While the word ‘retread’ may generally have a negative connotation, using retreaded or recapped tires is standard procedure in aviation and is regarded as being the most practical, economical, and safe method for maintaining proper landing gear function.
Some recapped tires will last for up to 100 landings, while others will last for less than that, but maintenance personnel and flight crews continually inspect tires for damage or wear. Additionally, visual ‘wear indicators’ on the tire itself offer ample evidence when a mandatory change is required.
The specific number of landings-per-tire is affected by such variable factors as weather, hard landings, cross-wind landings, anti-skid action, and rough or damaged runway surfaces. These can all have an effect on the condition of the rubber surrounding the tire’s core, even creating differences in tire condition from one set of landing gear to another on the same airplane. Yes, modern automobiles may be driven up to 50,000 miles on only one set of tires, but unlike airliners, those tires aren’t constantly being flown into concrete at 200 kilometers per hour!
