| Tires play a critical role in the handling, maneuvering | | | | neglect. Checking the air pressure of the inside tires is |
| and braking of any motor vehicle. No matter what | | | | an utter necessity. Even if an inside tire is completely |
| the type...RV, SUV, utility vehicle or commercial truck, | | | | flat, it will be supported by the outside tire, making it |
| tires are the only thing that contacts the road. | | | | appear properly inflated. In the case of a flat inside |
| Obviously, there is much more than just the vehicle | | | | rear tire, which appears properly inflated, the outer |
| resting on those tires, its overall safe operation is as | | | | tire is doing all the work. The result is a tire at major |
| well. By following some basic tire safety practices, | | | | risk to overheat, rupture or if a retread, the |
| you will not only drive with a greater degree of | | | | possibility of the tread releasing from the |
| security, you will extend the usable life of your tire | | | | casing...something that leads to major highway |
| investment considerably. | | | | accidents. |
| Tire Manufacturers AgreeIt is commonly agreed that | | | | Wireless Tire Pressure MonitoringIn the case of |
| a primary cause of early tire breakdown and poor | | | | multi-tire motor vehicles such as commercial trucks, |
| tread life is under-inflation. Low tire pressure not only | | | | RVs, fire trucks and EMS vehicles, there are many |
| causes excessive heat build-up in the tire, creating | | | | tires to monitor. This in itself makes for |
| dangerous driving conditions, but also shortens tire | | | | time-consuming work, plus these tires need to be |
| life. Unwanted heat will rapidly increase tread-wear | | | | checked much more often. By the nature of these |
| and can even tear down retreads and destroy tire | | | | types of vehicles, they are often in consistent use, |
| casings. As much as 90% of all tire breakdowns is | | | | over longer traveling distance, in demanding |
| the direct result of tire under-inflation | | | | environments and isolated travel areas. To help with |
| The Low Pressure ProblemUnder-inflation of tires is a | | | | the task of supervising tires, there are products |
| serious safety concern because it forces excessive | | | | called Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, sometimes |
| flexing on the sidewalls. This additional strain on the | | | | referred to as TPMS. Utilizing a wireless sensor (which |
| tire can build up more internal heat, resulting in the | | | | is either screwed directly onto the valve-stem or |
| aforementioned hazards and premature tire failure. | | | | mounted internally in the tire) each individual tire on |
| Research completed by the U.S. National Traffic and | | | | the vehicle can be monitored in real time. The actual |
| Safety Administration shows that one in three cars | | | | pressure levels and temperature are then displayed |
| or light trucks are being driven with at least one | | | | on a small unit in the cab. If you are considering |
| significantly under-inflated tire. These improperly | | | | investing in a Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
| inflated tires wear out more quickly because they put | | | | (TPMS), at a minimum look for these feature and |
| more drag on the road (rolling resistance). This also | | | | capabilities: |
| leads to a reduction in fuel economy, something most | | | | · Alerts when tire pressure is too low |
| individuals and fleet owners definitely want to avoid. | | | | · Alerts when tire pressure is too high |
| Pressure Influences Tread WearMaintaining proper | | | | · Alerts when the tire temperature is too |
| tire pressure levels improves tread mileage as | | | | high (heat is what destroys tires!) |
| indicated below: | | | | · Alerts driver with both visual and auditory |
| · A continuous 10% over-inflation reduces | | | | warnings |
| tread wear by 5% | | | | · Capable of monitoring both the vehicle and |
| · Tire Life will be reduced by 30% if | | | | a trailer Other things to consider when evaluating |
| constantly under-inflated by 20% | | | | TPMS solutions: |
| · For every 10 PSI (pounds per square inch) | | | | · Are the wireless tire-sensors internally or |
| under-inflated, fuel consumption is increased 0.5% | | | | externally mounted? External mount tire sensors are |
| · A continuous 20% under-inflation decreases | | | | easier to install, easily removable in case of a tire |
| tread wear by 25% By example, consider at an | | | | change and can be moved to a spare if need be. The |
