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.

Aircraft tires key terms describe essential parts that must be designed to withstand a wide range of conditions. They must support the weight of the aircraft on the ground. They need to provide a stable, cushioned ride without generating heat while taxiing. They have to handle not only the aircraft load but also the forces generated at high angular velocities during takeoff. They also have to absorb impact shocks while transmitting high dynamic braking loads to the ground when landing. All of this must be accomplished while also providing a long, dependable service life. Such extreme demands require aircraft tires to be highly engineered and manufactured to precise conditions. Those who work with aircraft tires need a working knowledge of vocabulary directly associated with them.

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

Tread

The tread is the part of the aircraft tire that comes in contact with the ground. It is formulated to resist wear, abrasion, cutting, cracking and heat buildup. Most tread has grooves designed to channel water from between the tire and the runway surface, which improves ground adhesion.

I recommend: Check out the information on aircraft tires, including facts about different types and thicknesses of tread, at Sacramento Sky Ranch.

Bias

A bias tire, also called a cross ply tire, is made so that the plies are laid at angles between 30 and 60 degrees to the centerline of the tire. Successive plies are laid with angles opposite each other to provide balance and strength.

I recommend: Bridgestone has information on bias tire technology.

Radial

A radial tire is made so that the plies are laid at an angle approximately 90 degrees to the centerline of the tire. Each successive layer is laid at a similar angle. Radial tires have fewer plies than bias tires because the cord direction provides optimum strength.

I recommend: Visit Aviation Maintenance to learn more about aviation tires and the growing trend toward using radial tires versus bias tires on aircraft.

Beads

Beads, also known as bead wires, are used to connect the aircraft tire to the wheel. They are made from layered steel wires and often are embedded with rubber to form a bundle. Bias tires generally require two to six bead bundles (one to three on each side), depending on the size of the tire; radial tires always have two bead bundles (one on each side) regardless of tire size.

I recommend: Learn about the general manufacturing process and construction of an airline tire, and where beads fit into the picture, at Specialty Tires of America.

Flat spots

Flat spots are worn areas on the tread of an aircraft tire. The three different types are: skid spots, typically caused by over-breaking and skidding the tire across the runway; skid burns, caused by hydroplaning on water or skidding on ice; and nylon sets, which generally result from parking the aircraft for extended periods of time or in extreme temperatures with a load on the tires.

I recommend: Learn more about the proper care of airline tires, including how to avoid flat spots, at Desser Tire and Rubber Company.

Retreading

Retreading is the process of repairing aircraft tires that still have the cord body intact but have treads that are worn out, flat-spotted or otherwise damaged. Retreading aircraft tires saves aircraft operators considerable amounts of money over tire replacement.

I recommend: Sky Treads offers more information about aircraft tire retreads.

Aircraft tires are a vital part of your airplane, so selecting the right type or style is key to the critical processes of take off and landing. Larger companies can purchase plane tires direct from manufacturers, while other owners with smaller planes or smaller fleets have to rely on redistributors and resellers to help them with their tire needs.

However you have to purchase your airplane tires, finding the right model, fit and selection is critical to the mobility of your craft. Work with your manufacturer or salesperson to help you with the right fit, and make sure that all safety precautions are taken with the installation.

Learn more about aircraft tires types and styles:

1. Review major manufacturers of tires for planes.

2. Find out what is available through resellers of airplane tires.

3. Think about buying used aircraft tires if you are thinking about trying to find a cost savings.

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

Start by looking at major manufacturers of tires for airplanes

There are only a handful of manufacturers of tires for aircrafts in this country, and they have a long business history with the companies that they serve. They generally sell only to major companies or resellers, so you generally have to purchase their product through a redistributor.

I recommend: Take a look at the commercial aircraft tires from Michelin Aircraft Tire. They have been in business over 20 years and outfit such carriers as Airbus and Boeing. Airlines such as US Airways and Northwest Airlines both use Michelin for their aircraft tire needs. Check out the military tires available through Goodyear. They have 85 years of military design experience and outfit tires on everything from trainers, fighters, bombers and more.

Check out redistributors of airplane tires

Compare prices, features and qualities of aircraft tires by looking at resellers who sell a variety of brands.

I recommend: Desser Tire & Rubber is a redistributor of tires for airplane, including such brands as Aero Classic, Michelin, Goodyear, Condor and Specialty Aircraft Tires and Tubes. Tires Unlimited is also a seller of airplane tires and tubing.

Consider used airplane tires for cost savings

When working on a budget, or if you are an infrequent flier and don't put much wear on your airplane tires, consider looking for used aircraft tires for sale instead of purchasing new. The cost savings should be substantial enough that you can put the funds into other plane maintenance or development.

I recommend: Look at used aircraft tires for industrial use from Toby Sexton Tire. They are a worldwide, wholesale distributor where you can find both tires and tubes. BergTires.com is another source for used aircraft tires.