Tire Damage

[Zebedee]

Preflight turned up following tire damage. Ferry pilot flew the plane last 2 legs after engine bolt replacement, but doesn't look like anything he would have done. No cord showing and no flat spots.

I have my suspicions of cause, but definitely interested in any of yours.

Thanks

Jim

[smoss]

towed maybe with the brakes on, but you'd expect the same on the other tire, or maybe parked in some corrosive liquid for a bit?

[Zebedee]

My thoughts exactly.

Looks like left tire sat in a puddle of something, just based on oval shape.

Someone suggested jet fuel would do that to a tire, but could have been anything.

Right tire is fine.


Thanks

[Steve]

I agree that it appears to be dissolution by contact with a liquid. Vulcanized rubber is fairly resistant to most acids, but ketones (like acetone) will dissolve it fairly readily. I would talk to the shop - they likely had a solvent spill while your airplane was there. They should spring for a new tire if you had access to a lab, you could determine what the exact solvent was, but...

[YokotaFTC]

maybe parked in some corrosive liquid for a bit?

My initial thoughts too....

[Karl]

Its aquaplaning, or maybe you call it hydroplaning, locked wheel on standing water during the landing roll.

[Zebedee]

Its aquaplaning, or maybe you call it hydroplaning, locked wheel on standing water during the landing roll.

That’s was my first thought. It still might be. But experienced pilot landed the plane on a dry runway.

When I look closely I see where it looks like something has eaten away in an oval pattern.

Thanks for the info

Jim

[Zebedee]

Looks pretty similar.

https://www.bridgestone.com/products/ai ... %20landing.

[Steve]

I really don't think it was due to flat spotting the tire. There are areas of the tire that are higher and have less damage. Plus, the irregular, rough surface with 'streamers' looks like a solvent action, with the streamers being pulled from the softened rubber when the tire was first moved. I don't think hydroplaning could cause it either (Bridgestone's photo notwithstanding) since, by definition in hydroplaning, the tire is lifted off the runway surface by a layer of water, and thus, no wear occurs.

[Karl]

Its aquaplaning, or maybe you call it hydroplaning, locked wheel on standing water during the landing roll.

That’s was my first thought. It still might be. But experienced pilot landed the plane on a dry runway.

When I look closely I see where it looks like something has eaten away in an oval pattern.

Thanks for the info

Jim

Reverted rubber aquaplaning seems to fit the circumstances.

Types of Aquaplaning
Dynamic aquaplaning is that which does not begin unless the groundspeed as given by Horne’s formula above is exceeded. It leaves no physical evidence on tyre or runway surface.

Viscous aquaplaning arises in the same way as dynamic aquaplaning, but only on abnormally smooth surfaces such as touchdown zones contaminated with excessive rubber deposits, where it may begin and continue at any ground speed. Typically, a small amount of water may mix with a surface contaminant. a significantly thinner layer of contaminant is required in the event of viscous aquaplaning, compared to that required for dynamic aquaplaning. It too leaves no physical evidence on tyre or runway surface.

Reverted rubber aquaplaning occurs when the heat of friction from a locked wheel in contact with the surface causes the rubber to revert to its un-cured state and 'boils' the surface moisture into steam. The pressure of the steam raises the centre of the tyre off the surface whilst the edges remain in contact, forming a seal that temporarily traps the steam. The tyre will show clear evidence of rubber reversion and the runway surface will be clearly marked with the path of the wheels as a result of ‘steam pressure cleaning’ beneath the tyre. This is the only type of aquaplaning which leaves physical evidence on the runway surface. It was much more common before anti-skid units became widespread and usually only occurs to aircraft so fitted if an emergency brake, which is applied directly rather than through the anti-skid units, is used.