Category Archives for "Agricultural Tyres"

0 Which repair is best for my agricultural tyre?

How to tell a poor repair, and which tyre specialist to use

If your agricultural tyre is damaged, you’ll have two types of repair that you could make: temporary and permanent. In this article, you’ll learn how to spot that your tyre repair has been bodged.

When might you need a temporary agricultural tyre repair?

Temporary repairs should only be made to get your vehicle or machinery back to the yard. Patches should not be used for more than 24 hours, and may not be possible if the damage is too large. For this type of damage, you should have the tyre repaired permanently.

You might be tempted to make a temporary repair, especially if time is tight (when isn’t it?), but a professional repair will prolong the life of your tyre and save money and time in the long run.

Do you need a permanent agricultural tyre repair?

Permanent repairs are more expensive than temporary fixes. This cost saving, though, is as temporary as the temporary. A temporary repair could be a false economy.

When considering which type of repair is best for your agricultural tyre, you should consider what work it will be doing. The heavier the load and tougher the ground, the harder your tyre will need to work. A temporary fix could fail fast.

It’s very tempting to make a temporary fix on tyres that are used on handling equipment. A temporary repair is quick and cheap, and the equipment is only used in a confined area and only now and again. But what if the tyre fails? Suddenly you have an expensive repair, and, most importantly, you’re putting the operator at risk.

What type of permanent repair is best?

When a tyre is repaired permanently, the repair can be made by hot or cold vulcanising. You should know the difference before deciding which you need.

Vulcanisation is the tyre equivalent of welding. Using sulphur, the tyre and patch are bonded together, making a permanent seal.

Hot vulcanising is faster than cold, and best for larger damage. However, it requires specialist equipment, and your tyre will need to be sent away for repair.

For smaller repairs in the centre of the tread, cold vulcanising may be best. The repair will take a day to make, with the tyre and patch bonded at 18 degrees Celsius. Usually, this process can be made at a tyre shop, though it may be necessary to send the tyre away for repair, depending on the extent of the damage.

If you decide on the wrong type of repair, even if it is done perfectly the result could be as bad as the right repair done poorly. Always take advice from a tyre specialist before making your decision.

How can you tell a bodged tyre repair from a good one?

There are several giveaway signs that a temporary repair has been bodged. These include:

• Rough edges to the repair
• The patch is pulling away
• Bulges are visible
• Multiple repair patches

If you spot any of these conditions, you should stop using the tyre immediately and take it to a tyre specialist for a full examination. Multiple repair patches are a sign that the wrong type of repair has been made, and made badly.

Poor permanent repairs are harder to detect because most of the work is internal. A spectrometer is needed to inspect the tyre. It is like an X-ray for tyres and examines behind what might look like a perfect patch on the outside.

How can I tell which repairer to afford?

If a tyre repairer is offering a bargain basement price on a tyre repair, the chances are that you’ll get a bargain basement repair. Agricultural tyres and repairs are the same as most commodities – you get what you pay for. If your agricultural tyre is damaged, have it checked by a reputable tyre specialist.

Contact Darra Tyres today and get your damaged agricultural tyre checked by the professionals. We’ve been serving South and West Brisbane for more than 40 years, supplying all major brands and at all price points.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 The perils of over or underinflating agricultural tyres

How to work with the optimum footprint in all conditions

Agricultural tyre pressure is one of the most important factors in getting the best from your tractor and other farming vehicles. Many operators run their agricultural tyres with the wrong inflation. In this blog post, I’ll examine the consequences of getting the air pressure wrong on your agricultural tyres, and how to ensure you run your tyres at the optimum footprint.

Be prepared for expensive field work with the wrong tyre pressure

Your tyres are hugely important in the field. The wrong tyre pressure will affect vehicle performance. Soil will be compacted and crop production affected. And poorly inflated tyres wear faster and damage more easily. Many operators ballast their tyres in attempts to increase performance.

Manufacturers’ studies have shown that incorrect tyre inflation can mean as much as a 40% loss of engine power. It is caused by slipping and poor rolling resistance. Add this to power loss from the transmission and additional equipment, and you’re looking at up to a 50% reduction in power. This amount of power loss puts an incredible strain on a tractor’s engine. It must work harder and uses more fuel. Repair and maintenance issues will increase. All this adds up to a big hit on your pocket.

