Incident Description
As the airplane accelerated to 100 knots for takeoff, the ANTISKID INOP light illuminated. The crew continued the takeoff, observing no other anomalies. After leveling off at FL330, air traffic control informed the crew that tire fragments had been found on the runway, indicating a possible tire failure during takeoff. Shortly thereafter, the crew noticed that hydraulic system A was losing fluid. The decision was made to divert to the closest suitable airport. After declaring an emergency, the crew performed an overweight landing using 40 degrees of flaps. The airplane was allowed to roll almost the full length of the runway and stopped on a taxiway, after which it was towed to the gate.
Inspection Findings
Post-incident inspection revealed that the tread on the right outboard tire had separated. The separated tread struck the inboard and midspan flaps, necessitating their replacement. Additionally, the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer was struck and required replacement.
Probable Cause
The tire was examined by Goodyear, which reported that "the most likely cause of the tread separation is [severe] overdeflection [underinflation and/or overloading] during use in service."