Zeev, in my former life as a Navy jet mechanic, I filled lots of tires with nitrogen on fighters, F8's. Tire pressure was as the shuttle. 26 ply tires had fusible plugs which melted and released tire pressure before tire could burst. One accident which resulted in the loss of an aircraft on landing did not result in burst tires. I can't find the photo to look at the tire but given shuttle speed 12k as opposed to my aircraft's landing speed in the hundred thirty knot range I would not rule out simple destruction by friction of the tire material.
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