In addition, MOD does not keep stockpiles of tyres at air bases because it is not cost-effective to maintain the specialist storage conditions required to meet aviation safety standards
So there are no C17 or C130 tyres at that location then, becouse it's not cost effective..Bet there are, and I know they wont fit on the airbus, but if it's cost effective and correct storage for them, why not add a few more for Air Tanker. It has got to be more cost effective than flying then route on each trip, that's just extra payload on a standard route