Functionality depends on footprint

Increased traction depends upon its footprint – the amount of tyre surface area in contact with the ground. The greater the footprint, the greater the traction. So, you would think that running agricultural tyres at the lowest possible inflation would increase efficiency because a larger footprint gives less wheel slipping, and results in longer tyre life and less soil compaction. Wins all round. But it’s not quite this easy.

Agricultural tyres must also carry loads without causing damage to their construction. When this happens, all bets are off. Damage to tyres increases, power is harmed, and costs increased. So, it’s imperative that you run your tyres at the optimum pressure for optimum results.

Agricultural tyre footprint – a constantly changing factor

The optimum tyre footprint doesn’t simply depend on tyre pressure. It also depends upon the load being supported and the tyre size, and ground being driven on. The optimum footprint will constantly change, as the load being carried changes. So, you need to reach a happy medium.

How you do this is to stick within the tyre manufacturer’s guidelines – the tables they produce on tyre sizes, maximum loads, tyre pressures, and speeds. Operate a tyre at 10% below its stated optimum pressure, and you’ll decrease its life by 15%.

The perils of overinflation of agricultural tyres

It’s not only underinflation that can affect tyre life and performance in the field. Over-inflation will increase the likelihood of tyre damage and more. For a start, driving on overinflated tyres will hit your driver hard. Every bump reverberates up the spine. Comfort reduces, and performance isn’t far behind. It is indicative of what over inflation does to tractor performance – wear and tear on tyre and vehicle increases. You’ll use more fuel, increase soil compaction, and reduce tyre life.

What’s worse – overinflation or underinflation?

There isn’t much difference between the effects of overinflation and underinflation. A 20% overinflated tyre causes 30% loss in performance, while a 20% underinflated tyre will cost you 26% of your performance.

However, if you drive your tractor on the road with underinflated tyres, the lugs will start to wear faster. Your rear lugs will be more severely damaged. It could cause bead slip – and leads to rapid destruction of the tyre.

Check your tyre pressure regularly

Neglecting your tyre pressures on your agricultural vehicles will impact your bottom line.

An underinflated tyre will increase fuel consumption, lead to sidewall damage, uneven wear and bead slip, which eventually destroys the tyre.

An overinflated tyre will increase fuel consumption, increase wear on the vehicle and tyre, increase soil compaction, and result in reduced tyre life.

When it comes to your tyres, check tyre pressures regularly. Keep them within the manufacturer’s guidelines for load, size and speed. One final tip: make sure your tyres have a valve cap. It keeps dust and dirt out of your tyre, but, equally as important, it prevents the natural air loss through tyre valves.

For all your agricultural and other tyre needs here in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Agricultural tyres – how do you choose the best for Queensland farms?

Know your tyres to cut costs and maximise productivity

Agricultural tyres are work horses – like your tractor. They are also big investments – like your tractor. Unlike your tractor, tyres have remained pretty much the same for a hundred years and more. While the shape of tractors has changed markedly, agricultural wheels are still the same basic shape and colour. Yet, just like in the cab and under the bonnet of your tractor, tyre manufacturers have packed an increasingly big punch into agricultural tyres.

To get the best performance from your tractor, you should understand the tyres it sits on.

Agricultural tyres and technology

The agricultural tyre looks very similar to how it did a century ago, and when compared to the tyres you may have had on your tractor in the 1980s, there is even less difference. But underneath that black exterior, there is a whole lot of new technology going on.

Manufacturers have massively upgraded rubber compounds. It has helped to increase load capacity. Agricultural tyres can now roll at lower tyres pressures, giving them better traction in the field.

Cross-ply or radial – which is best?

Cross-ply tyres have criss-cross cords, while radials have steel cords and belts across the casing. It’s now widely accepted that radials offer the best performance. They:

• Reduce wheel slip
• Reduce soil compaction
• Produce less rutting and soil erosion

Radials offer greater horsepower-to-ground capability, less wheel slip and reduced soil compaction, which in turn leads to less soil degradation via rutting and erosion.

A soft footprint for reduced rutting

Because of the way they are constructed, radials have a softer sidewall. It enables the tyre to run at a lower air pressure, which produces a ‘soft footprint’. The harder the tyre footprint, the deeper the rutting in the field. It is bad for crop growing, and bad for the tyre and the engine.

Your tractor engine must work harder to power the tyres through deep ruts. It uses more fuel and decreases engine life, too.

Radial agricultural tyres should give you a better soil, and cut your running costs.

