Main Factors Affecting Earthmover Tire Lifespan

Earthmover tires are built to withstand the rougher terrain associated with operating in more challenging and unpredictable environments. However, even the strongest tires can experience rapid wear-and-tear when not cared for properly. It’s imperative for fleet managers to understand what factors contribute to reduced tire lifespan so they can prevent premature wear-and-tear.

Main Factors Affecting Earthmover Tire Lifespan

There are many different factors that can contribute to a rapid decline in your earthmover tire lifespan, including the following:

• Internal Temperature: If a tire’s internal temperature becomes too high (greater than 80º C), it is likely to become damaged.
• Tire Pressure: Tires that are underinflated by 10%, 20%, or 30% will experience a reduced tread life by 10%, 25%, and 50%, respectively. By contrast, overinflated tires by 10%, 20%, and 30% will experience a reduced tread life by 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively.
• Climatic Conditions: Extreme temperature fluctuations and moisture can cause differentiations in the tire’s pressure, so it’s crucial for fleets to inspect their tire pressure regularly to ensure it remains properly inflated.
• Tire Position: Because of torque transmission, tires mounted on drive wheels experience a 25% reduction in their tread life compared to those mounted on steer wheels. However, in industrial applications with earthmover tires, the opposite is true due to the smaller turning radius.
• Different Diameters: A difference in tire diameter due to varied tread depths or using different tire brands can cause uneven wear on all tires, greatly reducing their lifespan.
• Overloading: Overloading a tire by 10%, 20%, or 30% will result in a reduced tread life by 15%, 30%, and 50%, respectively.
• Machine Operation: Heavy, repeated braking; rapid acceleration; cornering at high speed; spinning the drive wheels; and improper loader operation can all lead to a reduced tire life.
• Cycle Length & Duration: Longer travel times inevitably contribute to more rapid wear and tear on tires as they experience higher temperatures the further they travel.
• Poor Maintenance: Failure to properly maintain your commercial vehicles can also create issues with your earthmover tire lifespan.
• Haul Roads: Poorly maintained haul roads, or those that have greater length, elevation, curvature, gradients, and camber, can create excess stress for your tires, as well as the risk of stone drilling.

It’s important for fleet managers to understand what factors contribute to reduced tire life so they can take the appropriate preventative measures to get the most out of their earthmover tires. If your fleet’s tires are looking worse for wear, contact the team at STTC to get the products and on site services you need to stay in operation.

STTC for Your Earthmover Tire Products & Services

At STTC, our team provides the highest quality earthmover tire products and services available to commercial fleets. Boasting a wide range of top-quality commercial tires from the industry’s leading manufacturers and using Michelin Retread Technologies, STTC has the highly skilled team of TIA-certified tire technicians you need to keep your fleet on the road. Contact us today to learn more about our earthmover tire products and services!