EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF TYPE III EXPANDABLE TIRE.

Abstract : All three sizes are sidewall convoluted. The tires are cured in the folded configuration. Upon inflation the outside diameter expands 26% to 55%. The inflated tires are dimensionally similar to standard Type III aircraft tires and offer equivalent performance capabilities. A total of ten tires were sent to the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory (AFFDL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio for dynamic testing. The tires were tested to C-141 main tire missions in accordance with MIL-Dwg. 61F4307. One 12.50-16 expandable tire completed 57 taxi-take off cycles and 50 landing-taxi cycles. (Author)