Frequently overlooked is the wealth of knowledge that can be obtained with a scrap tire analysis. Through a thorough examination of tire casings, much information can be obtained about fl eet maintenance practices that can be used to make decisions about tire brands, applications and vehicle maintenance practices. Photo from iStock tion might be acceptable at 150,000 miles but unacceptable at 50,000 miles. If you’re not making these notes on tires as you remove them, consider starting. Some fl eets would be happy to write the removal mileage on tires, but don’t know what it is. Tracking and improving tire performance starts with recording the odometer reading at the time of tire installation. Methods vary from paper and pen to proprietary computer systems, but every fl eet should know – or at least be able to dig up – the install date and odometer reading for every steer and drive tire running. TYPICAL CONDITIONS AND SOLUTIONS Here are some common tire service conditions. Also provided are ways to correct the problem. • Shoulder Wear. Shoulder wear on steer tires can be caused by misalignment, poor bead seating and under/over infl ation. Being able to match up removed steer tires is a key advantage in understanding the root cause of shoulder wear. • Punch Wear. One or two fast-wearing ribs on the interior of a tire can be an indication of low pressure. Low pressure issues can be solved with staff training and regular audits. Have a supervisor or third-party randomly check pressures once per month. An old friend of mine routinely reminds me: “People don’t do what you expect. Th ey do what you inspect.” • Erratic Wear. Irregular wear that doesn’t follow an obvious pattern is usually a sign of a mechanical problem. However, it can also Verifi ed low rolling resistance tires. The U.S. EPA, through its SmartWay (www.epa. gov/smartway) program, has demonstrated that certain low rolling resistance (LRR) tires and retread technologies can reduce NOx emissions and cut down on fuel use by 3 percent or more, relative to the best-selling new tires for linehaul Class 8 tractor trailers. Launched in 2004, the voluntary publicprivate SmartWay program creates incentives to improve fuel effi ciency and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution from the transportation supply chain industry. The SmartWay Verifi ed list for LRR new and retread tire technologies can be found online at https://www.epa.gov/verifi ed-diesel-tech/ smartway-verifi ed-list-low-rolling-resistancelrr new-and-retread-tire. Continued Page 23 Heavy Duty | VehicleServicePros.com ❚ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 ❚ FLEET MAINTENANCE 21
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