Thread: Preflighting Tires

Not sure if this is in right section but still I'm asking the question as a student so I put it under training. BTW, tommorrow is checkride and I'm getting SO nervous! I really hope I don't crumble under the pressure. Anyway, I wanted to know if there is any trick to checking the tires thorougly without removing the wheel pants. I got a flat on one my mains yesterday and when we pulled the wheel pant, the tire had a bad flat spot and the threads were showing through. I'm sure just a sharp rock was enough to finish it. The really sucky part is I was flying a solo xcountry and had to wait for about 2 hours for the FBO grunt to drive out and replace the tire. Plane just had 100hr like 2 weeks ago and now I'm questioning how good a job they did. I usually take a considerable extra amount of time if I wasn't the last one in it. Until I hear back from someone with a better answer, I'm just going to roll the plane and stop every foot to see the exposed part of the tire for wear but this is kind of a PIA to do for 3 wheels and time consuming, well 2 wheels for now. I know I have 1 brand new tire

Happy flying,
James

James,

All you can do is check the pressure and take a look at the tread. Who ever owns the plane should have caught this thin tire issue long ago before it became an issue. There is no excuse for letting a tire become bald and especially show thread.

A flat spot could have happened on any landing with the application of to much brake. You shouldn't have to worry about flat spots on the nose tire. You can pull the airplane forward by the propeller and look at the tread on the main tires. Tom

BTW was it the right main?

Originally Posted by 3Dreaming

BTW was it the right main?

Left main. Thx.

Originally Posted by Roger Lee

James,

All you can do is check the pressure and take a look at the tread. Who ever owns the plane should have caught this thin tire issue long ago before it became an issue. There is no excuse for letting a tire become bald and especially show thread.

I am just assuming, but is checking the tires part of the 100hr? I'm just happy it didn't go flat while I was landing or on the runway.

Thx,
James

Hi james,

Checking the tires is part of the pre-flight, 100 hr and the annual. If the tires are too worn then the mechanic shouldn't even sign it off.

Originally Posted by Roger Lee

Hi james,

Checking the tires is part of the pre-flight, 100 hr and the annual. If the tires are too worn then the mechanic shouldn't even sign it off.

Thanks Roger. I am guessing they saw it was going bad and ordered a new tire but didn't put it on for whatever reason. I am saying that because they had 1 brand new tire still in the shipping box when they came out to fix it. I was thinking I would possibly have to pay for it, but they just apologized and that was it. From that day forward, they will always be checked thoroughly before I fly it, even taking the tire pressure which I was not doing before. I guess the bottom line is I did a poor job preflighting and learned a lesson I'll never forget Flats suck!

I wish there was an easy way to check the tubes. A tube failure while landing on a soft sod strip bent the left landing gear tube on my 2005 CTSW.

Originally Posted by acresflyer

I wish there was an easy way to check the tubes. A tube failure while landing on a soft sod strip bent the left landing gear tube on my 2005 CTSW.

Yea that blows. We changed the tube and tire. The reason for the flat was the tire was so worn (like bicycle tire gets) the threads were showing and a sharp rock finished it off. I never heard of a tube failure with a good tire... what happened?