#Semi tire psi Patch#

“Although tires are designed to function with pressure variations from warming during normal use, pressure effects resulting from ambient temperature fluctuations are a different story.”Īdditionally, Wilson says that trailer tires in a dual configuration are intended to share the load equally. “The most common reason for over-inflation is elevated tire operating temperatures combined with increased ambient air temperature,” says Matt Wilson, Hendrickson’s controls business unit manager. With summer on its way, this will be especially important to remember.

#Semi tire psi Patch#

“The contact patch of an over-inflated tire is smaller and creates a circular patch with the road surface that greatly decreases traction and propagates irregular wear that otherwise could have been avoided.”

“Over-inflation can also ruin a perfectly good tire,” says Raul Garcia of Falken Tires commercial product planning. Under-inflation may be the biggest issue in the tire industry, but don’t try to overdo it by over-filling the tires over-inflation can also lead to some serious problems. Tire-related costs are the single largest maintenance expense item for commercial vehicle fleet operations, and improper tire inflation increases total tire-related costs by approximately $600 to $800 annually per tractor-trailer combination, according to Michelle Reinhart, Continental’s head of digital solutions for commercial vehicle tires in the Americas region. The proper tire inflation figure should be determined by actual weight by axle and using a load/inflation table.” “When the tire is not contacting the road as the tire design intended, the tread area will wear irregularly, and therefore, more rapidly. “The key to a good tread footprint and even tread wear is maintaining proper inflation,” says Gary Schroeder, executive director of Cooper Tire’s global truck and bus tire business. It also increases fuel costs: under-inflation of just 10 PSI reduces fuel economy by 1%. This results in significant increase in tire costs for a fleet.

“The tires that don’t blow out are equally dangerous because they could have hidden fatigue that is easily missed,” he says.Īccording to the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations, a constant 20% under-inflation in a commercial vehicle tire increases tread wear by 25% and reduces the tire lifetime by 30%.

They get hot, then weak, then they break, which can cause tire failure.”Īnd there’s another danger, Phillips notes. “This is what happens to the steel cords in the sidewall of the tire. “Very quickly, the tire becomes hot and then it eventually breaks,” explains Rick Phillips, vice president of sales for Triangle Tire USA. Under-inflated tires will flex more than they should, and that generates excessive heat and leads to casing failure, which cripples the tire and removes any potential for retreading it. In a similar way, tire wear is very much dependent on the tire’s footprint on the ground when running.” If a fleet invests in low rolling resistant, fuel-efficient tires and then does not maintain the optimum inflation pressure, they may not benefit from the fuel economy expected. “In addition, it can result in irregular wear and poor fuel economy. “Under-inflated tires build up excessive heat that can result in tire destruction and/or improper vehicle handling,” she elaborates. “It is the number one cause of premature tire removal. “Under-inflation is the biggest issue in the industry,” says Sharon Cowart, product marketing director for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. Tires are one of the most expensive components of the truck, and so the importance of keeping them in the ideal shape should come as no surprise, especially considering the substantial weight that air is supporting. The same goes for truck tire inflation: a few PSI in the right direction can go a long way, while a few PSI in the wrong direction is potentially disastrous. A tenth of an MPG here, an extended maintenance cycle there-across a fleet, these seemingly small points can add up to significant profits. A fleet manager’s job is focused on the little things.