Minimizing irregular truck tire wear
The best way to maximize tire removal miles is to keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure specification for your specific vehicle loads and speeds. Tires that are running smoothly and evenly with no signs of irregular wear at the correct pressure—that’s the winning recipe to increase tire removal mileages. If irregular tread wear
Tires and the winter season: Updating your tire program
It is always important for commercial fleet tire programs to have a plan in place when the winter season kicks into full gear. Tires with full tread can make a significant contribution to vehicle traction especially in that slushy snow and ice mix. Tires must be thoroughly inspected during the last preventative maintenance prior to
Understanding the value of retreading
More than 85% of commercial fleets retread. Depending on the specific tread design and tread depth, a retreaded cap/casing generally cost about 50% versus the cost of a new tire. If the fleet supplies the casing and only purchases the tread, the retread is only about 25% the cost of a new tire. There is
Summer time tire troubles
The summer months of July and August can take a serious toll on your tires. Treadwear is more rapid because of the combination of higher ambient and higher road surface temperatures, and heat has always been a tire’s worst enemy. Maintaining proper tire pressures is always important to maximize treadwear, fuel economy, and retreadability. In
Tires & CSA: An update
Tires play a major role when it comes to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Compliance, Safety and Accountability (CSA) program. The two fleet Safety Management System (SMS) for CSA categories are 1) vehicle maintenance and 2) hazardous material compliance. Tires fall under the vehicle maintenance category. Violations associated with tires receive either a three
Addressing tire, wheel assembly run-out and balance
When it comes to irregular wear and ride quality, tire/wheel assembly run-out and balance is an important issue for fleets. Removing expensive commercial tires prematurely, due to the early onset of tire irregular wear, will have a significant negative impact to the fleet’s bottom line. Tire and wheel manufacturers recommend balancing, but it is up
Optimizing your tire program
Tires continue to be one of the top expenditures for commercial trucking fleets. A successful, well thought through tire program can drop many thousands of dollars per year directly to a fleet company’s bottom line. A tire program, however, is not as simple as purchasing the lowest priced new tire and retread. Tire performance is
Understanding irregular tire wear
Every fleet tire manager has similar goals of maximizing tire removal mileage. The biggest issue is to reduce and minimize tire irregular wear. Tire tread irregular wear conditions will lead to premature tire removals and also reduced fuel economy. When tires are not wearing smoothly and evenly fuel economy will drop dramatically. There are many
Drivers affect fuel economy
Equipment buyers have direct control over which vehicles are specified and how they will help increase overall fuel economy. However, drivers are one of the biggest impacts on fuel economy that these same equipment buyers have no influence over.
Explaining truck tire sidewall markings
Recently, I was answering truck driver questions regarding tires and wheels on a national satellite trucking radio show. During the hour event, most of the questions centered on the confusion associated with the information molded onto a truck tire sidewall. These truckers were justified in their uncertainty—there is a lot of information, which is not
Tire expectations: Fuel economy, high milage, retradability and beyond
Talking with managers from many of the larger commercial fleets at a recent TMC meeting, it was clear what fleets are looking for when it comes to their tires: Fleets want tires that generate the best possible fuel economy; highest mileage to removal; excellent retreadability; and tires that are not prone to developing uneven and
Protecting your truck tire investment
Tires are a major expense for every fleet. Fleet maintenance managers are always working to optimize tire programs and reduce costs. More than 85% of fleets retread in order to lower tire cost per mile. The cost of a retreaded tire varies based on many factors, including tread design, tread depth and specific compounds. However, the