They’re solidly sturdy tires and they’re changed out really regularly. I haven’t stabbed one with a knife, but I’d say that starting at the tread a tire’s rubber probably starts at half an inch thick. The whole of the landing gear on a given plane is designed to be super robust. Sure they seem small attached to a big-ass airplane but tire inflation aside they also have a set of hydraulics that both lock it into place but also an oil-air strut carefully designed to take the brunt of the force of landing.
Source: I’m an A&P mechanic.
Latest Answers