We’re not gentle on aircraft tires, and given the cost, we don’t like replacing them, either. From Michelin comes the latest Pilot tire, sporting the latest design in bias ply GA rubber, boasting true tracking, reduced weight and extra long life. Here’s a look at the design, with tips on tire care.
Not a radial
Product development engineering manager at Michelin’s Americas Research Center, Mark Hiscott, told us that the GA and airline tire markets are separated by radial and bias technology. And there are distinct advantages to radial tires (and requirements for wheel fitment and compatibility), including a structural makeup that allows for a flatter footprint with more contact area and optimized wear. Because the tire cords extend from one side of the wheel to the other (rather than angled across) there’s less material—which means lighter—with a similar safety factor that biased tires offer.