Best Maintenance Practices for Earthmoving Tyres

The best maintenance practices for earthmoving tyres vary depending on who's asked. Getting the right OTR products for the job is critical for overall production. To make sure heavy equipment like earthmoving vehicles get products best suited for the current job the size and pressure rating must be determined. Once this is calculated, it's best not to exceed the load weight in order to make them last longer. This decreases the chance of damage like deformation.

Once the OTR earthmoving tyres are installed it's important to check the tire pressure regularly. The best time to do this is after the vehicle has been stopped and allowed to cool on a flat surface. If the earthmoving equipment can be parked in the shade it will speed up wait time. To ensure the right pressure is found, leave the vehicle for 24 hours before testing. It's recommended that the pressure be checked every 30 days. This will help them wear evenly and avoid early damage. Driving with low pressure will increase the heat within the tire which can become a major problem. Remember also to put the caps back on the valves in order to prevent air leaking out.

Other things to remember with the best maintenance of earthmoving tyres include:

Adjust the pressure in relation to how far an earthmoving vehicle is to travel. This will change according to the distance travelled.
Regularly check tread depth.
Readjust the tire pressure when the load is removed for the trip back to the location of origin.
Do not exceed the speed recommended for the tire.
Allow tyres to cool every 120 minutes during long hauls.

Adopt Good Driving Practices.

In order to get the most out an earthmoving tire's life good driving practices should be used during all hauls. These include:

Try to avoid potholes
When potholes cannot be avoided, slow down when making contact.
Speed up and brake slowly to avoid uneven tire wear.
Take turns slowly.

A major factor in maintaining tyres and safety during transit is to make sure that tire installation with new tyres or during rotation is done to the manufacturer's specifications.

Some tips on how to make sure this is done include:

Inspect the rims to make sure they aren't damaged. If the rims aren't in working order it increases the chance of air leaking out.
Measure the distance between the tire and the wheel well to make sure there is proper clearance.
Double check all earthmoving tyres to make sure the tire pressure is the same. On some jobs it is suggested that the back and front tyres be inflated at different pressures. The best way to know if this is the case, contact the OTR dealer for suggestions.

Don't Forget Proper Storage

When tyres are not in use, it's wise to remember:

Don't store tyres for more than 90 days without use.
Store tyres in a dry place that doesn't get exceedingly hot or cold.
Do not store tyres near corrosive chemicals that can cause degradation.
Store tyres away from equipment that may damage the tyres due to the heat the equipment emits.

These are just a few helpful tips on choosing the right earthmoving tire and ways to make them last longer. Replacing earthmoving tyres is extremely expensive, yet there are many businesses who put tire maintenance last. Buying new tyres can stall production especially now that there is a worldwide shortage of OTR tyres. If there is an accident the wait time can be even longer while the earthmoving equipment is repaired. Proper earthmoving tire maintenance also decreases the chance at loss of life of other motorist or the driver. Spending a few extra dollars with an earthmoving OTR dealer who will inspect tyres on time is far cheaper than the alternative.