Pit & Quarry, January 2018

TIRES Factors to consider when selecting tires 28 PIT QUARRY January 2018 pitandquarry com PHOTO COURTESY OF GOODYEAR ires are important contributors to successful vehicle operation They also can represent a significant investment Thats why its important to select the right tires for your machines a process that takes time energy and careful analysis A number of factors should be considered when evaluating quarry tires Analyzing your worksites footprint tops the list Before choosing a specific tire you should have a thorough understanding of your equipments activities and what its tires will be asked to do This involves determining your work sites ton mile per hour TMPH rating This can be accomplished by mounting a location tracking unit on a vehicle and letting it run for a designated time period to develop what is commonly called a site map Track the distance the truck travels its speed and the load its carrying A calculation of the average load and the vehicles average speed will give you the TMPH of the route in which your equipment is operating Every quarry tire regardless of application or size also has a certain TMPH rating from its manufacturer to indicate the maximum recommended amount it should carry at a certain speed In all cases make sure you pick a tire whose TMPH rating is at least equal to or higher than your work areas TMPH rating Selecting a tire with a lesser TMPH is never recommended and can adversely impact performance We also recommend that you look at whats underneath your tires Is the surface free of rocks and other sharp objects If so a tire with a shallow tread depth might be appropriate Is the surface loose In that case you might want to use a tire that boasts increased tread depth for extra traction Look for other potential problem areas including roads that lead in and out of the quarry Are there practices that can be done such as laying down gravel to help improve traction How steep are the surface inclines and declines Pay attention to how roads slope upward or downward Roads that are built steeply on an upward trajectory can cause a vehicles center of gravity to shift backward which puts more strain on its rear tires Roads with a steep downward slope can place more pressure on a vehicles front tires Continue to look around Is there standing water on the site that will allow tires to cut more easily and can hide tire eating objects Are there drainage channels that funnel water safely away Is the ground surface flat and debris free AIR UP AND ROLL ON Youve selected your tires and theyre now in service Whats next Work with a local tire professional to establish a tire maintenance program This can often pay big dividends when it comes to optimizing your tire investment Maintaining proper inflation levels is the most effective thing you can do to enhance tire performance and longevity Consistent correct inflation positively impacts tire wear and casing life It also can help reduce the amount of fuel that your vehicles consume Incorporate inflation checks into your pre shift vehicle inspection If that isnt possible check inf lation pressures at least once weekly Avoid over inflation which can lead to uneven wear and even make tires more vulnerable to cuts and ruptures when traveling across challenging surfaces Also avoid under inf lation which leads to damaging effects from over def lection And never overload your tires P Q Eric Matson is the global field engineering manager for The Goodyear Tire Rubber Co s OTR tire business www goodyearotr com Doing your homework in advance can help optimize your tire investment BY ERIC MATSON T Work with a local tire professional to establish a tire maintenance program