Going Solo: Will Super Wide Tires Ever Gain Mainstream Status?
With ever-climbing fuel costs and pressure to carry more freight with fewer trucks, one would naturally think a tire billed as offering greater fuel economy and increased payload capacity would be the hottest-selling item in any commercial tire dealer’s lineup. In theory, yes. But theories often fall short when it comes to application. Change is
Keep it Contained: Proper Inflation Still the Best Way to Extend Casing Life
All good commercial tire dealers know that proper inflation is the single most important maintenance issue for extended treadlife and long-term casing durability. It is equally well known that tires, even if initially inflated to the optimum pressure, require periodic checks and occasional top-offs to maintain that pressure. Let’s examine why this is true and
Gateway to Inflation Programs
Typically, tire and wheel programs receive lots of attention in most fleet maintenance programs – and for very good reasons. First, the operating expense is considerable; they are second only to fuel in most over-the-road operations. Secondly, en-route failures often trigger a sequence of emergency service requirements that are delaying, expensive and often result in
Right Tire, Right Time: Smart Inventory Strategy is Key to Serving Fleets’ Immediate Needs
While the new year is still fresh, the question of how many tire and wheel spares a fleet – large or small – has available on short notice might be a good one to re-examine. The sheer complexity of modern, axle-specific truck tire designs, new vocational niche market tires, increasing use of higher quality retreads,
Keeping it Contained…Air That Is
Proper inflation is the most important maintenance issue for extending treadlife and protecting casings. Even if the tire is initially inflated to the optimum pressure, periodic checks and occasional top-offs are needed to maintain pressure. There are two basic air-loss mechanisms responsible for pressure loss over time. All pneumatic tires lose some of their high-pressure
Tire/Wheel Inventory a Place to Find Savings
How many tire and wheel spares should a fleet keep on hand? This difficult question is compounded by the sheer complexity of axle specific tire designs, increased use of higher quality retreads and the introduction of super wide tires. One point to consider is the cost of not having a replacement piece immediately available, or
Rubber Redux: Scrap-Tire Disposal May Create New Opportunity for Fleet Customers
The trucking industry, in recent years, has been on the receiving end of a barrage of new technology, equipment and operating practices. In fact, one saying keeps cropping up in trucking circles: “The only constant is change itself.” Certainly, the issue of scrap tires and how to dispose of them responsibly has historically been a
Old Problem or Golden Opportunity?
Historically, the issue of scrap tires and how to dispose of them responsibly has been a thorny problem for most fleet operators. Fleets of sufficient size (negotiating leverage) often pass this task along to their supplying dealers, but the costs and logistics of handling scrap tires continues to be viewed as a problem. There is
Fleeting Moment: Tap Into Wheel Bearing Service Opportunities Before They Disappear
You may only have one chance during a vehicle’s life to replace a sealed wheel bearing and hub assembly. Miss it, and it may be gone forever. That’s because the average life of these parts is 85,000 to 100,000 miles, even though most serviceable wheel bearings need maintenance every 25,000 to 30,000 miles or during
Money to Burn?: Simple Tire Tactics Will Help Commercial Customers Save on Fuel
With the price of fuel as high and as volatile as we’ve ever seen, many truck operators are reviewing ways to conserve that precious commodity that can so severely impact the bottom line of any trucking operation. You might wonder how this is related to tires. The answer comes in a number of ways, several
Expanded Capabilities, Smaller World
When we think about technology, we generally think about getting larger and expanding our capabilities and boundaries. Ironically, though, technology seems to have the opposite effect: It makes the world smaller. More than ever, companies – even entire industries – are tightly interwoven and dependent on one other. And it’s because of technology. To succeed
Waste Not, Worry Not: Fleets That Partner Up with Tire Dealers Can Take the Worry Factor Out of Tires
“He saves us tens of thousands in potential workers’ compensation claims. His labor costs are $18 an hour, while mine are $22. My overall insurance costs are lower, and I’m saving 10% per tire in labor alone.” That’s Scott Francis, fleet maintenance manager for Whiteline Xpress Ltd. in Champaign, Ill. He’s in charge of watching