Subscriber question:
"How do I know a tire is too worn out?" —Paul H.
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David:
“Tires often don’t get the respect they deserve. Maybe that’s because they’re really expensive, so people don’t want to think about replacing them. Let’s start with signs that a tire should be replaced:
- When any of the tire ribs have disappeared for most of the tire circumference. In other words: most or all of the tire is bald.
- When any of the fabric cord under the rubber is showing.
- When cuts in any part of the tire go down to the cord.
- When you see bubbles or areas of detached tread.
The good news is that the oval flat spots caused by excessive braking usually don’t require replacing the tire if no cord is showing. The tire may need to be rebalanced if there is excessive vibration when rolling.
Fortunately, you can significantly increase the life of your tires with a few simple actions.
Keep the tires properly inflated. Low pressure concentrates tread wear on the outer edges of the tire and generates excessive heat. These accelerate wear. Too much pressure concentrates tire wear on the center. Keeping solvents and chemicals off the tires will also extend their life. When you do get new sneakers for the airplane, always insist on a new tube as well.
I swear some pilots wait until they could just about see the air in the tires before replacing them. Don’t be that guy. Waiting until the tire fails is at best a major inconvenience. At worst, it could result in a loss of control and runway excursion. That’s way more expensive.”
Learn how to preflight the exterior of a C172 and check tire condition by watching this video from Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.
Have you ever had an aircraft tire fail on takeoff or landing?