with retreaded tires.

I recommend: Look at the warehouse inventory from G.V.W. Tire. Look at the advantages of Goodyear aircraft tires. Find out more about the Michelin Aircraft Tire division. Tires Unlimited sells aircraft tires for a variety of aviation vehicles.

Buy retreaded tires for aircrafts

Reduce your tire costs by purchasing retreaded aircraft tires. Retreaded tires help take down your costs by more than half if you consistently retread instead of purchasing new.

I recommend: Check out the retread products from Aviation Tires & Treads. Consider the retreading services of Desser Tire and Rubber. The SC Department of Corrections, Division of Industries offers tire retreading to state agencies. Find a listing by state of tire retreaders from the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau. Vendors can also become members if they are interested.

Practice proper maintenance on your airplane tires

Proper tire maintenance will ensure you the lowest cost-per-miles on your aircraft tires.

I recommend: Find out more about proper tire selection and maintenance from the Aviation Publishing Group. Download the Aircraft Tire Maintenance and Operational Practices from the Federal Aviation Administration. Purchase a copy of the Minimum Operational and Maintenance Responsibilities for Aircraft Tire Usage document from Society of Automobile Engineers International. Look at the safety standard information from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

Find parts for your tires for planes

Find parts for your aircraft tires from a variety of dealers. From casings to tubes and more, replacing one small part may make the difference in whether or not you have to purchase a whole new tire for your aircraft.

I recommend: Wilkerson Company buys worn aircraft tire casings. Toby Sexton Tire specialize in selling used aircraft tires for industrial usage. They are a worldwide, wholesale distributor of tires and tubes. Find aircraft tire parts from SkyGeek.com. Find parts and accessories from a variety of manufacturers from Tex-Air Parts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Retreated tires for planes also leave less of a carbon footprint. They use less than 1/3 of the petrochemicals to create than a new tire does.