{"id":1538,"date":"2017-10-24T18:20:07","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T18:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=1538"},"modified":"2017-10-24T18:20:07","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T18:20:07","slug":"the-shop-keys-to-proper-tire-pressure-vehicle-alignment-and-tire-balancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/the-shop-keys-to-proper-tire-pressure-vehicle-alignment-and-tire-balancing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shop Keys To Proper Tire Pressure, Vehicle Alignment and Tire Balancing"},"content":{"rendered":"

While National Tire Safety Week has passed, there are several excellent points that truckers must keep in mind. Tire safety is a critical aspect of operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Today, we are going to look at three different aspects of ensuring the most important part of your ride \u2013 the wheels \u2013 stay in good condition and ready to roll!<\/p>\n

The first of each of these is tire pressure. There are so many different aspects of tire pressure that impact both fuel economy and safety. Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n

Keeping Tire Pressure in Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t already familiar with the fact that 10 percent under-inflation can cause a 1 percent drop in fuel economy, your shop technician isn\u2019t keeping you properly informed. Softer tires have an increased rolling resistance, so it is important to ensure they are always properly inflated.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s a question for the experts to consider: What if all 18 tires were under-inflated. Would it still equal a decrease in fuel economy of 1 percent? The consensus is that most or all of the tires need to be underinflated in order to see a drop in fuel economy.<\/p>\n

One of the main reasons for this is that the overall fuel economy really depends on the axle position of whichever tire<\/a> happens to be underinflated. Drive and trailer axles have a much greater impact on fuel economy than wheels in the steer position.<\/p>\n

Is your fleet paying close attention to tire maintenance? It isn\u2019t just anecdotal, there have even been European studies conducted determining that fleets aren\u2019t taking tire pressure maintenance as seriously as they should.<\/p>\n

The official industry recommendation for any fleet tire can be found on the Load & Inflation Tables (LI&T) found through the industry association affiliated with the tire maker. Minimum tire pressure based on the load will always be provided.<\/p>\n

Tire manufacturers consistently maintain the load tables to ensure safety is always a top priority. When a tire is at minimum pressure, you can expect it to operate at a lower than normal threshold for its given capacity.<\/p>\n

One thing to also keep in mind is reconciling what the L&IT says with how the fleet is operating the vehicle? Although operating at 90 percent even if the L&IT is requiring a minimum of 90, is that 10 percent underinflated? Not necessarily. If the fleet is running at 100 psi, then 90 percent still puts you at the acceptable threshold.<\/p>\n

Still, ensure you are properly servicing your tires. Tires consistently at 90 psi or less might be leaking or be ready for a servicing. You don\u2019t want to be running underinflated on a constant basis, especially considering the vocation of the tire.<\/p>\n

While this might clarify whether a tire is underinflated, the other question remains: fuel economy. Are fleets giving up on fuel economy if they ignore the issue of underinflation?<\/p>\n

When a fleet consistently runs lighter loads, they may see some wear benefits when underinflated. For lighter loads, the tire\u2019s softer contact patch accounts for more even wear.<\/p>\n

Underinflation still causes problems. As tires flex more running down the road, it can hurt overall fuel efficiency. The vehicle is forced to work harder when the tires are underinflated<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Does fuel economy trump tire wear? These days, for most fleets, the answer is yes.<\/p>\n

Paying Close Attention to Alignment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that only a small percentage of overall fleets do regular alignment maintenance on their vehicles? Instead, they will wait until it is obvious an alignment is needed, then perform the vital function. The problem is, by then damage has already been done, whether it be an annoyed truck driver or a pair of chewed up tires.<\/p>\n

Consider that if an alignment is done before it becomes obvious the truck needs one, you may get longer life out of your tires. Tires can\u2019t be pushed down the road at whatever angle and not potentially suffer some damage or irregular wear patterns.<\/p>\n

As we had just been discussing them, the tires will tell you the full picture. If you see excessive wear, whether on the opposite shoulder or any other type of tire feathering, it\u2019s time to consider looking at other mechanical conditions \u2013 not always the obvious ones, perhaps.<\/p>\n

Also remember that when we talk about alignment, we aren\u2019t just talking about tire position, we\u2019re also referring to axle geometry. Drive axle or even trailer axle problems can be big indicators of an alignment issue.<\/p>\n

Even when a truck mildly needs an alignment, the truck driver may not immediately notice it. These things can happen on such a small fraction of a level that the trucker is countering their slight push without realizing it. Over time, this will cause a specific wear pattern on the tire.<\/p>\n

There are two specific conditions your fleet technicians should be keeping an eye out for:<\/p>\n