Another insight into tyre wear for those without engineering experience, is that aircraft tyres are usually retreads. Any one tyre can be retread upto atleast 9 times, mainly due to their cost. The science behind retreading aircraft tyres is far more advanced than motor vehicle tyres. Testing before and after retread is done on every tyre, hence the reason for having a limit on the wear before retreading. The first layer of canvas is acceptable wear but as has already been stated, usally taken as an indication of the limit.
If wear becomes too excessive then the tyre cannot be retread, and airlines are displeased hence their own limits.
Most aircraft have an anti skid protection system and longtidudinal stability on the ground is maintained at high speeds by the Rudder, so you could say that the aircraft is flying even before it leaves the ground.
I always give a higher priority to the nose wheels for wear and condition, especially when their is only one.
Last edited by sport; 16th Aug 2006 at 01:31.