Asa Sharp - Contributor, Tire Review
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TPMS for Trucks: One Size May Not Fit All

It appears that tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are poised to enter the age of modern reliable electronics. This should be a very good thing for the trucking industry. I believe that TPMS will become standard equipment on new over-the-road trucks, tractors and trailers in a few short years. The driving force will be operating

Avoid Early Removal to Get Maximum Tread Life of Truck Tires

Modern radial truck tires have come a long way. Long-term casing durability is nearly taken for granted today, assuring multiple retreads for most line haul applications.More recently, wear issues (irregular wear on free-rolling axle positions) have been reduced to the point that technicians often suspect mechanical issues rather than simply reporting "tire problems" as a

Tire Wear Troubleshooting Tips

Tire wear issues, especially accelerated wear, can be frustrating and expensive. An expanding variety of vocation-specific trucks, engine and other drivetrain component trends, as well as unique service conditions, can result in a mismatch of tire performance and expectations. While the basic mechanisms of tire wear haven’t changed significantly since the introduction of tubeless radials,

The ‘New’ Teamwork Approach to Problems

Communication, teamwork, cooperation, and other such buzzwords of the MBA consultants aren’t news to most of us who have been involved in the truck tire industry for more than a few years. No doubt, these are all good words, even worthy goals in many instances. But I’ve long had a bit of a problem with

The Sounds of Silence, Truck Tire Style

 Those of you who have been in the industry more than a few years can remember when trucks were loud. Sometimes this was intentional, similar to when we, as teenagers, spent hard earned money to put dual glasspack mufflers on our hot rods. At other times the trucks just came that way new. Objections to this noise

Multiple Components Can Influence Truck Handling

Change is a constant, even accelerating, part of the trucking industry and never has this been more obvious than in the increasing diversity of vehicle sizes, configurations and the service conditions they are expected to endure. The days of typical trucking fleets being composed of simply line haul tractors and smaller delivery trucks are rapidly

Different Types of Fleet-Dealer Relationships

Conditions of the general economy, and the trucking industry in particular, are forcing many fleets to search for new ways of cutting operating costs and improving efficiencies. One continuing trend is outsourcing. While not a new idea, it is one that is expanding. The chief appeal of outsourcing is reduced fleet payroll by allowing varying

Truck Tire Care Basic But Subtle

For years, recommendations for truck tire maintenance centered around inflation checks, visual checks for abnormalities, vehicle alignment, and industry standardized work procedures during mounting, dismounting, and other service operations. These core practices are necessary for safety, cost control and for minimizing downtime or unscheduled tire maintenance. There are many other important truck tire issues that,

Super Wide Tires, Aluminum Wheels & Weight Savings

In the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership’s specifications for Class 8 vehicles, lighter-weight tractor and trailer components are recommended as potential fuel saving options. Reducing 3,000 lbs. from a heavy-duty vehicle, EPA notes, could save between 200 and 500 gallons of fuel each year. “Truck fuel consumption increases with the weight of the

When Simple Choices Just Aren’t Enough

Selecting the best truck tires – or, more specifically, matching tires to expected service conditions – has traditionally been accomplished by following a few simple guidelines. The three main service categories suggested by nearly all tire manufacturers have been: 1. high speed line haul 2. metro and pickup/delivery 3. mixed on-off road service Among the

Keeping it Tight

There is no good time for loose truck wheels. Never was, and I don’t expect there will be. Frankly, there is no excuse for it either. Modern hub-piloted wheel attachment systems have simplified fastener inventories and have extended the durability of wheels, lug studs, nuts and other hardware. Because the majority of over-the-road wheel-end systems

Trouble-Free Wheel-End Care

As much as 90% of all wheel end seal failures are a result of improper installations, according to SKF. The manufacturer offers a systems approach to wheel-end maintenance in its Trouble Free Operation program, by providing fleets with detailed instructional materials and making hands-on training available to technicians. The following tips are from the program’s