Aircraft Tire Safety

Aircraft wheel assemblies and tires operate under heavy loads and high air pressures and should be handled with the same safety precautions as other high-pressure containers. Any conflict with local and manufacturer's safety procedures should be brought to the attention of a supervisor and the most conservative course of action should be taken.

Inspecting

New tires should be inspected for obvious shipping damage. In-service tires should be inspected as required by the manufacturer for cuts, abrasions, or excessive wear. Remove wheels that are missing tie bolts.

Handling

Aircraft tires are heavy. Use equipment to assist in moving wheel and tire assemblies or roll them across the floor to avoid back injury. If rolling a tire, ensure you keep positive control at all times.

Inflating

Before inflating tires, inspect all hoses and fittings. Use a tire safety cage when available. Follow all manufacturers' inflation pressure recommendations and other safety policies.

Damaged Tires

Do not approach damaged tires installed on aircraft until they have sufficiently cooled to ambient temperatures. Approach the tire from a 45-degree angle. Use caution when deflating the tire for removal, valve cores can be propelled at high rates of speed.

Other Safety Considerations

When handling tires that are not installed on aircraft, consider using an aircraft tire safety cage, a reinforced cage specifically built to protect employees from an exploding tire during pressurization.

References

• Aviation Glossary: Aircraft Tire Safety Cage
• Skytreads: General Safety Considerations