Increase value from your truck tyres
Tyres are one of a truck fleet’s largest expenses. Whether your vehicles run long, uninterrupted trips on highways and motorways, or do their business on stop/start routes through Brisbane and along the Gold Coast, Queensland’s road surfaces will eventually take their toll.
These seven tips for taking care of your truck tyres will reduce maintenance needs, cut fuel costs, and lengthen the life of your tyres. They will also ensure your drivers and their loads are as safe as possible on the roads in Queensland.
1. Give tyres the once-over at every pit stop
A visual inspection of a truck’s tyres should be carried out at every rest break. Early warning of cracks or bulges in the sidewall is essential for safety. Look for sharp objects, and other road debris stuck in the tyre treads, as well as uneven wear and tear.
2. Take note of tread wear
You don’t need to be a detective to recognise what tread wear is trying to tell you about your truck. During a visual inspection, look for the following wear patterns:
- Wear on the tyre’s shoulder indicates underinflation
- Wear through the centre shows the tyre has been driven while overinflated
- Uneven wear shows that the wheels probably need realigning
3. Rotate your tyres regularly
Not all wear and tear is even on all truck tyres. Loaded trucks exert different weight on all tyres. Depending on the work and types of loads your fleet hauls, we’d recommend tyre rotation at a maximum of 60,000 to 80,000 kilometres. Tyres on trailers may require more regular rotation. No two fleets are the same, so it’s best to customise your rotation methods and policies to your requirements. We’d be happy to help you decide the optimum schedule and pattern of your fleet’s tyre rotation. (A further tip here is to make sure you alter tyre inflation to the recommended levels every rotation.)
4. Keep your truck tyres properly inflated
When tyres are improperly inflated, handling, fuel consumption and braking are all adversely affected. Systems like Continental’s latest truck tyre pressure monitoring system work on all brands and ensure a truck’s tyres are optimally inflated at all times. When you use such a system across your entire fleet, you should notice fuel consumption reduce and tyre life lengthen.
For smaller fleets without tyre pressure monitoring systems, drivers and maintenance staff should check tyre pressure regularly, when the tyres are cold.
5. Align truck wheels regularly
When a truck’s wheels are misaligned, the tyres will wear irregularly. Fuel costs will rise, and tyres will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. Handling will also be affected. Check alignment at regular intervals, and every rotation.
6. Keep truck wheels balanced
Truck tyres are easily thrown out of balance. Damage to tyres is a prime cause of this. A noticeable effect of poor wheel balance is vibrations while driving – which makes handling more difficult, and can affect suspension systems.
When truck tyres are fitted for the first time, they should be balanced correctly. After this, ensure that they are balanced at least once per year, and certainly, if they are repaired. If a driver does experience vibrations, get in touch with the team here at Darra Tyres, and book for an emergency assessment of your tyres. It could reduce fuel costs and, more importantly, save a life.
7. Always get tyres repaired by professionals
Whether repairing or retreading tyres, the work should be carried out by professional tyre technicians. The team here at Darra carry out complete inspections on truck tyres. We look for damage, patch as required, and when a truck tyre needs replacing, we’ll ensure it is replaced with the best tyre for the job your truck does here in Queensland.
For all your fleet tyre needs here in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today.
Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,
Kevin Wood