When it comes to the weight of aircraft parts, few people think about such seemingly “small” elements as landing gear wheels. However, for engineers, mechanics and even pilots, this parameter is of critical importance: the load on the runway, fuel calculations and even landing safety depend on it. The weight of an aircraft wheel varies from several kilograms for light sports models to almost half a ton like giants Airbus A380 or Antonov An-225.

In this article we will analyze in detail how much an aircraft wheel weighs, depending on the type of aircraft, material of manufacture and purpose. You will find out why the chassis Boeing 747 weighs more than Boeing 737, how the load on a wheel during landing is calculated, and why even a “small” business jet wheel can weigh as much as an adult. And at the end - answers to the most frequently asked questions, including myths about “rubber” that “bursts” from overload.

Why the weight of an airplane wheel is important: technical nuances

At first glance, a wheel is just a round piece of rubber on a metal disk. But in aviation, every gram counts. Chassis weight affects:

  • 🔹 Maximum take-off weight — the heavier the landing gear, the less payload the aircraft can carry.
  • 🔹 Length of run and run — heavy wheels require more energy to spin up during takeoff and braking during landing.
  • 🔹 Runway wear and tear - for example, at the airport JFK (New York) chassis Boeing 777 leaves a load on the asphalt up to 25 tons per wheel.
  • 🔹 Maintenance cost - replacing the wheel with Airbus A350 costs airlines $10 000–$15 000 per piece.

In addition, the weight of a wheel is directly related to its resource. For example, wheels Boeing 737 Classic (models -300/-400/-500) are designed for 300–500 landings, and the wheels Airbus A320neo - up to 800 thanks to improved materials. Moreover, the weight of one wheel of these models differs almost twice!

⚠️ Attention: Don't confuse the weight wheels (tires + disk) and weight the entire landing gear (wheel + shock absorber + hydraulics). For example, at Boeing 787 Dreamliner one wheel weighs ~120 kg, and the entire main stand weighs more than 1.5 tons.

Below is a table with wheel weights for the most common airliner models. Data is based on manufacturers' technical documentation (Boeing, Airbus, Embraer) and airline service manuals. Please note that weight may vary slightly depending on the modification and year of manufacture.

Airplane model Wheel type Weight of one wheel (kg) Number of wheels on chassis Max. wheel load (tons)
Boeing 737-800 Main gear 65–75 4 12,5
Airbus A320neo Basics 70–80 4 14,0
Boeing 777-300ER Main (double) 110–120 12 (6 racks × 2 wheels) 22,0
Airbus A350-900 Basic (carbon disc) 95–105 6 18,5
Boeing 747-8 Basic (four wheel cart) 140–160 16 (4 trolleys × 4 wheels) 25,0

Please note Boeing 747-8: its chassis includes four wheel carts, which allows you to distribute the weight of the aircraft (up to 447 tons) over a large area. Moreover, each wheel weighs as much as two motorcycles!

📊 Which plane surprised you with its wheel weight?
Boeing 737 (65–75 kg)
Airbus A320 (70–80 kg)
Boeing 777 (110–120 kg)
Airbus A380 (180–200 kg)

What are airplane wheels made of: materials and their effect on weight

The weight of the wheel depends not only on the size, but also on the materials. Modern aircraft wheels consist of:

  1. Disc (rim) - usually made from:
    • 🔸 Aluminum alloys (for example, 7075-T6) - lightweight, but less durable. Used in Boeing 737 Classic.
    • 🔸 Titanium alloys - 30% stronger than aluminum, but more expensive. Used in Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.
    • 🔸 Carbon fiber - the lightest and most durable solution (weight is reduced by 20–25%), but extremely expensive. Used in the latest models, e.g. Airbus A321XLR.
  • Rubber (tread) - special mixtures based on:
    • 🔸 Natural rubber - resistant to high temperatures (up to +200°C when braking).
    • 🔸 Synthetic rubber - cheaper, but less wear-resistant. Used in training aircraft.
    • 🔸 Kevlar threads — added to protect against punctures (for example, when stones hit the runway).

    Fun fact: wheels Boeing 787 Dreamliner 15% lighter than similar sizes thanks to the use of carbon fiber in the disc. This allowed us to save ~500 kg on the entire chassis, which is equal to the weight 5 passengers with luggage!

    💡

    If you ever see a “bald” airplane wheel, don’t be alarmed! This is normal: the tread wears down to the metal indicators, after which the wheel is sent to be rebuilt. Unlike car tires, aircraft wheels do not “explode” when worn out, but simply lose traction.

    How to calculate the load on a wheel: formulas and examples

    The load on each aircraft wheel is calculated using the formula:

    

    Load (kg) = (Max. take-off weight (kg) × Distribution coefficient) / Number of wheels

    Where distribution coefficient depends on the chassis design:

    • 📌 For bow struts — 0,05–0,1 (5–10% of aircraft weight).
    • 📌 For main racks — 0,45–0,5 (45–50% weight).

    Example for Boeing 737-800:

    • Max. takeoff weight: 79,000 kg.
    • Number of main wheels: 4.
    • Coefficient: 0,47.
    • Wheel load: (79,000 × 0.47) / 4 ≈ 9,100 kg (9.1 tons).

    This means that when landing, each wheel Boeing 737 withstands a weight equivalent to two elephants! At the same time, the wheel itself weighs only 65–75 kg - less than 1% of the load it holds.

    Why don't airplane wheels burst from such weight?

    The secret is in the design: the pressure in an airplane tire reaches 14–16 bar (6-8 times higher than a car tire), and the cord is made of ultra-strong fibers. In addition, the wheel does not “carry” the weight of the aircraft - this role is performed by the shock absorber strut. The wheel only transfers the load to the strip.

