What are the advantages and disadvantages of using tubeless tires versus tubed tires on landing gear?

Tubeless tires also have lower rolling resistance, which means they require less force to move and can improve the acceleration and braking performance of the aircraft. Moreover, tubeless tires are less prone to blowouts or flats, because they do not have an inner tube that can burst or leak

Tires without an inner tube use a unique sealant to stop air loss. When compared to tube-type tires, they provide advantages such as lighter weight, more safety, and better fuel efficiency. Although installation involves some stages, overall upkeep is reduced.

Tubeless tires on planes are great because they resist punctures, handle high speeds, and are easier to handle. They save weight and are used more on big planes now. But they need a special rim, are harder to put on, and might leak air. Small planes still use tubed tires because they're simpler and cheaper.

Tubeless tires on landing gear offer advantages like weight savings, less heat buildup, and reduced risk of punctures, as they don’t have an inner tube that could deflate suddenly. They also require less maintenance and have lower rolling resistance, which can improve performance. However, they tend to be more expensive upfront, more challenging to repair in case of damage, and may suffer from slow air leaks around the rim. Additionally, they require specific rims for an airtight seal, and mounting them can be more complex compared to tubed tires, which are simpler to replace but may be more vulnerable to punctures.

1. Weight Reduction: Lighter than tubed tires as they do not require an inner tube, leading to overall weight reduction on the aircraft. 2. Reduced Blowout Risk: Less likely to experience sudden blowouts compared to tubed tires. 3.Enhanced Heat Dissipation: Better at dissipating heat than tubed tires, helping to prevent overheating during high-speed taxiing and landings. 4.Lower Maintenance: Less maintenance as there is no inner tube to inspect, replace, or inflate separately. This can result in reduced maintenance costs and less downtime for the aircraft. 5.Improved Sealing: Superior sealing properties, reducing air leakage and maintaining tire pressure more effectively over time.

Less maintenance time , no extra inspection of tubes required only the tyre is inspected hence saving turnover time during maintenance.

Tubeless tyres rely on an airtight seal between the tyre bead and the rim, making them more sensitive to rim damage or imperfections that could compromise the seal and cause air leakage. In one aircraft maintenance review, we discovered that slight damage to the rim caused by foreign object debris on the runway had compromised the seal on a tubeless tyre, leading to a slow but persistent air leak. This issue required frequent pressure checks and eventually necessitated the replacement of both the rim and tyre. The sensitivity of tubeless tyres to such imperfections can lead to increased maintenance requirements and potential operational disruptions, highlighting a significant disadvantage compared to tubed tyres, which are more forgiving.

Switching to tubeless tires introduces challenges: sealing them properly can be tricky, especially with less-than-perfect rims, leading to air leaks. Installation and repairs require more effort and sometimes special tools, complicating quick fixes. Moreover, the higher cost of tubeless tires, both initially and for maintenance, adds to the consideration. Despite their advantages, these practical issues can make tubeless tires a less appealing option in some situations.

Tubed tires have been used on aircrafts for a long time. They are easier to repair, and they cost less. All a punctured tubed tire needs is another tube, but tubeless tires have been used by many large aircrafts recently majorly because they are lighter and they allow the aircraft to carry more payload.

From my perspective, tubed tires hold their ground for simplicity and practicality, especially when you're in less-than-ideal conditions. The ease of repairing them stands out; a puncture usually means just swapping or patching the tube, and you're back in action. They're also forgiving when it comes to rim imperfections, a real boon if you're dealing with older or rugged equipment. This tolerance means less worry about air leaks due to minor rim issues. Moreover, for certain applications, the initial lower cost of tubed tires can be a decisive factor, offering savings upfront. Their straightforward maintenance and repairability offer a form of reliability that's hard to overlook, especially when quick fixes are a necessity.

In my experience, transitioning to tubeless tires on aircraft offers clear advantages and notable drawbacks. The enhanced safety from reduced blowout risks and better heat dissipation with tubeless tires is significant. They're lighter, aiding fuel efficiency, but the challenges lie in maintenance. Achieving a perfect seal can be tricky due to rim imperfections, leading to air leaks, which are less of an issue with tubed tires. Installation and repair of tubeless tires demand more precision and can be less feasible in remote locations or under tight deadlines. Despite their benefits, the maintenance and repair complexities of tubeless tires are keenly felt in the field, balancing out their advantages with real-world practicality concerns.

Tubeless tyres have lower rolling resistance due to the absence of friction between the inner tube and the tyre, improving fuel efficiency during taxiing and takeoff. In a fuel consumption study with tubeless tyres on a fleet of business jets, I observed a marginal reduction in fuel burn during taxi and takeoff. The lower rolling resistance contributed to smoother taxiing and marginally improved operational efficiency. Some older landing gear systems are not compatible with tubeless tyres due to their specific rim design and structural requirements, necessitating modifications. In a retrofit project for older regional jets, the landing gear rim dimensions were incompatible with the new tubeless tyres necessitating prompt action.

The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter integrates tube and tubeless tires in its landing gear system to enhance performance across different components. The tail landing gear has a 15 x 6.00-6 tube-type tire, offering superior maneuverability and flexibility for ground operations. In contrast, the main landing gear, located on either side of the fuselage, features 26 x 10.0-11 tubeless tires designed to withstand heavier loads and enhance heat dissipation during demanding operations. This combination allows the UH-60 to perform efficiently across various terrains, with the tubeless tires ensuring durability under high loads, while the tube-type tire in the tail provides the adaptability required for precise ground handling.