On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:05:03 -0700, "Seth Masia"
wrote:

I can't conceive of an operational situation that would cause a steel cord
to come adrift from inside the molded rubber.

I can. I was an auto mechanic for 9 years. Tires that had steel
reinforced tread could and did expose them if the tires were run at
low pressure for too long. Happened all the time. Don't see why
airplane tires wouldn't become damaged in the same manner if run with
low pressure.

The tire pressure for a Cessna 172S is 35 psi mains and 43 psi front
according to the POH. Last time I flew the rental, which was during
my biennial flight review a few weeks ago, I noticed the front tire
was low. The instructor had a pressure guage with him and admonished
me to keep one with me at all times myself. We found the front tire
was at 8 psi and both mains were around 10.

According to the CFI, land a bit cockeyed with tire pressures that low
and you could easily blow out a tire.

Corky Scott