15
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?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
thompson.brian25d 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.
3
the_tara25d 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.
4