Overdrive

May 2016

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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May 2016 | Overdrive | 31 T he fi rst step in ex- tending tire life starts with making sure the right one is spec'd for the application. A tire dealer can make recommendations based on ve- hicle usage and tire characteristics such as fuel economy, durability, traction, miles to removal, retreadability, tread depth and pattern, and price. "This is the single most eff ective prac- tice to employ during the tire selection process," says Brian Buckham, general manager of product marketing for Goodyear. Checking with other owners "for best practices can shorten the learning curve substantially," says Matt Loos, director of truck and bus marketing for Bridges- tone Americas Tire Operations. Leaning on the advice of others also can help avoid making simplistic deci- sions based solely on upfront costs. Design and materials "Just because you pay more for a tire doesn't mean you will get higher mile- age and more retreads," says Gary Schroeder, director of commercial vehicle and original equipment sales for Cooper's Roadmaster brand. "Con- versely, upfront savings due to a lower price might not save you money in the long run." To improve tire life, fuel economy and fi ts to various applications, tire makers have focused on design and raw materials. "Over the years, tread compounds used in commercial truck tires have become increasingly application-specif- ic," Schroeder says. "Rather than use just a couple of tread compounds that cover an entire product range, which was fairly typical in the industry at one point, improvements in technology mean that most major brands now have treads tuned to excel in specifi c areas while maintaining acceptable perfor- mance across all other parameters." Indeed, tire design has come a long way in the last 10-plus years, says Paul Crehan, director of product marketing With proper spec'ing and maintenance, you can contain one of your biggest expenses. BY JASON CANNON LONG LIVE YOUR TIRES Maintaining proper air pressure is one step toward getting multiple retreads on a high-quality casing.

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