1. Commercial Tire & Vehicle Inspection Training Charlie Clifford Bridgestone Commercial Solutions

2. Meeting Agenda The impact of tire cost The impact of tire maintenance
The impact of CSA score
Commercial tire construction
Inflation pressure
Temperature & Air pressure on tire life
Inspecting tires and wheels
Fleet program specs
Pre/Post-trip inspection

3. The impact of tire cost
Tires are one of the greatest expenses to any commercial fleet.
Education/Training reduces fleet costs.
Preventative maintenance reduces fleet costs.
Many tire-related issues are preventable.
Fleets cannot deliver on-time performance without the right equipment – especially tires.
If managed correctly, tire expenses can be controlled – and reduced.

4. The impact of tire maintenance
Tire costs are controllable with a tire maintenance program.
Properly maintained tires provide vehicle stability, traction and stopping ability.
When fleets institute consistent tire maintenance policies, they:
Reduce maintenance costs
Increase Vehicle Safety
Reduce Vehicle Downtime
Improve communication between Drivers, Maintenance and Operations
It is the driver’s responsibility be insure the safe operation of fleet equipment, but the fleet, tire dealer, and manufacturer must work together to implement an effective maintenance program.

5. The impact of tires on CSA score
One of many tasks that drivers must complete to insure the vehicle is in safe operating condition is to be able to properly check tire and wheel assemblies to insure they are in good working order.
Federal Motor Carrier DOT rules clearly state a commercial truck may not be operated with a flat or leaking air tire, two of many DOT tire rules.

7. CSA is the FMCSA’s safety compliance and enforcement program
CSA is the FMCSA’s safety compliance and enforcement program. The FMCSA is promoting safety compliance to help keep our Nation’s roadways safer for everyone.
The impact of tires on CSA score:
3 points for speeding 11 to 15 MPH over the limit.
5 points for dangerous driving, i.e. following to close.
8 points for a flat, or leaking tire. You can see how much the safe operation of your fleet’s vehicles rests on the correct air pressure and total tire maintenance.
Drivers should check, record, and report all tire issues on the DVIR Pre and Post trip and best practice is to verbally communicate these issue to the fleet manager.

8. Commercial Truck Tire Construction
In order to truly understand tire performance we need to know the components of a tire.....

9. Four Basic Functions Of A Tire
Supporting Loads
Absorbing Road Shocks
Transferring Traction & Braking Forces to The Road Surface
Changing and Maintaining Direction Of Travel

10. Tire Construction
Tread
Belts
Casing
Bead

11. COMPONENTS OF RADIAL TIRE
Belt Package
Tread
Radial Body Ply
Inner Liner
Bead Bundle

12. Tire Sections Crown Shoulder Shoulder Sidewall Interior Sidewall Bead
Area
Bead
Area

13. Proper Tire Inflation

14. Inflation Pressure Single most important factor in tire life
(Tire does not carry load, AIR carries the load)
Correct
Under Inflated
Over Inflated
Over Inflation and under inflation affect tire footprint
Changes in footprint affect:
Rate of wear -Traction -Casing Life
Irregular wear -Braking -Fuel Economy

16. Bead damage from brake heat and under-inflation is one of the leading cause of waste segment casing rejections in the retread industry.

18. The effect of air pressure on: Tire Temperature & Tread Life
Rubber Breaks Down at 270 Degrees
At 55 MPH (70 degree day) Tire Temp = Approx 210 Degrees
For every 1 PSI low = 2.5 Degree increase In Tire Temp
For every 20 LBS low = 50 Degree increase In Tire Temp
If a tire is 20% Over Inflated = 5% Tire Life Decrease
If a tire is 20% Under Inflated = 20% Tire Life Decrease

19. Proper Tire & Wheel Inspection

20. VISUAL INSPECTION – TREAD DEPTH
Tread Depth Inspection
STEER - 4/32nd DOT Minimum
OTHER - 2/32nd DOT Minimum
Check at Lowest Point
Not on Wear Indicator
More Tread Remaining:
Better Traction, Braking,
Lateral Stability, & Casing for Retreading

