Does It Rate?: Do We Really Need Tires That Can Do 186 MPH?
There are tire engineers out there who don’t much give a hoot about tire speed ratings. “It®™s not even a government regulation,” says one. ®There is no government test for speed ratings. The only speed-related test is euphemistically called a ‘temperature resistance test,®™ and it’s built around the ability of a tire to disperse heat
Get Pumped Up: Longer Tire Life, Fuel Savings Claims Heat Up Nitrogen Inflation
The gas from the past is making news again, and this time the story has legs. There’s nothing new about nitrogen inflation of tires. It’s been around since Texan Dr. Larry Sperberg brought it to our attention in 1968. That’s when he pronounced that a tire wears out from the inside out – a process
Tires and Towing: Before Your Customers Hitch Up, Check Weights, Load Capacities
Are your customers trailering boats, cars, horses or campers this season? They are? Well, are they checking the lug nuts on their trailers on a regular basis? Do they know how much air pressure their towing vehicle tires need? The most likely answer: an emphatic “No.” You are the one these people should be talking
Loads & Inflations
s. Fortunately, the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating for the entire vehicle (GVWR) appear on the vehicle placard. A quick aside: It is important that the cold inflation pressure for a motorhome tire never exceeds the maximum inflation pressure branded on the tire sidewall and/or the maximum load or
Peace and Quiet
. Tire lugs are dead giveaways. Even someone with trifocals can see the difference. You’ve also become pretty good at explaining tread life differences between tires by using the UTQG. Or at least using treadwear warranties. But what do you say to a valued customer who is complaining about noise? "I have a noise in
Rotational Education
Unraveling the mysteries of tire rotation takes a bit of doing. Just about all of us are nonchalant about rotating tires. We advertise free rotations for life if you buy tires from us. We unbolt ‘em, rotate ’em and rebolt ’em. From a marketing point-of-view, that’s a good idea. Just be certain you don’t sell
The Physics of Force
Without the braking force generated by tires, vehicles can’t stop. Well, actually they can, but it’s hell on wheels – and oil pans. Without cornering forces generated by the tire, a vehicle can’t handle. Well, actually it can if you consider a guardrail as part of a steering system. Practically speaking, without the essential physical
Watch That Load Capacity
We seem like such common sense people. "If the shoe fits, wear it," we say. "A penny saved is a penny earned," is another gem. Or how about this one: "No problem, I’ve got a pickup truck." To the great unwashed, common sense just went out the window. More than 80% of all pickup trucks
Telematics and Tires: Satellite and Chip Technologies Will Launch a Brave New World
What exactly does the term "telematics" mean? The term has been well used in recent years by commercial vehicle engineers and logistics planners in developing different truck components, data recording and retrieval systems, communications systems and other projects. And it is popping up more and more on the consumer vehicle side, with such services as
All the Angles
Right Equipment and Knowing What to Look for Cures Alignment Complaints Four-wheel alignments are commonplace in today’s service bays. Even light-duty, 4WD SUVs, such as Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4, have independent rear suspensions with both camber and toe adjustments. Even solid, rear-axle vehicles require an alignment head on all four wheels. Without considering rear
The Forgotten Valve Stem
The Forgotten Valve Stem If industry pundits are right, you can expect to see EPDM (ethylene propylene) snap-in valves give way to aluminum clamp-in valves in the near future. But they may make a comeback. Confusing isn’t it? Credit the expected change to the TREAD Act and its TPMS imperative to carmakers. By 2007, all
Balancing for Bucks
Balancing For Bucks So what if a line haul driver can’t feel the vibration? Taking a pass on balancing truck tires is a big mistake for fleets, for drivers and, ultimately, for dealers. Following the flow of technology is going to help your fleet customers. That’s the trend. If you save them money, they love