may2021 - 35

»Rhombus TireAnalytics provides a guided inspection process via a cloud-based system of record.
Photo courtesy of Dana

»It is important to measure tread depth and
visually inspect for wear and condition.

»Analyzing tire data can help a fleet determine
accurate pull points for their tires, by position.

Photo courtesy of Cooper Tire

Photo courtesy of Yokohama

the full potential of a tire's performance and profitability, Feasel added.
" Determining when to retread can depend
on a fleet's application, but many will start with
new tires in the steer position before retreading
the casing and moving it to the drive position,
followed by the trailer positions, " he explained.
" This helps to maximize the fleet's investment.
In some high-scrub industries, it might be more
productive to use retreads on the steer axle from
the start. "
When taking proper tread depth readings,
Feasel emphasized the importance of utilizing
the correct type of gauge and tracking solution.
" Be sure the technician is using a gauge designed
for commercial tires and one that is large enough
to take accurate measurements, " he pointed out.

" To properly assess tread depth, be sure to take
three separate tread measurements, [left, right,
and middle,] on each tire to ensure accuracy. An
average of the three measurements can be recorded. In most states, 2/32nds remaining tread depth
is legal, but many fleets set their own tread depth
standards for steer, drive, and trailer positions to
preserve casing life for retreading. "
While measuring the remaining tread on any
tire, it is important to visually inspect the tire for
obvious wear and operational conditions that may
be present such as cuts, snags, holes, and debris
lodged in the tread.
According to Brandon Gray, operational
marketing manager, B2B Services, Michelin
North America, a good example of analyzing tire
usage data to improve retread performance is via

Michelin's retread analytics tool, SMART (Strategic
Michelin Analytical Retread Tool).
SMART analyzes the conditions and causes
of why tires are pulled out of service and can
recommend changes in maintenance practices
and casing asset management specifications. For
example, upon completing an analysis of thousands of casings submitted annually for retreading, Gray said that a large national fleet customer
noted a particularly high casing rejection rate
due to sidewall impacts originating from one of
their maintenance locations. Upon further investigation, the fleet's maintenance vice president
discovered that the air pressure recommendation
at that location was 10 to 15 psi higher than the
company standard.
The higher tire pressure correlates with a
higher-than-average casing rejection rate due to
sidewall impact damage. According to Gray, that
maintenance manager changed the outlier air
pressure recommendation to be within the company standard, and this damage condition ended up
falling back within the fleet's norms. That move
resulted in several hundred tires being accepted
for retreading that would have previously been
rejected, Gray noted.
" It's typically time to retread a tire when the
original life tread meets the fleet specifications
to pull points, " Goodyear's Lancy pointed out.
" That's something that is known ahead of time
before the tire can be retreaded. But these pull
points can also vary by position, so all fleets
are required to pull steer tires when they reach
4/32nds remaining of tread depth and drive and
trailer tires at 2/32nds. "
In addition to analyzing the exact pull points on
when they remove tires, Lancy advised that fleets
also do a thorough visual inspection. Goodyear's
TireOptix program can help technicians look
not just at the inner and outer sidewall, but also
around the whole tread of the tire to make sure
there is no damage.
" Damage to the tread - if that perpetuates -
that could potentially cause bigger issues down
the road if those are not addressed early, " Lancy
emphasized. " Number one would be to check tread
depths and make sure that you're meeting the fleet
specifications and, minimally, meeting DOT specifications. Then, do a visual check to make sure those
tires are removed at the proper time so they don't
cause any roadside service issues down the road. "
When technicians are checking for tread depth,
they should also make sure that a tire is wearing
evenly, Lancy added. Ensuring even wear across
the tread, especially for a steer tire, can help a fleet
identify issues where the truck might need to be
aligned or tires should be moved into different
positions, he explained.
Lancy further emphasized the importance of
technicians keeping an eye out for mismatched
duals in the drive and trailer positions.
When it comes to implementing a successful
retreading program, it is important for fleets to
remember that quality new tires could eventually
be retreaded multiple times. It is also critical that
fleets know the manufacturer they are working
with and that they continue tracking tires from
the original new tire installation to that casing's
final tread cycle.

May 2021 | FleetMaintenance.com

http://www.FleetMaintenance.com

may2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of may2021