If you are in the earthmoving industry and own a number of earthmoving vehicles and equipment, you will most likely want the tyres to be used to their full potential. This will lead to increased productivity and reduction in operating costs. You may also need tyres that are resistant to wear, cuts, impacts and heat. Additionally, you may want tyres that have grip, stability, traction and that can travel at a sustained speed carrying a load. What will damage your tyres, and how do you prevent the damage?

Economical Load Limit

There is a particular load limit that you should not exceed if you do not want to compromise the performance of the tyres. Exceeding this limit destroys the thread, the resistance of the tyre and your vehicle's comfort. To avoid this damage, identify your vehicle tyre load by weighing the axle during the normal operating loads with the tyres having the stipulated correct pressure readings. Additionally, there is a set distance that the tyre should travel in a particular time. Try as much as possible not to exceed this distance.

Correct Pressure

Underinflating or overinflating will reduce the life of your tyres. Underinflation causes an increase in internal temperatures and fatigue. Overinflation, on the other end, will result to wear and tear and reduced resistance to impact and cuts.

Correct pressure, overloading and speeding may influence each other. You should not overload at any given time. If you overload, and at the same time you have not set the correct pressures, your tyres will get damaged in a short period, decreasing your productivity and increasing operating costs. Speed will also have the same destructive effect.

In addition to your tyres getting damaged, you may also land yourself in an accident or bear fines as you would not be operating under OHS principles and standards.

Mechanical Maintenance and Operation

Repeated and heavy braking, rapid acceleration, spinning the drive wheels, and cornering at high speeds will damage tyres. Have your workers or operators trained well! They should be aware of what damage their actions cause. The working area should also be clear of debris. Debris hurts the tyres of trucks and loaders. Correct or optimal positioning should be facilitated to shorten distances that encourage speeding during loading operations.

Make sure that your vehicles are maintained regularly. Poorly aligned steering wheels and faulty brakes will lead to tyre damage. Faulty brakes will generate excessive heat. This, combined with the heat generated by deflection and reduction gears, will exceed the internal tyre temperatures.