The agricultural tyre trade-off

There is a trade-off to make when choosing between radial and cross-ply tyres for agricultural use. We wouldn’t recommend you ballast radial tyres with water. However, it’s a common practice to ballast cross-ply tyres with water. They are cheaper and more durable. If you work a rough terrain, where puncturing is a problem, cross-ply may be your better option. And for small-scale farmers, cross-ply tyres are usually more economical.

When radials outperform

For large-scale farmers, especially where production levels are important, radial tyres should be the tyre of choice. Though they cost more, their extended tread life makes the costs more than stack up in your favour. In fact, radial treads are likely to last up to three times longer than cross-ply treads.

You should bank on a good quality radial lasting around 5,000 hours in Queensland.

Time, money and productivity – the tyre tread advantage

By selecting the best tyre for your application, you’ll save time and money. Your tyre life will be extended, and your engine won’t be worked quite as hard. For most agricultural applications, a herringbone tread is best. The softer footprint will help your soil produce more crops. Larger tyres tend to give a better traction, too.

However, if traction is not an issue, then a diamond pattern tread may be best.

When buying agricultural tyres, speak with one of our technicians. We’ll consider:

• The ground they will be used on, and how tread width will impact your production.
• Power usage, and suggest a tyre to maximise horsepower.
• Which tyres will enable you to carry heavier loads without the need for higher tyre pressures?

Our aim is to help you produce the most crop with the least effort, prolonging tyre and tractor life. The result is that we match the best tyre for the specific use you have planned for it.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 To ballast or not to ballast – what’s best for your agricultural tyres?

Should you ballast your tractor tyres, and what is best to do so?

You may add fluids to your agricultural tyres for extra traction and to lower the centre of gravity of your vehicle. If your tyres slip on wet surfaces, adding some fluid should help to improve agricultural tyre performance.

Reasons to ballast agricultural tyres

There are several reasons to ballast agricultural tyres. Perhaps the three most common are:

• Modern 4×4 tractors have a higher centre of gravity, because of their taller tyres. Especially on hilly surfaces, the higher the centre of gravity the more liable you are to slip or topple. By adding ballast, your tractor could work more effectively and safely.
• Also, if you have a bucket loader. If you accidentally overload the bucket, the rear tyres could lift. That producing a heart-thumping moment. Adding ballast to the rear tyres on your agricultural vehicle makes tractor operation safer in these circumstances.
• With a heavy rear plough attached, adding ballast to your front tyres will increase steerability.

However, when you add ballast, ride quality can be adversely impacted. It is particularly true if you drive on the tarmac at higher speeds. When ballasting your tyres, you’ll need to consider what work you are doing, what terrain is being driven on, and what fluid is preferred.

What’s the best ballast fluid for agricultural tyres?

Farmers are super resourceful and cautious with money. That’s a great combination, and, when it comes to ballasting tyres, has led to some innovative solutions. Here are a few, with the pros and cons:

·      Water

The cheapest ballast material. However, water freezes. Now, while this shouldn’t pose a problem in most Queensland winters, if we have prolonged cold spells like we did in 2014 (when the temperature fell as low as -6.1ᵒC in Oakey) you could find that water ballast damages your tyres. This damage could include the tyre coming off the wheel rim.

·      Calcium Chloride

To get over the problem of freezing water ballast, you might want to add calcium chloride. It will take the freezing temperature down to around -50ᵒC. On the downside, while a calcium chloride solution is cost-effective, it can rust your wheels. Any money you save on ballast fluid pales into insignificance against the cost of a new set of tractor wheels.

·      Antifreeze

Although not the cheapest fluid to use as ballast, antifreeze removes the disadvantages of calcium chloride while retaining the resistance to freezing. However, it is toxic. For this reason, if you are thinking about adding antifreeze to water, use propylene glycol and not ethylene glycol.

·      Beet Juice

Beet juice is a liquid tyre ballast. It’s heavier than water (so you need less of it), non-toxic, and non-corrosive. However, these benefits come at a cost: beet juice is not cheap.

·      Foam

Foam-filled tyres possibly provide the best ride. However, if you need to change the tyre, it will need to be cut off the wheel. Also, the pressure cannot be changed on foam-filled tyres, so you won’t be able to adjust to varying conditions. The expense of filling with foam also means you are best to fill new (or nearly new) tyres to get maximum life.

What is your favourite ballast fluid?

