Global airlines are likely to accelerate the cost-effective use of radial tyres, according to two leading tyre companies, Goodyear and Michelin.
"The time is right to go radial. Cost-conscious airlines can easily justify the switch from bias-ply tyres," said Donald Roulett, global marketing manager for aviation tyres.
For instance, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot announced at the show that it has selected Goodyear radial-ply nose and main gear tyres for its new fleet of Airbus A320s.
Aeroflot's selection comes on the heels of a radial tyre study at Southwest Airlines that showed that the nose landing gear on is fleet of 133 Boeing 737-700s registered 28% more landings per tread compared to bias-ply tyres, added Roulett.
Rival tyre manufacturer, Michelin says it expects that 60percent of the commercial aircraft delivered this year will be fitted with radial tyres, compared to 46 percent in 2001.
Source: Flight Daily News
