Tires are a major cost center for any trucking fleet. Proper tire maintenance is an easy way to cut down tire costs and keep your fleet on the road. Here are four areas to focus on:
TIRE ALIGNMENT
Irregular tire wear is a key indicator that tires are not properly aligned. Commercial vehicles should go in for a wheel alignment every 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
TIRE TREAD
Checking tire tread during pre- and post-trip inspections should be part of your regular maintenance routine. Tires that have uneven wear and improper tread depth can shorten their lifespan, lead to avoidable issues on the road, and put drivers’ safety at risk.
AIR PRESSURE
Tire underinflation and overinflation can cause stress on your vehicle’s frame and other components, not to mention, premature tire removal and potential failure. It’s important to have the correct tire pressure for the axle load. A weekly tire pressure check is a realistic
routine for most fleets.
Remember that cold temperatures can gradually decrease tire pressure. When using a tire gauge in below-freezing temperatures, ice can form on the valve core, producing slow pressure leaks; a valve cap can prevent this from happening.
Today’s premium-level TBR tires are engineering marvels. The Ralson RTR71, for example, is produced in a highly advanced manufacturing facility and delivers remarkable wear on demanding spread axle trailer applications. As advanced as the RTR71 is, however, it will not perform at its optimum level without good maintenance practices.
Ralson RTR71
The Ralson RTR71 features a robust casing design to resist cuts and chips. Other features include:
16/32nds of tread to handle high scrub and severe torque conditions
Corrugated cooling fins ensure better heat dissipation for increased casing life.
A chamfered solid shoulder counters lateral forces in high scrub applications for even shoulder wear.
A balanced rib ratio evenly distributes pressure for high mileage and excellent drive comfort.
The RTR71’s wide 4-belt package provides uniform ground contact for excellent impact absorption and casing retreadability.
The Ralson RTR71, which is backed by a 7 year/3 retread warranty, is available in the 11R22.5 and 295/75R22.5 sizes.