    How much does a wheel from military and cargo aircraft weigh?

    Military and cargo aircraft have unique landing gear requirements. Their wheels must withstand:

    • 🎯 Landing on dirt strips (for example, Antonov An-2 or Lockheed C-130 Hercules).
    • 🎯 Overload up to 6G when maneuvering (fighters Su-27, F-16).
    • 🎯 Extreme temperatures (from -50°C in the Arctic until +50°C in the desert).

    Examples of wheel weights:

    Airplane model Type Wheel weight (kg) Features
    Antonov An-2 Cargo (low pressure) 40–50 Wide tread for landing on snow/sand
    Lockheed C-130 Hercules Military transport 90–100 Reinforced discs for parachute landing
    Su-35 Fighter 25–30 Small diameter but withstands speeds up to 300 km/h when retracting the landing gear
    Antonov An-225 "Mriya" Freight (record holder) 180–200 32 wheels (8 per rack)

    Wheel Antonov An-225 weighs almost as much as a car (for example, Lada Granta), but at the same time withstands a load of up to 30 tons - 150 times its own weight!

    How to change wheels on airplanes: process and tools

    Changing an airplane tire is not like “changing a tire at a gas station in 15 minutes.” The process takes from 1 to 4 hours and requires:

    Raise the aircraft on jacks (load up to 500 tons)|Relieve the pressure in the landing gear hydraulics|Remove the brake pads (weight up to 20 kg each)|Disconnect the ABS and anti-skid system sensors|Install a new wheel and balance it (imbalance tolerance - 0.1 mm)-->

    Tools that mechanics use:

    • 🔧 Hydraulic jacks - raise the plane to a height of up to 3 meters.
    • 🔧 Torque wrenches - for tightening nuts with a torque of up to 1,200 Nm.
    • 🔧 Balancing stands — check the imbalance to within 1 gram.
    • 🔧 Thermal imagers - control the temperature of the brakes (overheating is higher 300°C prohibited).

    The cost of replacing one wheel per Airbus A330 on average is $8 000–$12 000, including operation and diagnostics. At the same time, the service life of the new wheel is up to 1,000 landings (or 5 years, whichever comes first).

    ⚠️ Attention: After replacing a wheel, be sure to leak test: the wheel is inflated to 18 bar and check for leaks within 30 minutes. Even a microcrack can lead to rupture during landing!

    Myths and truth about airplane wheels

    There are many myths associated with aircraft wheels. Let's look at the most popular ones:

    • ❌ Myth 1: “Airplane wheels are filled with nitrogen, not air.”

      ✅ Truth: Nitrogen is used only in wheels military fighters (for example, F-22 Raptor) to prevent fire at high temperatures. In civil aviation, conventional compressed air with a dehumidifier is used.

    • ❌ Myth 2: “The wheels of the plane rotate when the landing gear is retracted.”

      ✅ Truth: The wheels are blocked by hydraulic brakes immediately after lifting off the runway. Rotation in flight would cause the bearings to overheat (temperatures could reach +500°C).

    • ❌ Myth 3: “Airplane wheels are made of the same rubber as car tires.”

      ✅ Truth: Aviation rubber contains 30–40% natural rubber (against 0–5% in tires) and reinforced with Kevlar cord. It can withstand heat up to +200°C without destruction.

    💡

    The main difference between aircraft wheels and automobile wheels is mileage resource. A tire wears out within 50–80 thousand km, and a wheel Boeing 777 — for 500–800 landings (which is equivalent to ~500 thousand km of “run” along the runway).

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the weight of aircraft wheels

    🔹 Why are airplane wheels so small compared to the weight of the airplane?

    The diameter of the wheels is limited by the dimensions of the chassis and the speed of retraction (the larger the wheel, the longer it takes to retract). For example, at Boeing 747 wheel diameter - total 1.2 meters, although the plane weighs 400 tons. Instead of increasing the size of wheels, engineers add more wheels (e.g. Airbus A380 - 22 wheels).

    🔹 How much does a wheel from the largest airplane in the world weigh?

    U Antonov An-225 "Mriya" (the largest aircraft in history) each wheel weighs 180–200 kg, and the diameter reaches 1.3 meters. In this case, the chassis consists of 32 wheels (8 for each of the 4 struts), which allows you to distribute the weight of the aircraft (640 tons) over a large area.

    🔹 Is it possible to use wheels from a Boeing 737 on an Airbus A320?

    No, despite similar dimensions, the wheels are not interchangeable due to differences in:

    • 🔸 Landing sensors (different connectors).
    • 🔸 Brake systems (y Airbus system is used Brake-by-Wire).
    • 🔸 Tire pressure (Boeing 737 — 14 bar, Airbus A320 — 15.5 bar).
    🔹 Why do airplane wheels smoke when landing?

    Smoke comes from instant heating of rubber upon contact with the strip. When landing at speed 250–300 km/h tread temperature reaches +150–200°C, and some of the rubber burns (this is normal). B Boeing 777 To reduce smoke, use special graphite lubricants on brake discs.

    🔹 How much does an airplane wheel cost?

    The price depends on the model:

    • 💰 Boeing 737 / Airbus A320 — $5 000–$8 000 per wheel.
    • 💰 Boeing 777 / Airbus A350 — $10 000–$15 000.
    • 💰 Antonov An-124 - up to $20 000 (due to reinforced structure).

    The price includes not only the wheel itself, but also certification, since each product must meet the standards FAA (USA) or EASA (Europe).