Date: 201902
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Main Gear Tire
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: First Officer was flying. After V1 (Takeoff Decision Speed) upon rotation I felt a slight side to side vibration which continued after rotation and then stopped.  There was a heavy aircraft that departed right before us; I was debating that if it was the wake turbulence since it continued after rotation. Before retracting Gear BTMS (Brake Temperature Monitoring System) was also normal. As a precaution I kept thinking if it could be one of our tires; I talked to my FO (First Officer) and discussed landing with a precaution and briefed using longest runway available; use of thrust reversers and not braking hard just in case if  there is an issue with the tire. In the meantime; there was no complaint from both the flight attendants or any passengers about any abnormality or noise. Runway XXR was favoring our landing and was appropriate for our landing and wind direction. First Officer greased the landing but we both felt the same vibration we had upon rotation; we brought the aircraft to a safe stop then exited the runway and slowly taxied to [the gate at our destination]; brake temperatures were 1121. After deplaning passengers; me and First Officer went for a post walk with our flashlights and discovered the reason for vibration; outboard right main landing gear almost half of the tire rubber was missing. Noticed scuff marks on the flap fairing and top of the inboard flap. I came back and contacted Dispatch and asked to inform [our origin airport] for possible tire tread on the runway while I was talking to Dispatch; First Officer also contacted [the destination's] Tower to inform them of possible debris on the runway. Tire in question held pressure and was inflated with missing rubber. I would like to mention that as a crew that night we had a great CRM (Crew Resource Management) and were well prepared. It was our first flight on that aircraft that night.I think in any abnormal situation crew is tested and that night with discussion and agreement with reason; we both chose the most safest outcome to bring the passenger; crew and aircraft to the safety as normal as possible. I also asked the flight attendants after landing if they heard any noise or felt any vibration or if any passengers that were sitting on that side of the tire said anything to them; the both said they did not feel or heard anything.




Synopsis: CRJ-900 Captain reported vibration during takeoff. After landing; it was discovered that the main landing gear tire had missing tread.