Tires on any type of vehicle are responsible for transmit power, ensure steerabilitycarry the weight of the vehicle, passengers, additional cargo, give comfort as part of the suspension system.
For Carlos Cruz, commercial manager of Hankook Tire, performance is measured in pressure, tread wear conditions and tire structure. “In the event that anomalies are detected in any of these edges, the vehicle must be subject to immediate maintenance,” recommends Cruz.
Meanwhile, for Carlos Leal, technical director of Automundial fleets – Laufenn, in most cases, the measurement is made in kilometers traveled from the initial installation of the tire until its removal at the end of the cycle. The end of the cycle, explains Leal, is considered when the tire goes to the retreading or final disposal process. For some trucks with short distances and aggressive operations, hours of operation are used as the unit of measure.
Continental Tire Andina expects to increase annual production of tires for trucks and vans, after an injection of $13 million of investment
An important variable to measure the quality of tires is the number of kilometers traveled for each millimeter of rubber (km/mm). “This indicator shows us the duration of the compound and the aggressiveness of the operation,” says Leal.
When to replace them?
The replacement of heavy transport tires must be done earlier, taking into account the criteria for tread wear, that is, the tires must be changed when they have a level of wear greater than 70% and less than 85%. % to ensure greater security.
How to choose the right ones?
For Cruz, an expert at Hankook Tire, two important aspects must be taken into account. First, the type of terrain on which it operates which determines the type of tread pattern. If the vehicle is used in rough terrain, mixed or completely off-road, it must have the correct tires for its correct operation.
Second, the load capacity, which will depend on the kilograms of what the truck transports. There are truck tires that have different load indexes or number of plies, depending on this aspect. The higher the load requirement, the more plies or high load index the tire requires. The design of the tread allows the vehicle to perform safely on the ground it travels and the load index or number of canvases will determine the kilograms that it can transport with the adequate pressure in the tires.
Tire inflation, what is recommended?
For his part, Carlos Leal, Laufenn specialist, provides the following guidelines for choosing tires.
For asphalt or concrete roads: Tires with stud designs that help improve traction on dry or wet roads. Being tires for long journeys, their design must be developed for regional roads. In addition, having wavy grooves that help increase traction and maintain braking and performance until the last phase of wear.
For secondary roads, dirt roads or interveredales: For this type of soil, mixed tires are the ideal option, since they have a special compound in the tread that makes them highly resistant to cuts and penetrations, as well as tears. They have a type of stud design that provides extra traction and eliminates the probability of material retention, be it mud or stone. This means that it has self-cleaning capabilities.
For roads under construction or in mining operations: It is recommended to choose a highly resistant tire to cuts and tears, with extra depth and wide spacing between grooves, which avoids the retention or jamming of studs and therefore skidding, which is the cause of damage and tearing of bars.
Care to extend its useful life
When the correct tires have been purchased, it is important to maintain certain care to extend their useful life. These measures, inclusively, generate greater efficiency in the operation:
● regular maintenance: Tires directly influence fuel consumption, since the lower the inflation pressure, the higher the consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to calibrate them at least once a week when they are cold, never when hot. This is because, apart from being risky, the reading is not correct, because the higher the temperature, the higher the pressure.
● Driving style: Driving habits have a notorious influence on fuel consumption, however, on many occasions its importance is not taken into account. In addition to avoiding setbacks, driving carefully helps maximize the savings obtained in the purchase of tires, engines and aerodynamic devices.
● Weight reduction: It is important to remove unnecessary weight. The more weight is carried, the more money is spent on fuel. Therefore, the ideal is to move the planned material and try to maintain the same amount regularly; eliminating weights that are not strictly necessary. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
