Aircraft Tires: Take Care of Them and They’ll Take Care of You
Aircraft tires are incredibly tough and durable features of any aircraft. Despite their strength, it is still important to take care of your tires to maintain their continued reliability and performance. The ideal environment for tire storage is a cool, dry, and dark location, away from air currents and dirt. If proper precautions are followed closely, tires can perform reliably for years. Here are a few ways you can ensure your tires will serve you for a long time.
The first step is to keep your tires away from excess moisture and air. Moisture has a deteriorating effect on aircraft tires, and this effect is made even worse when the moisture contains foreign substances that can add to the damage to rubber and cord fabric. Strong air currents should also be avoided as they increase the supply of oxygen thereby exposing the rubber to ozone, an unstable
oxidizing gas detrimental to tire rubber.
Another good idea is to keep your tires away from fuel and solvents. Make sure that your tires avoid oil,
gasoline, jet fuel, hydraulic fluids or other hydrocarbon solvents. All these fluids are detrimental to rubber and will cause it to disintegrate quickly. Also, be careful not to set tires on a floor that might be covered in oil or grease and when operating on the engine or landing gear, it’s a good idea to cover your wheels to prevent oil from dripping on them. In the event that your tires become contaminated, wash them with denatured alcohol followed by soap and water. As noted, moisture can harm rubber, so dry your tires thoroughly after rinsing.
Finally, tires should be stored vertically and away from light. If tires are not stored vertically on a flat surface, the shape of the tires will distort over time making them difficult to mount. The storage room should be as dark as possible, but at the very least out of direct sunlight. If possible, cover the windows with dark paint or plastic to help diffuse the light and lower the room’s temperature.
Applying all these tactics will give your tires’ lifespan a big boost and help with their general performance. For all your tire and aircraft needs, contact us at
ASAP Parts Unlimited. At ASAP Parts Unlimited, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the unique parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asappartsunlimited.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.
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