Tire Wear Fundamentals (part 2) - How to get more mileage out of your tires

Summary

This video provides an in-depth look at tire wear, focusing on drive and trailer tires. It explains common irregular wear types—shoulder step,Generate summary JSON heel-toe, and alternate lug wear—along with their causes, including rubber slippage, high torque, mismatched tires, and worn suspension components. The video emphasizes preventive maintenance strategies, such as maintaining proper tire pressure, aligning vehicles, matching tire diameters, rotating tires, and inspecting suspension systems. It also covers trailer-specific wear patterns like diagonal wear, shoulder scrubbing, and erratic tread wear. By understanding external forces and implementing proper maintenance, fleets can maximize tire life, reduce costs, and enhance vehicle performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper tire maintenance, including maintaining the correct inflation pressure, is crucial to minimizing irregular tire wear.
• 😀 Shoulder step wear appears on the tire's shoulder, often caused by rubber slippage while exiting the contact patch, and can be aggravated by suspension issues.
• 😀 Heel-toe wear results from extreme rubber slippage in high torque applications, such as steep grades, and can be reduced by correcting inflation pressure and tire rotation.
• 😀 Alternate lug wear occurs when tread blocks wear to different depths due to uneven tire diameters, typically caused by mismatched dual tires or unequal inflation pressures.
• 😀 Fleet maintenance practices, including proper tire inflation and matching tire sizes in dual assemblies, help reduce the impact of outside influences on tire wear.
• 😀 Regular alignment checks should be part of a preventive maintenance program to ensure proper tire wear and maximize tread life.
• 😀 Inadequate inflation and misalignment are the most common causes of irregular tire wear and should be checked regularly as part of routine maintenance.
• 😀 Unequal tire diameters in dual assemblies can result in rapid or irregular tread wear, with a maximum allowable diameter difference of 3/4 inch.
• 😀 External forces, such as suspension issues or load imbalances, can stress the tire footprint and lead to irregular wear patterns, including diagonal wear and shoulder scuffing.
• 😀 Misalignment and worn suspension components contribute to lateral scrub and uneven tire wear, especially in tight turns or when the trailer tracks incorrectly.
• 😀 Understanding tire wear patterns and their causes—such as load, inflation, and vehicle mechanics—can help identify, diagnose, and prevent irregular wear, reducing long-term tire costs.

Q & A

What is the primary cause of shoulder step wear on tires?

Shoulder step wear is primarily caused by rubber slippage while exiting the contact patch. It can be aggravated by suspension issues and typically appears first on the inside shoulder of the tire.

How does heel-toe wear develop on a tire?

Heel-toe wear occurs when each tread block wears in a sawtooth pattern from the leading edge to the rear. It results from extreme rubber slippage in high torque operations, such as steep grades or heavy pick-up and delivery operations, and is often caused by mismatched duals or uneven inflation pressures.

What conditions lead to alternate lug wear on tires?

Alternate lug wear happens when alternate tread blocks wear to different depths, usually due to unequal tire diameters. This can result from uneven inflation pressures or mismatched tires in dual assemblies and is aggravated by worn suspension components or axle misalignment.

Why is proper tire inflation so critical for tire maintenance?

Proper tire inflation is crucial because it ensures even tire contact with the road, prevents excessive heat and rubber movement, and reduces irregular wear patterns. Dual tire pressures should never differ by more than 10% to avoid unequal wear.

When should vehicle alignment checks be performed to maximize tire life?

Alignment checks should be performed when new trucks are delivered, during the first preventive maintenance, when suspension parts are repaired or replaced, and whenever irregular tire wear is noticed.

How does suspension affect tire wear on trailers?

Worn suspension components can cause irregular tire wear by allowing the trailer to create uneven forces on the tire footprint. This may reduce the contact area, generate lateral stresses, and create diagonal or lateral wear patterns.

What are the common trailer tire wear patterns identified in the script?

The common trailer tire wear patterns include diagonal wear, shoulder scrubbing or scuffing, erosion or river channel wear, and erratic wear or multiple flat spotting on individual ribs.

How does mismatched tire diameters affect dual assemblies?

Mismatched tire diameters in dual assemblies create irregular wear, especially on the smaller tire, because differences in circumference cause uneven rotation speeds and stress. Tires should be matched within 3/4 inch of each other in circumference.

What is the effect of tire footprint flex or squirm on wear?

Tire flex or squirm at the tread edges creates an 'erasing effect,' allowing abnormal wear to start. This is influenced by external forces, load, inflation, suspension, and road surface interactions.

Which maintenance-related factors have the most severe impact on irregular tire wear?

Inadequate tire inflation maintenance and axle misalignment are the most common and severe causes of irregular tire wear, often resulting in the most serious reduction in tire life.

What preventive measures can reduce irregular tire wear on fleet vehicles?

Preventive measures include regular cold tire pressure checks, matching tire diameters on dual axles, proper mounting of tires, and periodic full vehicle alignment as part of a comprehensive maintenance program.

Why might radial tires still develop irregular wear even though they are designed for slow wear?

Radial tires can develop irregular wear if maintenance is inadequate, as small tread movements or 'squirm' under load can create wear patterns over time, especially if there are issues with inflation, alignment, or suspension.