Definition
The pressure to which an aircraft tire is inflated when the tire is at ambient outside temperature and has not been heated by recent operation, such as taxi, takeoff, or landing. Tire pressure specifications in aircraft maintenance and operating manuals are stated as cold inflation values.
Plain English
The pressure a tire should have when it is cool and has not been used. Tires get hotter and read higher pressure after taxiing or landing, so the official number is always the cool reading.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft tire servicing instructions, maintenance manuals, and preflight tire-pressure checks.
Derivation
Inflation comes from a Latin word meaning “to blow into.” In this term, it means putting air into a tire. Cold does not mean icy; it means the tire has not been heated by recent use.
Why Pilots Care
Correct cold inflation prevents over- or under-pressurization once tires heat during operation, which protects tire life and maintains safe handling.
Grounding Statement
A tire checked right after landing may show a higher pressure than the same tire will show later after it cools.
Intuition Check
Cold does not mean below-freezing here. It means the tire is being measured before operating heat has raised its pressure.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic checked cold inflation on all three tires before the first flight of the morning.
Example Sentence 2
After landing, tire pressure was higher than the cold inflation value because the tires had heated during rollout.