Replacement Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Tires
Ground support equipment (GSE) tires are engineered to deliver greater stability, traction, and safety than conventional tires, ensuring that your essential equipment is ready to roll whenever you need it!
Regularly maintaining GSE tires is critical to ensuring safe ground operations. Insufficient tire pressure, tread wear, or structural damage can compromise the maneuverability, stability, and braking performance of the tires, leading to dangerous accidents or equipment damage.
PJi provides a wide selection of replacement GSE tires for aircraft tugs, baggage carts and tractors, cargo dollies, and more! We offer premium-quality tires from top manufacturers like Camso, a Michelin® Group company.
If you need help selecting the right tires for your ground support equipment, our friendly and knowledgeable aviation specialists will be happy to assist you. Call or chat with us today!
What are some common causes of tire failure on ground support equipment, and how can they be prevented?
Common causes of GSE tire failure include punctures or cuts, overloading, incorrect inflation, lack of maintenance, age and wear, improper storage, lack of training and awareness, and environmental factors.
To increase the longevity of your GSE tires:
- Regularly inspect the working area and remove any sharp objects, debris, or foreign materials that could cause punctures or cuts in the tires.
- Ensure that the weight being transported or supported by your GSE is within the tire’s specified load capacity. Check that the equipment’s weight distribution is balanced across all tires.
- Periodically check and maintain proper tire inflation according to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
- Establish a routine maintenance schedule that includes regular visual inspections, tread depth checks, alignment, tire rotation, and balancing.
- Replace tires that have exceeded their recommended service life or those that exhibit signs of significant wear, cracking, or other visible damage.
- Store tires in a clean, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and corrosive substances.
- Conduct training programs to educate operators on proper tire care, maintenance, load limits, and safe operating procedures.
- Whenever possible, minimize exposure to extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, prolonged exposure to sunlight, or harsh chemicals, any of which could accelerate tire deterioration.
Are there any specific tread patterns recommended for different types of GSE operations or surfaces?
Ribbed tread patterns – featuring longitudinal grooves, or ribs, running around the circumference of the tire – provide excellent steering control and minimal rolling resistance, making them suitable for smooth, hard surfaces such as airport tarmacs or concrete aprons. Ribbed GSE tires are commonly used on aircraft baggage carts.
Lug tread patterns – designed with large, deep grooves (called lugs) – provide enhanced traction and grip, making them ideal for use on uneven or rough terrains such as unpaved surfaces, gravel, or grassy areas. Lug tires are often used on ground support equipment like aircraft tow tractors and baggage tractors.
How do you know when it’s time to replace your GSE tires?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer as to when to replace your GSE tires. However, Camso offers some general guidelines based on the type of GSE tire you’re using:
- Press-On Tires: Camso recommends replacing smooth Press-On tires when the overall rubber height reaches two-thirds of the original rubber height. This dimension can be found on Camso’s published specification sheets.
- Resilient Tires: As long as they are undamaged, Resilient tires can be worn down to the 60-J line, as indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Wearing beyond the 60-J line represents a safety hazard and can lead to unexpected tire failure as well as potential damage to your equipment. Certain Solideal branded tires also feature a wear indicator.
- Pneumatic Tires: Undamaged pneumatic tires can be used until the tread layer has been worn away. Wearing beyond the tread pattern is unsafe and can result in sudden tire failure, as well as potentially causing damage to your GSE.
