Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/696201
20 // OWNER OPERATOR // JULY 2016 By Jason Cannon Maintenance Matters LONG LIVE YOUR TIRES: PROPER MAINTENANCE AND RETREADING P roper maintenance Once you've chosen the most appropriate tires for your application, the potential for cost savings lies in maintenance. Improper infl ation and poor rotation are the two primary causes of irregular tire wear. They're also among the easiest to avoid. "Tire rotation should be part of your maintenance program," says Homer Hogg, manager of technical development for TA/ Petro. "But understanding how and when to rotate will depend on your specifi c operation." A rotation schedule should ensure that tires on the same axle have a similar tread depth. "The mismatching of dual tire diameters will result in one tire carrying more individual tire load than the other," Buckham says. "This also can occur when one tire is operated at a different air pressure than the other." The life of both tires will be reduced substantially if dual tires are not within a quarter-inch diameter of each other, Hogg says. When one dual tire is larger in diameter than the other – but still within the quarter-inch requirement – he recommends the larger tire always be placed on the outside position. Underinfl ated tires build up excessive heat, which can damage the tire and shorten its life. Infl ation also affects performance, fuel economy and maintenance costs, says Jon Intagliata, who manages tire pressure monitoring systems for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. A Michelin study shows that a 15 percent over- or underinfl ation can reduce a tire's lifespan by 10 percent. Research from the American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council has shown underinfl ation by just 10 percent – less than 11 psi on a 105- psi tire – can result in a fuel economy drop of 1.5 percent. "Nearly half of all emergency service road calls are tire-related, and underinfl ation and excessive heat are responsible for 90 percent of tire failures," Intagliata says. Retreading Just as improper tire maintenance can prematurely erode tread, it also can destroy