The invention relates to a powered wheel system for an aircraft, comprising at least one undercarriage with several rotatably held wheels, with the powered wheel system comprising two or more motors of which in each case at least one motor is coupled to at least one of the wheels, and comprising at least one control device that is coupled to the motors. A control device is equipped to control operation of the motors independently of each other as far as their respective rotary speeds and direction of rotation are concerned, so that the system is able, among other things, to effect taxiing; by means of rotary speed differentials on different motors to be able to steer the aircraft; prior to landing to bring the wheel circumference speeds to landing speed; and to boost the undercarriage brakes of the aircraft. Furthermore, by means of an improvement of the system according to the invention, the rotary speeds of the wheels may be determined with precision. The invention furthermore relates to a method for driving wheels of an aircraft.