B787 premature tyre failure VH-VKA

[Philip Argy]

Congratulations to the ATSB on issuing such a prompt report on VH-VKA's tyre failures on departure from SIN on 13 May 2017:

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5773407...-051-final.pdf

What is of concern is Michelin's apparent blaming of grooved runways as the culprit instead of a manufacturing flaw in the tyres. Although only the flap drive was broken in this incident, it is not hard to conjure up another Concorde disaster if the thrown tread had penetrated fuel tanks instead of just destroying the flap drive torque tube.

[Mick F]

I haven't read it, but maybe Michelin need to take grooved runways into account when they design their tyres. It's not like grooved runways are uncommon.