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Keyword: Commercial truck tires
Commercial truck tires
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independent source of tire help
 Commercial Truck Tire: Construction And Alligators
The first thing that comes to mind when many people think of
a commercial truck tire is the image of a tire carcass on the
side of the freeway, a giant remnant of an 18-wheeler's day at
the office. These unsightly chunks of tires, known in the
trucking industry as road alligators, are the aftermath of tire
failure.
That is not to say these tires are bad or weak, but a road
alligator more accurately reflects the paces these tires
experience over the long haul. Industrial strength or super
duty would be adjectives used to describe tires that go through
chronic extremes on a daily basis. Tires used in commercial
applications experience just such chronic extremes.
Because these tires exposure to the elements is extreme,
they need robust construction and engineering. In the simplest
terms, that means at least four steel belts, dual compound
tread rubber, engineering considerations for tire wear, stone
retention, water evacuation, traction, heat, and weight
distribution.
When it comes to tire construction, only tire manufactures
and engineers might know some of the following terms but, they're
useful for a fleet manager if, for nothing else, to keep turned in to
what's being discussed:
are the main words to use when delving into the construction of
tires. Check our Tire Glossary for a
definition to get you started. No matter the amount of deliberation
put into tire construction for commercial applications, tires will
inevitably fail.
A
trucker might tell you, "You can't get a good tire for your
money these days." Fleet managers, however, quickly learn that the driver
has a lot to do with what he or she will get out of their
tires.
Heat is the enemy of tires. The number one way to keep tires from
overheating is to make sure tire inflation is spot-on and set to
compensate for the load and the speed. That means drivers need to
take heed when it comes to putting the petal to the metal. Traveling
faster than the tire is designed for will drastically reduce the life
of the tire.
Other major issues with getting the most out of commercial tires are
constant maintenance and attention to detail when it comes to road
hazards. Avoiding potholes and not hitting curbs or other debris on
the roadways will increase the life of the tires.
As part of a plan to keep equipment in good working order,
tires must be included. There is a simple method for keeping
commercial truck tires in tiptop shape. Inflation of the tire
cannot be reiterated enough. INFLATION is the most important
thing to check. Some of the best-maintained fleets require a
driver to manually inspect every tire on the vehicle they drive
at the start of every day as a minimum.
To check inflation use a calibrated air gauge regularly,
adjust the pressure for the load and conditions, inspect the
tires for damage or nail penetrations, make sure the valve caps
are on tight, and always check the insides of the duals.
Once the right commercial truck tire is placed in service,
maintaining the tire and paying attention to road hazards will
be the best defenses against the dreaded alligators. All
truckers know alligators cause nothing but lost time and
money.
Did you know we have a special
place to show-off your favorite wheels?
See the Hot Wheels Show Room
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