One of the best ways to protect your tire investments is by keeping tire air pressure at manufacturer’s specified limits, which generally is different for steer tires, drive tires, and trailer rubber. That means a driver must check tire pressures at regular intervals. But if tires are checked weekly or at longer intervals, it may be too late to save tires.
Damage can occur on any trip on any day. Loss of air pressure in any tire can render it useless due to overheating or excess and may even destroy a valuable casing that makes it unable to be retreaded. Senior drivers are accustomed to thumping tires with an object to get an idea of tire pressure. But once a tire thumps without rebounding, damage is already done and that’s the only way a thumper can reveal a bad tire situation.
Nowadays technology provides a real defense against tire damage, namely Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). These systems use sensors to provide constant, up to the minute tire pressure readings to keep the driver informed of tire conditions in order to avoid destruction of each and every tire on the rig in real time. Systems provide alerts when tire temperatures rise, when air pressure falls, and other adverse conditions of any tire in order for a driver to take corrective measures to save a valuable tire casing.
Tire casings are valuable because they can extend tire life through retreading, saving money for an owner. Saving money is important for everyone in trucking as they face mounting expenses that continue to rise almost daily. TPMS keep all your tires inflated to specified pressures by automatically adding air from the truck’s air brake system when needed.
So far it seems truck tires are less subject to supply chain issues and appear to be readily available. But don’t think that makes them cheap. Most are produced on the continent and are easy to locate when required. But no matter how large or small your operation is, you should not consider tires an expense. They are an investment in your transportation business and must be cared for to extend their lives and your income.
That means checking tire pressures must be checked frequently as the least your drivers can do to protect your investment in rubber. But we believe you should be looking at tire pressure monitoring systems to really protect your investment. Technology is the best way to monitor tire pressures and can alert your drivers to problems before they damage your tire investments.
We view that fact as an opportunity for repair shops and especially tire shops to step up and offer to sell and install tire pressure monitoring systems to their customers. This may involve advertising to display what you offer but enable you to offer a very valuable service. It can be a win-win for both the shop and the trucking company.
Get the best service and mileage from your truck tires. Get a tire pressure monitoring system for your trucks.
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