Have you ever thought about all the stuff that goes into designing and building a plane so that it can fly 35,000 feet in the air (by the way, here’s why they pick that height. And this is why some planes are flying even higher than that in recent months), land at 170mph, and still keep you safe?
I mean, just think about just the tires of a plane. They’re huge (usually more than 4′ in diameter), but so is a plane. And there are more tires on a plane than there are on a car or a bus (usually between 14ish and 32ish for the big planes, depending on the type of plane and if it’s an Airbus vs. Boeing. By the way, here’s how you can tell the difference between the planes made by the two makers). But still, when a plane is hitting a tarmac at such high speeds, and is potentially the weight of an office building, that’s….a lot of pressure on tires.
When the plane lands, the tires tend to skid more than roll at first (that’s why you sometimes see smoke when they land). But once it’s slowed down a little and their rotational speed matches the speed of the plane, then they start rotating.
Of course, just like any tires, a plane’s tires will start to show wear and tear over time and the threads will have to be replaced (the threads can be replaced up to seven times over the course of the tire’s life). How many landings does that average? And how long do the tires last? Well, it depends on a few factors. This video explains that, as well as several other “plane tire” factoids. Take a look…
And now you know! 🙂
H/T: Wired
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
