As the price of commercial truck parts increases, you may be wondering how to get more life out of your current commercial tires. Although you may not be able to prevent flat tires, with good tire management and a strong maintenance program, you can certainly reduce the number of problems your drivers have on the road.
Document Tire Maintenance
Track tire use and maintenance to know when a tire is nearing the end of its lifespan. By keeping an eye on tire life, you can change old tires before they have tread problems. You may be able to retread some of the tires to get more life out of them before tossing them in tire garbage. Take a proactive approach to tire maintenance. Make sure tires get rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Check the wheel alignment at regular intervals. Build in maintenance time to each truck’s rotation.
Keep Tires Filled Properly
Air pressure is one of the most important aspects of maintaining tires. Some experts estimate that over 80% of blowouts could be avoided if drivers checked their tire pressure more than monthly. When tires are underinflated, too much of the surface touches the road. This causes the rubber to get hot, leading to excessive tread wear and blowouts. Overinflated tires become stiff and inflexible, which makes them more vulnerable to potholes or other debris on the road. Again, this will lead to excessive wear on the tires and potential blowouts. Measuring tire pressure accurately can help your tires last longer.
Use a Tire Sealant
Ride-On is a tire sealant that seals small punctures up to ¼-inch in diameter. This reduces the risk of a blowout and improves fuel economy. Ride-On reports that you can get up to 25% more in tire life. It’s one application that lasts the life of the tire and keeps the tire balanced. The Ride-On protectant layer also helps the tire run cooler. The tread won’t wear out as fast.
Avoid Overloading Your Trucks
Make sure your commercial tires are rated for the weight load. Too much weight in the semi is a recipe for disaster, in more ways than just tire blowouts. Drive within the weight recommendations.
Make Sure Your Drivers Follow Safe Practices
Tire maintenance and checking air pressure only go so far if drivers are careless. Potholes can cause tires to fail, as can debris, and even gravel roads. Drivers who brake too hard or too fast can also cause excess tire wear. It’s important to note that as tires get closer to the end of their lifespan, they are less able to handle sharp impacts and may not handle as well as newer tires. With a good safety training program in place, you can offer your fleet drivers regular reminders on how to keep safe on the roads. Having a strong tire management program can also help prevent flat tires older tires from getting past the maintenance crew.
Outsource Your Tire Maintenance
STTC can help you set up a tire management program that preserves the value of your commercial tires for as long as possible with the miles each truck puts on the tires. We’ve been in the tire business for over 60 years. Our technicians know tires. We help you keep your trucks safe, efficient, and comfortable.
Call us now at 610-954-8473 or contact us online for commercial tires and all tire-related services.
