march2021 - 50

GUEST EDITORIAL

Improving tire
management using
scrap tire analysis
How past tire performance can help fleets
make informed future tire decisions.

There are many reasons tires are removed
from service outside of normal wear, ranging
from driver-related behavior to running the
wrong type of tires in a particular application
to vehicle condition such as alignment or worn
suspension components.
It is relatively easy to identify many of the
issues that lead to early tire removal by analyzing the tires themselves. By pinpointing common
reoccurring problems, fleets can make decisions
that will help prolong the life of their tires. Plus,
they can find tires that best fit their operation.
As beneficial as scrap tire analysis can be,
only a small percent of fleets inspect their
scrap tires on a regular basis. Top tire service
providers say one of the most effective ways to
reduce a fleet's overall maintenance spend is
by " consistently analyzing scrap tires. "

Getting started

»By pinpointing common reoccurring problems, fleets can
make decisions that will help prolong the life of their tires.
Photo courtesy of Cooper Tire

By Jason C. Miller

NATIONAL FLEET CHANNEL SALES MANAGER,
COOPER TIRE
Jason C. Miller is Cooper Tire's national fleet channel sales
manager. He has worked in all aspects of the tire industry,
mastering complex tire programs for some of the largest fleets in North America. A member of the American
Trucking Association's Technology and Maintenance
Council (TMC), Jason is also a TIA certified tire instructor
and former ASE certified technician. He has a Bachelor of
Science degree in information technology and a Master of
Science degree in integrated marketing communications
from Northwestern University.

50 Fleet Maintenance | March 2021

Once a tire is pulled from service, take a few
seconds to inspect the tire and mark the reason
it was removed. It does not need to be a thorough
inspection (that will occur later in the process),
but this will provide an idea of the tire's issue.
A key step while making the initial inspection is making sure the tires are inflated. If a
tire failed due to a puncture or slow leak, it may
be difficult to find the problem area if it is flat.
A good reference for determining the cause
of a failure is the Technology and Maintenance
Council's (TMC) Radial Tire Conditions
Analysis Guide. It contains information and
photos of tire conditions as well as probable
causes for premature removal.
Tires that have worn evenly down to the
pull point and are ready for retreads should
be set aside so they will not be mistaken for
scrap. Over time as a fleet regularly goes
through scrap tires and implements program
improvements, they should see an increase in
the percentage of tires that can be retreaded.
When it comes time to perform a scrap tire
analysis, the fleet's tire dealer may be able to
help. If a fleet has more than 100 trucks, scrap
tires should be inspected every month. Smaller
fleets should check once every quarter for at
least the first few cycles.

Potential cost savings are found by identifying
recurring issues that lead to early removal. A few
random tires that have uneven wear may not
provide much information, but unevenly worn
tires continuously pulled from a specific truck,
with a particular tire brand, along a specific route
or with the same driver, will provide the information needed to narrow down the cause and effect.
Using a spreadsheet helps keep the data
organized and offers an easy way to run
reports and compare current and past tire
analysis results. The more information a fleet
has, the better off it will be. Here is a general
outline of some of the information to be noted
when inspecting tires:
Ü Truck unit and tire position
Ü Tire brand type
Ü Number of retreads
Ü Last retread DOT/date
Ü Number of repairs
Ü Remaining tread
Ü Tire size and load rating
Ü Name of driver (if applicable)
Ü Reason the tire was removed

Driver behavior

If there is damage to tires' sidewalls, signs of
hard braking or flat spotting, or damage caused
by underinflation, a driver may be at fault.
Sidewall damage often points to excessive
curbing, which indicates that particular driver
may need further on-road training.
Flat spotting: If drivers start their trip before
the air brakes release, they will drag the tires
across the pavement, creating flat spots.
Inflation: Maintaining optimal tire inflation
is the single most important step to extend tire
life. If a fleet notices a number of tires with
irregular tread wear, or a change in color in the
lower sidewall or flattening of the bead area,
that may indicate that tires are underinflated.

Tire maintenance

Are the fleet's tires regularly rotated, aligned,
and checked for punctures? Are duals properly
mated? Scrap tire analysis should make this
obvious. If excessive toe wear is detected, it is
an indication of a truck that is out of alignment
or has worn or damaged mechanical components. The date code should be checked on
trailer tires with signs of weathering or ozone
cracking; it is likely those tires are nearing or
past their serviceable date.

Taking the time will pay off

Scrap tire analysis can provide the knowledge
needed to make better decisions with regard to
tire management. Over time, it may be possible to choose between one or two tire brands
that provide the longest life to removal, best
fuel economy, or other factors that best fit the
needs of the fleet. Knowledge is power, and the
reward is worth the effort.
" Read more at
FleetMaintenance.com/21212253

http://www.FleetMaintenance.com/21212253

march2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of march2021