Heavy Duty Trucking, October 2019
HDT OCTOBER 2019 82 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM ruck tires lead multiple lives They can begin life in a drive or steer position then slowly work their way backwards on a tractor trailer after three or even four retreads until the casing finally wears out The trick is managing those lives in a way that allows a fleet to get the most out of its tires in terms of both tread mileage and maximum retread lives That can be hard to do given the staffing limitations and technician shortages most fleets deal with today And thats not to mention that tires can be difficult to track accurately even under the most favorable circumstances But fleets with active tire management practices report fewer tire related roadside service calls more successful retread programs and overall lower cost per mile for tires according to Derek Babcock distribution development Michelin North America A well managed program can save a fleet in many ways including more profit with fewer CSA violations less downtime and fewer unplanned expenses A total tire management strategy should be part of every fleets operation Babcock says Having a strategy encompassing fleet How to manage tires for optimal minutes and miles From the day it shows up in a yard or in a shop collecting data on a tire throughout its lifespan will lead to reduced operating costs fewer breakdowns and better tire purchasing decisions Truck tires lead multiple lives Heres how to make sure you get the most out of them no matter which stage of life theyre in equipment inventory tire selection tracking preventative maintenance expected casing life pressure and tread data loads carried miles achieved from tires and retreads inspection frequency removal timeline casing management scrap tire analysis end of life inspection data analysis retread guidelines inventory of automatic inflation devices driver training and budget review should all be part of the overall strategy The benefits fleets gain from a total life cycle tire management plan are significant adds Brett Wilkie senior director fleet services for Fleet Advantage a fleet By Jack Roberts Senior Editor jroberts@ truckinginfo com TIRES WHEELS T PHOTOS JACK ROBERTS
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