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Just read that a single 737 tire can hold up to 900 PSI, which is way more than I guessed.
I was flipping through an old maintenance manual from the hangar library and saw the pressure spec for the main gear tires. I always knew they were high, but that number really hit me, it's like six times what my car tires take. Does anyone know why they need to be pumped up so much more than other big plane tires?
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michaels956d ago
Thompson.brian is right about the landing load, but saying the tire needs to be "almost solid" is a bit off. That much pressure is to keep the tire's shape rigid so it doesn't overheat and fail from the flexing during takeoff and landing rolls. It's more about handling the high speeds and preventing a blowout from heat than just being hard for the initial impact.
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thompson.brian1mo ago
Yeah, "six times what my car tires take" is a wild comparison. It's all about the landing load. That plane hits the ground HARD and fast, so the tire needs to be almost solid to not squish flat and blow out on impact. The pressure lets it carry all that weight on a relatively small contact patch.
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the_tara1mo ago
Imagine trying to fill that thing at a gas station air pump. You'd be there all day just trying to hit 200 psi, let alone whatever insane number they need. Makes you appreciate the guys who have to work on those tires, that's for sure.
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