A tire snubber, as we call it. Or brake gear? As others call it, is not necessary for the explanation i gave. Am too lazy to look up several incidents that it has occurred.
Again, a nose wheel tire exploding from expansion of overheat during the rotation in and of itself would NOT fill the cockpit with smoke, However, damage an exploding tire could cause in the E and E bay Most certainly could. Any pilot saying otherwise, well they can just keep on believing that..
Your qualifications to say that are what exactly? You have 18,000 flying hours to back up that statement? The Pilot who said it certainly does.