The above fluids are the most common used for ballast on agricultural tyres. I’ve also heard of farmers using windscreen washer (it’s cheap and shares many of the qualities of antifreeze). Whatever your favourite ballast fluid, you’ll need to use a filling device – and making use of gravity removes the strain of pumping fluid into the tyre, after deflating the tyre and removing the valve core. By locating the valve at different positions (e.g. 4 o’clock or 2 o’clock) you will automatically regulate how much fluid you are adding to the tyre.

What is your favoured ballast fluid? Have you got any tips for other farmers in Queensland? Contact us and let us know.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 7 tips to improve performance of agricultural tyres

How to keep your agricultural tyres in peak condition

Your agricultural tyres are some of your most valuable assets. And some of the most expensive. If you neglect your tyre tractor check, you could compromise safety, performance, and increase your costs. A few basic precautions and checks are all you need to prolong tyre life. You could save thousands of dollars over the course of a tractor’s lifetime.

Here are our seven top tips for agricultural tyre maintenance:

1.    Check your tyre pressures

It should be on your weekly maintenance programme. Use a low-pressure gauge to make sure your agricultural tyres are properly inflated. Ensure the gauge is properly calibrated by getting it checked at least once a year.

Always check inflation pressures when the tyre is cold – when the tyre is hot, the air inside expands, and the pressure rises. When the tyre cools down, it will be underinflated.

If your tyres are filled with water or antifreeze, use a special gauge and ensure the valve is at the bottom of the tyre when testing.

The danger of underinflation is that damage will be caused to the cord, and the carcass can fail. Over-inflation should only be used when hillside ploughing, or if you plan to use the tractor on hard surfaces for long periods. To determine the correct tyre pressure, weigh the rear axle with the tractor tool in a raised position and then refer to the load/inflation tables supplied.

2.    Tyre types

In the same way that you wouldn’t fit and mix radial and bias tyres on a car, you shouldn’t do so on your agricultural vehicles, either.

3.    Watch for valve damage

Valve damage is a sign that the tyre is slipping on the rim. It is caused by:

• Underinflated tyres
• Too much lubricant on the bead when the tyre was mounted
• The bead is improperly seated on the rim

If a valve is damaged, get the tyre and wheel checked by a tyre specialist immediately.

4.    Watch for tyre spinning

If you notice that a tyre is spinning, it is probably because the wheel weights are too light. Spinning on rough surfaces will wear the tread bars, and eventually, the tyre will become useless. The best action to prevent this is to add wheel weights, though as a temporary measure you might also:

• Adjust inflation pressure down (but not below the recommended pressure)
• Decrease the draft load

5.    Check your rims

If your tyre is fitted to a rim that is too narrow, it will suffer the same problems as if it were over-inflated. The wear will be concentrated on the centre of the tyre tread. Wear will be increased, and traction will be reduced. The tyre is also likely to suffer sidewall damage, where the wheel rim subjects extra pressure on the tyre. It’s not unusual for tyres that have been fitted on narrower rims to suffer sidewall separation.

Always ensure that your tyres and rims match.

6.    Clean oil and grease from your agricultural tyres

Oil, grease and fuel damages tyre rubber. So, too, does agricultural chemicals. If you use your tyres where they come into contact with any such liquids, make sure they are cleaned before storing your vehicle.

7.    Check your tyres for damage daily

At the end of every day, do a tyre check. Look for cuts, scrape and breaks. Look for exposed cords. If a tyre is damaged, it should be removed, tested and repaired by a qualified tractor tyre specialist.

For all your agricultural tyre needs in West Brisbane, we’re here to help. We’ve got extensive experience in the supply, fitting, and maintenance of agricultural tyres on all types of vehicle. Contact us (by Skype, telephone, or on our contact form) and make sure your agriculture tyres are in top condition for all seasons.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Agriculture Tyres – How to avoid tyres harming your Queensland harvest

Agriculture Tyres – Tips to keep agricultural tyres in top condition

Agricultural tyres and equipment have a nasty habit of breaking down at the most critical time. And what time could be more significant than during the harvest season in Queensland? You’ve got to be on top of your game at this period of the year. You’ve got the weather to contend with. And when a crop is ready to be harvested, time isn’t going to be on your side.

One of the most critical (and overlooked) pieces of farm equipment are your agricultural tyres. If one blows mid-harvest, it could ruin what promised to be a great crop. Here are my best tips to keep your tyres in peak condition when it matters the most.

1.    Check your agricultural tyres for damage

You may not have given your combine the once-over for some time. Last year’s harvest could have left bulges, cuts and tears on your agricultural tyres that you’ve forgotten about. Not checking your tyres before you put them to work in the field could prove to be an expensive error.

