Tire Safety and the Benefits of Temperature and Pressure Monitoring

June 26, 2013

Fleet Truck Tire Safety and the Benefits of Temperature and Pressure Monitoring

When operating any vehicle, you need to ensure your tires are in good condition – but especially so when operating large trucks and construction equipment. Proper tire care and maintenance is always a good investment, as it will help to ensure the safety of employees and that your job is completed on schedule.

Tires wear down easily when they are not fully inflated. When tire pressure is too low, heat accumulates, resulting in a shorter tire life span, damaged tire casings, and worn-out treads, which create hazardous driving conditions that can lead to accidents on the road. In fact, 90% of all tire blowouts are caused by low tire pressure, so it is essential that tire pressure is checked regularly.

In addition to the risk of blowouts and accidents, low tire pressure results in higher rolling resistance, which means the engine will have to work harder – and consume more fuel – to operate. According to the U.S. Department of energy, keeping tires at optimum pressure can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 3.3%. So ensuring that your fleet’s tires are properly inflated can save your company a lot of money.

For most companies, 36% of fleet maintenance costs go to tire maintenance. Unfortunately, truck maintenance teams often bypass tire pressure checks to save time. This is a big mistake. Short cuts in tire maintenance will result in an increased number of blowouts which will need to be replaces. Thus, cutting corners on tire maintenance will actually cost a company a lot more money in the long run.

When checking tire pressure, it is necessary to use a tire gauge or a tire monitoring system to ensure a tire is optimally inflated. If the truck is only used in short distances, tires should be checked at least once a month. However, for trucks that travel more often – and travel longer distances – tire pressure should be checked more often. Large trucks have many tires, and ensuring proper tire pressure can be a lot of work for your maintenance team, but it is definitely worth it in the long run.

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems can save your maintenance team a lot of time, because they allow for each tire to be inspected via a wireless sensor. When investing in TPMS, companies should find systems with the following features:

• Alerts for high or low tire pressure
• Alerts for high or low tire temperature
• Visual and auditory warnings for the driver
• Trailer and vehicle monitoring

If you ensure that your fleet’s tires are checked regularly and your tires are inflated well, you will extend the life of your tires – and keep blowouts to a minimum. Not to mention the money you will save in fuel costs.

Written by Kevin B. Harper

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7347544