21. VISUAL INSPECTION – TREAD AREA
Inspect the tread area
Remove all foreign material
Must be removed and replaced if the following is found:
Cuts or punctures to steel / Nail, etc. in tread
Flat spots
Tread depth at or below pull point

22. Object in Tread
If you see something like this in the tread, notate on DVIR and let Maintenance know about it so they can remove the tire. There is always a possibility that this tire could be saved.
Many crown punctures can be repaired. Remember to communicate all tire issues to your Fleet Manager.

23. VISUAL INSPECTION - SIDEWALL
Inspect the Sidewall
Look for any damage
Tire must be removed and replaced if the following is found:
cuts or cracks into steel
sidewall rubber is soft
bulge indicating separation

24. VISUAL INSPECTION - RIMS
Inspect the rim flange for bent or damaged bead seats.
If found, assembly must be
removed and replaced.
Inspect the wheel for rust or any other damage.

25. Damaged Fasteners
Keep your eye open for worn out/damaged hardware. The lock washer is cracked on the above lugnuts. They should be replaced.

26. Fasteners Have “Walked”

27. Missing or damaged lug nuts

28. Cracked wheels

29. Do we have a torque and re-torque procedure in place?
Loose Fasteners
If a leaky hub seal is noticed, notate that on the DVIR. If any petroleum product accidently spreads on the sidewall of the tire, chances are, the tire will no be retreadable
Do we have a torque and re-torque procedure in place?

30. Leaky Hub
If a leaky hub seal is noticed, notate that on the DVIR. If any petroleum product accidently spreads on the sidewall of the tire, chances are, the tire will no be retreadable
Although tires are made of oil, any petroleum contact with a commercial truck tire could make the tire non-retreadable.

31. Flow Thru Valve Caps Simplify pre-trip inspections for air pressure!
Flow Thru Valve Caps are required on all Valve Stems. If missing, report it on DVIR
Simplify pre-trip inspections for air pressure!

32. FLEET AIR PRESSURE SPEC CHART
Air Pressure Charts help maintenance and operations work together:
Measure PSI with a tire gauge calibrated against the master air gauge.
NEVER inflate a tire that is 20% under-inflated.
Air gauges should be re-calibrated monthly.
Note - a commercial truck tire will lose 3 psi per month.
Steer Tires (315/80R22.5)
Standard
130PSI
104PSI
Drive Tires (315/80R22.5)
110PSI
88PSI
Review the slide
Ask the participants if they have any questions
Vendor will know tire spec.
Maintenance Managers must consult with the tire vendor and provide Drive/Steer tire pressure targets.
Maintenance Managers must communicate this to all parties.

33. Use a commercial (adjustable)
WHEN CHECKING AIR
PRESSURE
Use a commercial (adjustable)
Air Gauge

34. Fleet Air Pressure Checks
Should be performed daily during pre/post-trip inspection.
Use calibrated (monthly) air gauge to take pressure from every tire, every day.
Record all pressures on the Vehicle Inspection Report.
Report all issues/problems.
Recommend that tires have flow-through valve caps.
Review the slide
Ask the participants if they have any questions
Emphasize that the Driver is an essential component of the Tire Program.
Emphasize Post Inspection:
Take tire pressure at the end of the day (during post trip inspection)
Tire will be WARM – this is not the best time to take tire pressure.
This allows adjustments, changes, etc. to take place overnight.
Taking tire pressures during post trip inspection minimizes the impact of a low tire cutting a driver’s productivity.
Driver Check-In may be with Debrief Clerk, Dispatcher or other, based on situation.
Checking tires upon post-trip inspection will allow tire changes and pressure adjustments to be performed at night.
This will reduce door traffic and minimize downtime.

35. Thank You!

36. QUESTIONS?