Check the tread and sidewalls for any damage before you start the engine.

2.    Remove agricultural tyre flat spots

When your combine has been inactive for a while, all its weight will have been in one area of the tyres. This can cause flat spots on each of your tyres.

Top agricultural tyre tip: Inflate your tyres to a little above the operating inflation, and move the combine into the sunlight. It will warm your tyres and help return them to their proper shape.

3.    Check tyre pressures

Think about where you combine will be used. Does your land slope? Is there a lot of tarmacs to be travelled?

Consider the terrain and intensity of work, and inflate your tyres to the correct operating pressures.

4.    Check the wheels

Damage to wheels could throw out their alignment and balancing. It could cause you a heap of trouble, with uneven tyre wear leading to a rapid deterioration of the tread.

5.    Don’t neglect your rear tyres

It’s common for farmers to neglect their rear tyres. You should make the same checks on these that you do your front tyres. Make sure that you inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

6.    Inspect your tyres every day

The sooner you spot tyre damage and make a repair; the more effective the repair will be. It will be cheaper, too.

Make an agricultural tyre inspections part of your daily routine. Check for cuts and bulges. Make sure you check all around the tyre, and inner and outer sidewalls. Check and correct inflation pressures before you go into the field.

7.    Choose the right agricultural tyres

If you need new agricultural tyres, make sure they’re right for the vehicle and the job it’s doing. There is a huge choice of agricultural tyres today. They’re tested for performance, load capacities, and fuel consumption qualities. Michelin’s Ultraflex Technology allows agricultural tyres to be run at lower inflation pressures. It’s been proven to help performance and operator safety and comfort.

Don’t neglect your other vehicles’ agricultural tyres, either. If your trailer is carrying heavy loads, its tyres are just as important as those on your combines and tractors.

The tips above will help you have a great harvest. If you want us to come and check or replace your agricultural tyres or need any tyre advice, contact us (by Skype, telephone, or on our contact form) and get it straight from the experts at our West Brisbane tyre shop. Our technicians are here to help you make the best choice. With extensive experience in the supply and fitting of agricultural tyres, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 If Ferrari made tractors, who would make the industrial tyres?

Tractor tyre innovation explained

When you think of tractors, you won’t associate them with Ferrari. However, this could change in the next few years. It was about this time last year that Zetor exhibited its Pininfarina-designed concept tractor, a tractor designed for the future. Sleek, modern, and Ferrari red. Not made by Ferrari, but created by the same design house that is behind some of the most iconic Ferraris of all time.

Here I look at the design, and if it is likely to usher in a new age of tractors in Australia.

What was Zetor thinking?

Zetor is a brand name that most non-agricultural people will never have heard. It’s a company that has sold more than a million units in 100 countries. It clearly knows its tractors. Its main manufacturing plant is in the Czech Republic, and its history of success is based upon engineering quality, design, and innovation.

A collaboration with Ferrari designer Pininfarina must be considered to be at the forefront of tractor design innovation. The result was a concept tractor, unveiled at last year’s Agritechnica fair in Hannover, Germany.

When you examine the Pininfarina-designed tractor, it’s easy to imagine the vehicle with a 0 to 60 mph rating on it. That wasn’t the case, but its aerodynamic lines are groundbreaking.

The tractor wasn’t built simply to look good, however. It had to be robust, reliable, and simple to work on. It was also designed to increase brand awareness. The red colour was a given – that’s something that Ferrari and Zetor already had in common. Something else that was evident in the concept model was functionality  (a constant from Zetor tractors) and grace  (a constant in Ferrari cars).

What tractor tyres would a Zetor concept use?

To deliver on its promise, the Zetor concept tractor would need to match its design, grace and functionality with tractor tyres that offer the same qualities. Could this be possible when it comes to tractor tyres?

Maybe. Last year Michelin unveiled a concept tractor tyre tread that could become an industry standard.

How do tractor tyre manufacturers improve performance?

When designing new tractor tyres and tread patterns, manufacturers put their concept tractor tyres through a whole range of tests. Sometimes they develop new tests to validate new findings. Once they’ve produced what they believe is an improved tractor tyre, they test it for functionality and robustness in the field. They have working farms to test the tyres, provide feedback, and then retest after refinements have been made. It could be months or even years before you see a tyre move from concept to production.

