Landing Field and Hangar Floor Condition  Operation and Handling Tips Taxiing  Takeoffs and Landings Braking and Pivoting 13-93 Figure 13-160.  Heavy braking during an aborted takeoff caused  these tires to fail.  during a turn rather than pivoting the aircraft with a locked  brake around a fixed main wheel tire. Aircraft tires experience longer life if operated in a manner  to conserve wear and minimize damage. The most important  factor impinging on tire performance and wear, as well as  resistance to damage is proper inflation. Always inflate tires  to the specified level before flight for maximum performance  and minimal damage. An improperly inflated tire has  increased potential to fail upon landing due to the high  impact loads experienced. The following sections include  other suggestions that can extend the life and the investment  made in aircraft tires.  One of the main contributions made to the welfare of aircraft  tires is good upkeep of airport runway and taxiway surfaces,  as well as all ramp areas and hangar floors. While the  technician has little input into runway and taxiway surface  upkeep, known defects in the paved surfaces can be avoided  and rough surfaces can be negotiated at slower than normal  speeds to minimize tire damage. Ramps and hangar floors  should be kept free of all foreign objects that may cause tire  damage. This requires continuous diligence on the part of  all aviation personnel. Do not ignore foreign object damage  (FOD). When discovered, action must be taken to remove  it. While FOD to engines and propellers gains significant  attention, much damage to tires is avoidable if ramp areas  and hangar floors are kept clean. Needless tire damage and excessive wear can be prevented  by proper handling of the aircraft during taxi. Most of the  gross weight of an aircraft is on the main landing gear wheels.  Aircraft tires are designed and inflated to absorb the shock of  landing by deflection of the sidewalls two to three times as  much as that found on an automobile tire. While this enables  the tire to handle heavy loads, it also causes more working of  the tread and produces scuffing action along the outer edges  of the tread that results in more rapid wear. It also leaves  the tire more prone to damage as the tread compound opens  during this flexing. An aircraft tire that strikes a chuck hole, a stone, or some  other foreign object is more likely to sustain a cut, snag, or  bruise than an automobile tire due to its more flexible nature.  There is also increased risk for internal tire injury when a  tire leaves the paved surface of the taxi way. These incidents  should be avoided. Dual or multiple wheel main gear should  be operated so that all tires remain on the paved surface so  the weight of the aircraft is evenly distributed between the  tires. When backing an aircraft on a ramp for parking, care  should be taken to stop the aircraft before the main wheels  roll off of the paved surface.  Aircraft tires are under severe strain during takeoff and  landing. Under normal conditions, with proper control and  maintenance of the tires, they are able to withstand these  stresses and perform as designed.  Most tire failures occur during takeoff which can be  extremely dangerous. Tire damage on takeoff is often  the result of running over some foreign object. Thorough  preflight inspection of the tires and wheels, as well as  maintenance of hangar and ramp surfaces free of foreign  objects, are keys to prevention of takeoff tire failure. A flat  spot caused on the way to the runway may lead to tire failure  during takeoff. Heavy braking during aborted takeoffs is  also a common cause of takeoff tire failure.  [Figure 13-160] Taxiing for long distances or at high speeds increase  the temperature of aircraft tires. This makes them more  susceptible to wear and damage. Short taxi distances at  moderate speeds are recommended. Caution should also be  used to prevent riding the brakes while taxiing, which adds  unnecessary heat to the tires.  Heavy use of aircraft brakes introduces heat into the tires.  Sharp radius turns do the same and increase tread abrasion  and side loads on the tire. Plan ahead to allow the aircraft to  slow without heavy braking and make large radius turns to  avoid these conditions. Objects under a tire are ground into  the tread during a pivot. Since many aircraft are primarily  maneuvered on the ground via differential braking, efforts  should be made to always keep the inside wheel moving 