We know tires are expensive. We also know most drivers mean to keep up with their tire maintenance programs, but driving often gets in the way. Until you drop a tread, or pick-up a bolt, it's easy to forget about your tires. Problem is, tires are very unforgiving, and will eat up your profits any chance they get. Don't let them. Here's how.
Any tire showing damage is trying to tell you something. You might need an alignment if you see certain patterns, so knowing which tire patterns to look for helps you identify the problem. Tire sites usually have a chart on types of damage to expect with each problem.
Keep tires of the same diameter together (New with new. Used with used). If not, you end up with one tire skipping and scraping the road because it isn't the same size. Premature wear isn't pretty.
Know when to replace/retread your tires. Minimum legal depth is 4/32" on the steer and 2/32" on others. Tires wear at approximately 1/32" per 13-14,000 miles. Measure your treads now, and mark their expected replacement dates based on your average mileage. Problem solved.
Service those bearings and kingpins. This WILL make your tires wear better.
Always install new tires - not retreads, on your steering axles. Better safe than sorry when it comes to steering gear.
Make sure your inflation is correct for your load.Underinflated tires, especially under load, will chew tires quickly.
Adjust pressures for cold climates you are driving in. If you're coming from a warmer area, when you hit cold weather areas the air in your tires contracts, and suddenly you're running underinflated. Check your pressures.
Damaged, improperly balanced wheels will damage tires.Look over all of your wheels for signs of damage - every trip.
Keep radials with radials, and bias ply with bias ply. Don't mix them, or you will see a shorter tire life.
Tires do have a maintenance schedule. Whether you're a single O/O, or have a fleet of trucks, have a plan for replacement and/or repair with an escrow fund and based on mileage and you'll keep those tires from eating your profits alive.
I forgot that you had to adjust tire pressures for cold climates when towing. That would help make sense why my tires were super worn after the last towing trip. I'll have to be more careful next time. http://www.roadwaytowing.ca
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this. Our company thought it was going to be fine just letting our tires get a little bald. That was a really bad idea. Once winter swept in, we had a really hard time getting our tow trucks to people because we were often sliding just as much as everyone else. Luckily we were able to get new tires quickly, but they are expensive and it can turn a routine day of towing into a problem. http://www.aaatowingandrecovery.com/services.html
ReplyDeleteI love to see information about automotive things like this idea that, "Tires wear at approximately 1/32" per 13-14,000 miles." That is very important information for a service provider like a tow truck. They provide services in emergencies. If they are ill-equipped to go and help someone at a moments, notice, they could go out of business; not to mention literally leaving people stranded along the side of the road.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foothillservice.net/Car_Repair_Bound_Brook_NJ.html