When it designed its new concept tractor tyre, Michelin considered soil compaction, ruts and depth of ruts, fuel savings, and length of service.

Soil compaction

Michelin uses a sand track to make systematic comparisons between tyres. It is something that is tough (if not impossible) to do in the field: different soil conditions, weather and humidity make it so. What happens on sand will happen on soil, and to ensure that results are consistent the tractor trye tests are repeated several times.

The improvements that the tractor tyre manufacturers want to see are larger footprints and shallower ruts.

How is the soil rutting test done?

The research boffins dig a ditch (okay, so they have the ditch dug for them) and fill it with soil of different colours. A tractor equipped with the new tyres then drives over the ditch. The impact is measured and analysed by digging out perpendicular to the line of the test drive.

Measuring soil compaction

The researchers use a test called a ‘penetronometer test’ which is used in the field to gauge the impact of soil compaction. Measurements are taken at regular intervals with a penetrometer – this measures how compacted the soil becomes, with more compacted soils leading to stunted crop growth.

Fuel consumption testing

The fuel test is used with maximum tractor output, in a soil preparation situation. The tractor has a tooth plough attached and covers a set distance. Tyre spin is measured, and sometimes an effort sensor is used to measure the traction force for better fuel consumption estimation.

Industrial tyres life

Tractor tyre life is measured by what is known as an ‘accelerated wear test’. It’s rigged to roll in realistic conditions for 24 hours a day. The test is done driverless to negate the effects of driving style. After a pre-set period, the tractor tyre tread is measured. These tests are then consolidated with actual farm use data to give an accurate assessment of tyre life.

What are the latest Michelin tractor tyre innovations?

Using these tests among others, Michelin is constantly innovating their tractor tyres. In fact, the company spends in the region of $450 million every year on tyre research and development.

Michelin’s Ultraflex Technology allows you to run tyres at lower inflated pressures. It increases footprint and reduces soil compaction. You’ll find your fuel consumption falls, the tyres last longer, and your crops grow better.

Just like Zetor developed a concept tractor, Michelin developed a concept tyre based on the Ultraflex Technology. When the concept tyre was first developed, Michelin’s Northern European Commercial Director, Mike Lawton, said:

“Farmers of the future face the substantial challenge of feeding ever-increasing populations with less arable land available to them. As a result, tractor tyre and machinery choice is going to become ever more important to maximise yield. Lawton continues… “Michelin researchers are exploring all avenues to develop the tyres of the future; this latest concept is evidence of this work in practice.”

Zetor’s concept tractor may be some years from coming on to full production, but Michelin’s latest tractor tyres are available now. Contact the team on 3375 3566, and we’ll be glad to discuss all the tyres we stock and our various tyre service options.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road (and fields!),

Kevin Wood

0 Industrial Tyres – Don’t neglect your tractor tyres check!

Do you have agricultural machinery or tractors but don’t really have the time to use them on your land?

Neglecting tractor tyres, agricultural machinery tyres or any industrial tyres for that matter for an extended period of time can be deadly.

Tyres will start to perish after they have been sitting unused for quite some time. The dangers are only seen when it’s too late. Too many people think that because the vehicle or machinery is not being used then “the tyres must be fine, a bit of air and they will be good as new!”, this is not the case. Not matter how little use the tyres have received age will deteriorate tyres to an unsafe level for use.

But they looked fine…

A simple look over the tread of the tyre is not a comprehensive check. Dry rotting and cracks to the tyre sidewall can occur and this is what can cause a tyre to burst. A tyre burst can be extremely deadly no matter how big the vehicle or machine. Especially on a large tractor or plough a burst tyre can cause the vehicle to roll, veer off course and cause accidents.

Is there a timeline on how long my tyres will last?

There is no expiry date like a litre of milk would have. As a guide tyres will start to lose the natural oils about 5 years after production. All tyres are produced with a serial Tyre Identification Number (TIN). It’s generally written in a 4 digit style. E.g 3494 is the 34th week of 1994, or 2806 is the 28th week of 2006.

What to do if you’re really not sure whether or not you tyres are safe…

It’s simple, give the team at Darra Tyres a call on 3333 5510 and our mobile service team will come out to our commercial customers or you can bring the tyre down to us at Darra for a proper inspection of the tyres condition and air pressure. If you’re not sure then it’s probably not safe. Always ask an expert. And what better experts than the team at Darra Tyres who have over 100 years combined experience in the tyre and automotive industry. Give us a call or enquire online to speak with one of our experts today!

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team