T IRE TAC TI C S
For a fleet, tires are one of the biggest operating
expenses aft er fuel, so a lot of money is
riding on a vehicle’s wheels.
Choosing the right tire should be based on
the size and needs of the fl eet. It is important
to pick the optimum tire, taking into consideration
tire characteristics such as fuel economy,
durability, traction, miles to removal, casing
retreadability and price.
Your investment in tires is worth protecting,
and it’s worth knowing how to maximize
performance based on operational and maintenance
28 Fleet Maintenance | JULY 2017
factors. Th ere are a number of things
that should be monitored regularly, including
proper tire infl ation, routine tire rotation, irregular
wear and tire casing integrity.
Developing a regular tire maintenance
program is critical to attaining longer life from
your tires.
Proper Tire Inflation
Maintaining proper infl ation pressure in tires
is the single most important factor in extending
tire life. Both overinfl ation and underinfl ation
have negative eff ects on the tire by changing its
footprint – that is, the area contacting the road.
Underinfl ation can cause excessive heat
buildup and can potentially lead to internal
structural damage. Overinfl ation can make
tires more vulnerable to cutting, punctures
or damage from sudden impacts.
When the tire is not contacting the road as
the tire design intended, its tread area will
wear irregularly and, therefore, more rapidly.
Correct infl ation pressure is determined by the
load carried for each tire.
Routine Tire Rotation
Routinely rotating tires directly contributes to
longer tire life, especially in areas of irregular
tread wear. Tire rotation can oft en improve tire
wear, because when there is a change in the
direction of the rotation, or when cross-rotating
the tires, some irregular wear can be improved.
Roadmaster recommends rotating tires
when they are 50 percent worn, or even sooner
if they show signs of irregular wear. Changing
the direction of rotation can also even out heel/
toe wear on the shoulders of drive tires, and
erratic wear on the shoulders of trailer tires.
Steer tires are normally rotated side-to-side,
which changes the direction of rotation and
helps even out wear.
At a 3/32” to 4/32” diff erence in tread depth
between the drive axle tires, a cross-rotation
would be recommended to even out the wear
and increase tire life before removal.
Directional tires are the only tires that
should not change their direction of rotation.
Trucks with dual drive axles should have a
tire rotation if the wear gets to 3/32” to 4/32”
diff erence from axle to axle. If irregular wear
is noticed, a cause must be determined and the
situation resolved.
Bead Seating and
Tire Installation
Ensuring proper bead seating when mounting
tires is also important to achieve optimal
performance and tire life. Much irregular
wear, and some ride vibration conditions, can
be traced back to the original installation. An
improperly seated bead creates uneven wear
patterns and increases the chance for ride/
vibration issues.
Want To Ensure
A Long Tire Life?
Five important maintenance steps
By Gary Schroeder
DIRECTOR, TRUCK & BUS TIRE BUSINESS,
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
The company (coopertire.com) designs and engineers
its Roadmaster commercial tires in the U.S. by an experienced
technical team. Roadmaster brings with it a
strong heritage of innovative engineering and quality
products that are optimized for performance, durability
and retreadability.
» Both overinflation and underinflation
have negative effects on a tire
because each condition changes
the area contacting the road.
Photo courtesy of Cooper Tire