Ever wonder why different aircraft have totally different landing gear? A small plane weighs maybe 2000 pounds, a jumbo jet weighs 700000. The larger the aircraft, the larger the wheels need to be. A jumbo jet uses 16 wheels spread across multiple gear units. Concrete and asphalt have weight limits per square inch. A Cessna or Piper has just one tire under each wing. A 737 uses multiple tires on each main gear strut. Ground personnel check tire pressure before every single flight. Small plane tires are made differently than jumbo jet tires. Landing generates intense heat from runway friction instantly. A jumbo jet tire might last only 400 landings. Spacing wheels farther apart prevents tipping during turns. Soft grass needs wider gear than hard concrete runways. Every aircraft's landing gear is engineered for its specific weight and runway.
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