TRIB to Hold Tire Inflation Contest at NAFA Conference

Sponsored by the Meritor tire inflation system by PSI (Pressure Systems International), the contest allows fleet professionals attending the conference to determine the pre-set inflation pressure of a tire by giving it a "thump." Those coming within +/- 5 psi of the pre-set inflation pressure will receive a prize. A grand prize will be awarded to the contestant who guesses the inflation pressure to the exact psi.

The contest is designed to demonstrate that "trying to determine if tires need air by thumping them is as effective as trying to determine if a vehicle’s engine needs oil by thumping on the hood," says Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s managing director. "Air pressure should be checked regularly – at least once a week – using a properly calibrated tire gauge."

"More than 80% of fleet tire problems are caused by improper inflation," adds D. Mike Pennington of ArvinMeritor. "In fact, tires represent the second-largest financial expenditure for most fleets."

The NAFA Conference, billed as the industry’s largest gathering of fleet professionals, brings together attendees from the corporate, government, law enforcement and utilities sectors.

In addition to holding the contest, TRIB will also display a variety of retreaded truck tires and distribute information packets on retreaded tires and tire repair and maintenance.

If you’re a shop looking to sell summer tires, it’s important to know that customers looking for these tires have very specific needs. Let’s talk about why, before recommending summer tires, you need to fully understand customer performance requirements.

Unlike all-season or all-terrain tires built for diverse driving conditions, UHP summer tires are designed with one priority: dry and wet traction for performance driving. Lateral and longitudinal grip in dry and wet conditions are also important, which is achieved through optimized contact patches, high silica tread compounds and circumferential grooves to channel water. Generally, UHP summer tire tread design features large blocks and fewer grooves for more road contact on dry surfaces. The grooves are designed to channel water away from the tire, reducing the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads.