ACFT EQUIP PROB - THE FLC INSPECTED THE TIRES AND WHILE 1 OF THE L MAIN TIRES LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT THEY DEPARTED ANYWAY. AIR WAS ADDED TO BOTH L TIRES AT THE NEXT STATION.

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THIS EVENT STARTED ABOUT 4 MINS BEFORE DEP TIME WITH ME SEATED IN THE COCKPIT. THE PAX WERE ON BOARD AND THE FO JUST ENTERING THE COCKPIT. AS HE TOOK HIS SEAT HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THE L MAIN OUTBOARD TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT BE DOWN A LITTLE. AFTER FURTHER QUESTIONING HE INDICATED THAT IT WASN'T CRITICAL; BUT PERHAPS I SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I HAD NOT NOTICED ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY DURING MY WALK AROUND; YET I DECIDED TO GET OUT OF THE COCKPIT AND DOUBLE CHK THE TIRE. I INSPECTED THE TIRE CLOSELY AND FOUND NO DAMAGE OR OBVIOUS LACK OF INFLATION. ENRTE TO OUR DEST I HAD THE FO CALL THE COMPANY AND ARRANGE TO HAVE MAINT MEET THE ACFT AND FURTHER CHK THE INFLATION. THEY ARRIVED PLANE SIDE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD 100 LBS OF PRESSURE IN IT. THE PLACARD ON THE STRUT CALLS FOR 136 LBS UNDER A LOAD. AS IT TURNED OUT THE OTHER TIRE WAS ALSO DOWN A LITTLE AND THE MECH SERVICED IT AS WELL. I WROTE THE TIRE UP AS APPEARING AS IF IT MAY NEED AIR. THE MECH SIGNED OFF THE WRITE UP AND WAS ON HIS WAY. AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY ONE MIGHT CONCLUDE THAT ALL IS WELL; AS I DID FOR A WHILE. HOWEVER; AS I HAVE REFLECTED BACK OVER THIS STRING OF EVENTS IT BEGAN TO OCCUR TO ME THAT ALL MAY NOT BE WELL. IN RETROSPECT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOMEONE COULD MAKE A CASE FOR DEPARTING A POINT OR ORIGIN WITH A KNOWN DISCREPANCY. (REF THE CALL TO MAINT) I WILL ALSO ADMIT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE AN UNNECESSARY DELAY. I BELIEVE ONLY PRUDENCE AND JUDGEMENT CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT SUCH A DELAY IS NECESSARY. IN THE PAST I HAVE NOT HESITATED TO OFF LOAD PAX OR TAXI BACK AND CALL MAINT IF I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS NECESSARY AT THE TIME BASED ON THE APPEARANCE AND HARDNESS OF THE TIRE. CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF THOUGHT (AND LACK OF SLEEP) I HAVE GIVEN THIS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS; I HAVE RESOLVED TO BE EVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE IN REGARD TO AREAS THAT ARE NEITHER BLACK OF WHITE.