Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34500
STOPPING DISTANCES Stopping distance with the MICHELIN The following provides the top ten reasons not to limp home on ® X One tire ® is similar to that of a vehicle in dual configuration. A general rule typically mentioned in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) manuals is to allow one vehicle length or one second between your vehicle and the one you are following for every 10 mph of your velocity. For example: if you are driving at 65 mph, allow 6.5 seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you. A good way to practice this is to mark a spot, such as a bridge, road sign, etc., that the vehicle you’re following has just passed and count one-one thousand, two-one thousand, etc., to see how long it takes you to reach the same point. If you count to only four-one thousand, then increase your following distance. In wet and/or icy conditions, do not assume that because you have better traction you will be able to stop quicker. It is always the best practice to increase following distances and reduce driving speeds when traveling in adverse weather conditions. LIMPING HOME Limping on the MICHELIN ® X One tire can cause ® damage to the wheel and casing. Although the tire is down, it’s possible that it is repairable unless it was run-flat. Limping home is never recommended even on dual tires. DOT (Department of Transportation) Regulation 393.75 states: any tire. 10 TOP REASONS NOT TO LIMP HOME 10. Pavement Damage: when the tire is run to destruction, the wheel contact damages the road. 9. Wheel Damage: $$$ hundreds of dollars. 8. Destroyed Casing: it may have otherwise been repairable. $$$ hundreds of dollars. 7. Cargo Damage: load shifts, collisions, roll-overs or fires. 6. Collateral Truck Damage: fairings, tanks, hoses, brakes, hoods, mudflaps, etc. 5. Wheel and/or Tire Detachment: if the tire/wheel become detached, they become a projectile. 4. Adverse Handling Conditions: mishandled, a run-flat could lead to a jack-knife or even a roll-over. 3. Direct D.O.T. Violation: fines and downtime. 2. Creating assembly lock-up can cause irrepairable damage to tire, wheel, axle components, and vehicle. 1. Endangers Other Vehicles and People: heavy duty truck accidents can be fatal. STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS Some states have enacted “Load Per Inch Width” regulations for the purpose of governing axle weight on (primarily) the steering axle of commercial vehicles. These regulations provide a carrying capacity of a certain number of pounds per each cross-sectional inch across the tire’s width. The determination of the tire’s width can vary from state to state, but presumably would be based upon either the tire manufacturer's published technical data for overall width, or the width as marked on the sidewall of the tire (which may require conversion from Metric to English units). It is recommended to contact your state’s DOT office to confirm the current “Load Per Inch Width” law. For example, if a state allows for 550 pounds per inch width, a tire marked 445/50R22.5 could carry up to 9,636 pounds (17.52 x 550) or a total of 19,272 pounds on the drive axle (2 x 9636). Another way to look at it is to take the total weight carried and divide by the stated “Load Per Inch Width” law to determine the appropriate size tire. If a truck needs to carry 16,000 pounds an axle in a state with a 500 pound per inch width limit (16000/500 = 32), you would need a wide single tire that is at least 16 inches wide (32/2). In this case a 445/50R22.5 could legally carry the load (445 mm/25.4 mm per inch = 17.5 inches Metric to English conversion). The two formulas are: Load Per Inch Width Law x Tire Section Width x Number of Tires = Gross Axle Weight Limit Gross Axle Weight/Inch Width Law/Number Of Tires = Minimum Tire Section Width Needed State laws and regulations frequently can and do change, so it is recommended that you consult your local State or Province DOT and where you will be traveling to be sure there are no restrictions on the use of the MICHELIN equipment, and weight. ® X One tire for your particular operation, ® Operation and Handling 63