Airplane burnouts, not exactly, but cleaning rubber off runways

masraum · 06:35 AM

This is something that I've never heard about. It's fairly obvious based on the skid marks on the runways, but very interesting.

According to the video, each tire leaves ~1.5# of rubber on the runway at each landing. On average a plane has ~8 tires, so each landing deposits ~12# per landing. An Airbus A380 has 22 tires so leaves over 30# of rubber per landing. According to the video, JFK airport gets ~13,000# of rubber deposited every day.

A930Rocket · 08-10-2025, 05:22 AM

I read an article recently about this. I had no idea that much rubber was being laid down by the airplanes.

masraum · 08-10-2025, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I read an article recently about this. I had no idea that much rubber was being laid down by the airplanes.

Right, that's A LOT of rubber!

3rd_gear_Ted · 3rd_gear_Ted's Garage

The Indiana Jones ride @ Disneyland has to vacuum the tracks every night due to tire wear.

berettafan · 08-10-2025, 07:22 AM

I know a guy in this business. said his contracting company cleaned runways. didn't realize what he meant until now!

john70t · 08-10-2025, 07:37 AM

There are methods (not used) available to spin up the tires such as motors and fans.

The B-52 is one of the few that turn it's wheels into the path. Extra weight and engineering.
Probably makes a significant difference.

Zeke · 08-10-2025, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

There are methods (not used) available to spin up the tires such as motors and fans.

The B-52 is one of the few that turn it's wheels into the path. Extra weight and engineering.
Probably makes a significant difference.

For both the plane and the runway.

Steve Carlton · 08-10-2025, 09:07 AM

I sold an XC70 to a company that measures rubber residue on runways. They took it to Sweden to have an arm with a wheel on the end of it that would lower the wheel to the pavement to measure the friction. Then they painted it yellow and sold it to SFO. I had a picture of it and I posted it, but I can't find it. It would be a good time for the yellow car thread, too.

rockfan4 · 08-10-2025, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I sold an XC70 to a company that measures rubber residue on runways. They took it to Sweden to have an arm with a wheel on the end of it that would lower the wheel to the pavement to measure the friction. Then they painted it yellow and sold it to SFO. I had a picture of it and I posted it, but I can't find it. It would be a good time for the yellow car thread, too.

There was a SAAB on Bring a Trailer back in December. It sold for $7695. Looks like it was used at Salt Lake City.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-saab-9-5-5/

Steve Carlton · 08-10-2025, 12:46 PM

Looks like the same deal. I can't believe I can't search out the XC70 photo.

ted · ted's Garage

This and they have a runway surface test to determine aircraft braking effectiveness before and after the rubber removal.
The commercial airport I worked at had only one runway was too busy during the day so so had to do it middle of the night.
It builds up on both ends of the runway as wind and weather minimums required landing either direction.