B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
The aircraft takeoff weight was 160 Klbs; flaps 1; 24K engines with an assumed temperature of 34C. I performed the walk around prior to gate departure and there were no discrepancies noted. From the perspective in the cockpit; takeoff roll and rotation were normal. I was the pilot flying and the FO was monitoring. Neither I or the first officer noted any abnormal issues with the takeoff; cleanup or climbout. About 30 minutes after takeoff; one of the FA's called on the interphone to inform me that several PAX on the right side; mid-cabin in coach had heard a loud bang and felt something as the airplane took off. The FAs in the back did not report feeling or hearing anything themselves.Upon receiving this information we rechecked all indications in the cockpit and did not find anything unusual with any of the systems. Since no one in the crew could confirm anything reported by the passengers; we decided we would continue. We reviewed the information in the QRH regarding landing with a bad main gear tire. The main point being to make a normal landing; but not to use the auto brake system. We briefed a 40 flap landing with the auto brakes off. The touchdown was normal and I deployed the thrust reversers and then gently applied the brakes. The aircraft pulled slightly to the right and we could feel the bad tire rotating on the right side. We cleared the runway and taxied slowly to the gate.After parking; we joined maintenance inspecting the tire and the damage. The inboard tire on the right side had sustained catastrophic damage and there were rubber marks on the fuselage behind the wing and up just below the cabin windows. There appeared to be some damage to the skin of the plane; but pressurization had been normal throughout the flight.
[Report narrative contained no additional information].
B737-800 flight crew reported the right inboard main gear tire failed on takeoff.