| average price of a $250, a 20% under-inflated | | | | more tires you have, the greater the savings; it is |
| commercial truck or RV tire costs about $50 each in | | | | costly to dismount/remount internal type sensors, as |
| lost usage. Add in the costs of downtime, repairs and | | | | apposed to external. |
| service fees; the picture becomes even clearer. | | | | · Does it monitor the tires continuously, even |
| Fuel Efficiency ImpactTire inflation also has a direct | | | | when parked? Tire pressure is most accurate when |
| impact on fuel efficiency, since under-inflated tires | | | | the tire is cold, before the vehicle is moving. Knowing |
| can consume a greater percentage of each gallon of | | | | the pressure level before setting out on a long trip |
| fuel just because of rolling resistance. The US | | | | can prevent uncertainty later on down the road. |
| Department of Energy advises that tires can account | | | | · Are the pressure (high and low) and the |
| for as much as a 3.3% difference in fuel efficiency. | | | | tire temperature alert levels adjustable by the user? |
| The Department of Transportation's (D.O.T.) studies | | | | Setting the trigger levels can be advantageous for |
| have shown that the United States could save over | | | | applications with varying loads, such as a truck/trailer |
| 4.2 million gallons of fuel per day... just by keeping | | | | combination. Some vehicles experience tire cupping |
| tires properly inflated! | | | | after a load change that can also cause uneven and |
| Managing Fleet Maintenance CostsTires can account | | | | excessive wear. |
| for as much as 36% of a vehicle's maintenance cost. | | | | · Does it monitor tire temperature? For |
| Yet this essential maintenance procedure, of regularly | | | | safety reasons, it is very important to know tire |
| checking tire pressure, is one of the most difficult to | | | | temperature. A tire can be as much as 30% |
| enforce. Even the best preventive maintenance | | | | under-inflated and still appear to be normal (rolling |
| programs will discover truck drivers and even | | | | resistance increases the heat, which in turn expands |
| maintenance personnel will often short cut this time | | | | the tire). This is the same reason we measure |
| consuming procedure. In certain cases some tires are | | | | pressure when the tires are cold. |
| skipped, assuming if a few are good, the rest are as | | | | General Tire Safety Recommendations |
| well. In other cases, this extremely important | | | | · Follow inflation guidelines indicated on tire |
| procedure is ignored entirely. With tires usually being | | | | sidewall, while making sure they are rated to support |
| the highest maintenance expense, can any fleet | | | | more than the gross weight of the vehicle |
| afford to ignore the direct cost consequence of | | | | · Commercial trucks, trailers and RV's require |
| poorly maintained tires? | | | | an accurate reading (of the fully loaded weight) for |
| Make Checking a HabitTo guarantee the greatest tire | | | | proper tire inflation to carry those loads. These types |
| life, keep them properly inflated at all times. For | | | | of vehicles are usually weighed to obtain an accurate |
| smaller vehicles driven locally, check the tires at a | | | | reading. |
| minimum of once a month. If you travel longer | | | | · Check the pressure on all tires including |
| distance for work or play, check the tires more | | | | those on the tow vehicle, trailers, 5th wheels, etc. |
| often. If you're a truck driver accustomed to | | | | · Check pressure when the tires are cold, |
| "thumping tires," consider that this practice is | | | | prior to driving the vehicle |
| unreliable and unsafe. An under-inflated tire is | | | | · Replace tires every three to 5 years |
| extremely difficult to detect by visual inspection or | | | | (regardless of mileage) |
| by thumping. Utilizing either of these methods is an | | | | · Visibly inspect tires for blemishes, uneven |
| accident waiting to happen. Don't guess, don't thump, | | | | wear and tire pressure at least every 30 days. |
| measure with a quality tire gauge or a real-time tire | | | | By monitoring your vehicles tires, you will increase |
| monitoring system. | | | | their life, reduce fuel consumption and provide |
| Dealing with DualsVehicles with dual tires have a | | | | unprecedented value in improved handling and |
| hidden tire (inner tire position) behind the outside tire. | | | | ultimate safety. |
| They are more difficult to reach and easier to | | | | |