Tyre flat spots
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 40
From: Relocating at present.
Tyre flat spots
Is there a time limit an aircraft can remain parked in the same position before the tyres develop flat spots or some maintenance schedule for moving them to prevent this happening?
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 497
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From: Way north
I think flat spots are only developing when you brake too hard on landing?
But what type of aircraft are you talking about? We've had our Piper parked throughout winter without noticing the air was leaking.... filling it up and checking it revealed no damages. I have no idea about heavier stuff, but my guess is that as long as there is air in the tyres, it shouldn't pose a problem.
But what type of aircraft are you talking about? We've had our Piper parked throughout winter without noticing the air was leaking.... filling it up and checking it revealed no damages. I have no idea about heavier stuff, but my guess is that as long as there is air in the tyres, it shouldn't pose a problem.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,731
Likes: 2,105
From: Reading, UK
Dunlop advice:
"Wheels should be rotated at least every 2 weeks by 90 degrees to relieve flat spots that will form on the contact patch.
Tires must be correctly inflated before the aircraft is moved.
The crew might notice vibrations during taxi and take-off when the aircraft is operated for the first time after a period of storage. The vibration is caused by flat-spots and it should diminish during the first taxi and take off. Crews should be informed of this issue."
https://www.dunlopaircrafttyres.co.u...rked-aircraft/
"Wheels should be rotated at least every 2 weeks by 90 degrees to relieve flat spots that will form on the contact patch.
Tires must be correctly inflated before the aircraft is moved.
The crew might notice vibrations during taxi and take-off when the aircraft is operated for the first time after a period of storage. The vibration is caused by flat-spots and it should diminish during the first taxi and take off. Crews should be informed of this issue."
https://www.dunlopaircrafttyres.co.u...rked-aircraft/
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: Between Chippenham and Wooton Bassett
Certainly the RAF advice was to rotate the wheels periodically, I would expect this originated from manufacturer's guidance. The 'flat spot' due to weight on ground will be more pronounced (I hope) than any resulting from a skid, assuming that the tyre still holds air after the skid...
The phenomenon would be more noticeable in very cold weather, when the tyre rubber is harder, and slower to recover true shape upon first use of the day. Tyres will heat up during taxi, but a short taxi and rapid take off could be a bumpy ride.
The phenomenon would be more noticeable in very cold weather, when the tyre rubber is harder, and slower to recover true shape upon first use of the day. Tyres will heat up during taxi, but a short taxi and rapid take off could be a bumpy ride.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 525
Likes: 2
From: Nearer home than before!
Many a time I've had to taxi an aircraft with flat spots on the gear from prolonged rest ( 2-3 days even).. I did find that being twin wheeled bogies, a corner turn stopped the very low frequency bounce...The out of round condition was never noticable after the next landing.
