Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Equipment / Tooling
We flew what we thought was a normal flight. We parked and shutdown the aircraft. As the agent moved the jetway a large bang was heard. My immediate thought was that the jetway had struck the airplane; however the Ramp Agent told me that my nose tires had exploded. Not really sure what that meant; I went downstairs to look at the tires. I saw two slices on each tire; horizontally across the tire; looking toward the tire from the front. The top slice was not that severe; but the bottom slice was large enough to cut into the sidewall and ran the width of the tire. The Ramp Agent suggested that the electro tug could slice the tires if the leading edge of the metal lip was too sharp. We departed from the previous airport and they used a similar tug to push us back. I noticed no abnormal nosewheel issues during taxi out; takeoff; landing; and taxi in. I have no idea what happened for sure; but I reported the discrepancy to Maintenance. I have a photo that I attached.We rely on the ground staff to properly service our airplane. If they make an error; it is understood that they will notify the crew to properly have it serviced. If the damage to the nosewheel did in fact happen at the previous airport; the whole flight (unknowingly to us) was unsafe.
After gate arrival following a normal flight; the nose tires exploded and upon examination two large horizontal cuts were discovered across the tire possibly caused by the previous airport's pushback tug.