What does excessive wear in the center of the tread of an aircraft tire indicate?

Excessive wear in the center of the tread of an aircraft tire typically indicates overinflation. When a tire is overinflated, the pressure causes the tire to bulge in the middle, leading to increased contact with the runway at the center of the tire tread. As a result, this central area experiences more friction and wear compared to the edges, resulting in uneven tread wear patterns.

Monitoring tire wear is crucial for aircraft safety and performance. Proper inflation is essential to ensure even strain across the tire surface. In contrast, underinflation would typically lead to wear along the edges of the tire tread, while normal wear would be more uniform across the tire surface in accordance with the design parameters. Excessive loading can contribute to wear, but its primary effect would relate more often to tire sidewalls or bead damage, not specifically to excessive center tread wear. Thus, identifying overinflation through central tread wear is key in maintaining tire integrity and operational safety.