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New aircraft models demonstrate the ability to land in crosswind conditions of 50+ knots and varying angles to reach the certification crosswind component. The crosswind component is an operating limit that is published in the AFM (Aircraft Flight Manual). Many of the youtube vids of aircraft dealing with extreme crosswind conditions are actually flight test videos from those certification tests.
The crosswind component takes into account the ability of a qualified flight crew to manage the touchdown without excessive off-runway headings, or bank angles that would cause an engine or wing to contact the runway.
Tires are cheap - and slippery at touchdown when the energy involved is instantly transferred to the contact surface of the tire and runway. This relieves the structural stress on the landing gear itself to within design limits. As the touchdown progresses and full aircraft weight is transferred to the tires (once wing spoilers deploy) friction increases and helps straighten out the direction the aircraft is traveling.
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