Can something like a waterwheel be installed on airplane wheels in order to get the wheels spinning to match the ground speed . . .?

I don't think weight is the issue, I think there would be too much drag at take off.

adding the mechanism would add permanent weight to the plane which would cost far more over time in wasted fuel than the cost of tires.

5 to 10 pounds is a very low estimate of the weight needed to produce a product strong enough to withstand the air pressure. OK, lets assume just 10 pounds. PER WHEEL! If a main gear has four wheels - that's 40 pounds. (each wheel can spin individual from the others) Two main gear struts - that's 80 pounds. The nose wheel - lets assume a mere 5 pounds of cast titanium - that's another 10 pounds. All in all for a small aircraft that's 90 pounds.

It's my opinion that for such an aircraft, such a device would likely run more like 40 to 80 pounds each. So that's 360 to 720 pounds. Flight attendants can lose their jobs if they weigh too much. Flying all that extra weight around is not cost affective.

I had this very thought back in the mid 70's when I did some work for Mac Donald Douglas. Only my solution was to mold into the tire itself the configuration of an anemometer. No need for extra weight. Still, the calculations came out that the cost to upgrade the wheels to such a configuration would make the tire 60% more costly. And the savings on tires would mount to less than 30%. Cost factors killed that idea before it even made it TO the drawing table.

I still agree - it would save the tires, but they would never match the ground speed, not without some elaborate mechanism to drive them up to speed. There'd always be tire wear upon landing. Tires are considered "consumables" in the world of aviation. And yes, like Stpaulyguy said, the devices would weigh so much so as to cost more money than they could save in tires. With the fluctuation of fuel prices - the matter gets even worse.

Good idea though. Keep thinking about things; that's how innovation takes place. For every GOOD idea there are hundreds if not thousands of bad ideas. Not "BAD" as "Horrible ideas" but ideas that don't make the cut.

Are you sure of your calculations Stpaulguy ? It would not take that much casted titanium, 5 - 10 lbs at most per wheel I would guess.