How to Avoid Unsafe Industrial Tire Tread Wear
Industrial tires feature deep treads and wide bases to handle driving over concrete, gravel and dirt. Several factors influence how you choose quality tractor tires. Implementing a tire maintenance program can help you protect your assets and optimize job site efficiency.
Industrial Tire Tread Maintenance
Industrial tires are designed to carry heavy loads over hard surfaces, so they’re built to handle tough working environments. This type of tire doesn’t wear down quickly and the reinforced sidewalls help them bear heavy loads. They’re ideal for construction sites, demolition work and other industrial operations.
As with any tire, rotating and balancing your tires regularly and monitoring tire pressure is essential. Check the tire pressure in the morning before you operate your machinery to get an accurate reading. Watch for signs of uneven tread wear and follow the tire manufacturer’s guidelines on rotation frequency.
Advantages of Implementing Industrial Tire Maintenance
Better handling: Operator security is paramount and practicing good industrial tire maintenance can keep your drivers safe while they’re handling equipment. Industrial tires are firmer than other off-the-road tires and provide stability in tough working conditions. Driving on compromised tires increases the risk of tire failure, which is dangerous for operators on constructions site and in warehouses.
Increased traction: Front-end loaders and forklifts need tires with quality traction to move safely and efficiently over concrete and gravel, especially if there’s an incline. Wet and snowy conditions can pose a safety hazard on construction sites, but the lug space and tread depth of industrial ties allow them to direct snow, water and mud away to improve traction.
Smoother acceleration: Dirt and gravel can make for slippery work sites, but industrial tires have a specific design that allows them to grip rough surfaces and allow for proper acceleration. That’s especially helpful if you have a job site on uneven ground or run equipment up and down ramps. Smooth acceleration also optimizes fuel efficiency.
Tips for Optimizing Industrial Tires
Match tire treads with ground conditions: Operating on tires that don’t have the correct tread can negatively affect industrial equipment performance. Industrial tires have numbers printed on them that indicate different tread qualities for specific working environments. Choosing the wrong tread could result in tread separation, overheating and punctures.
Pay attention to equipment wheels: The condition of your wheels will affect the performance of your industrial tires. Avoid mixing wheel components as you could compromise the integrity and stability of your equipment. You also shouldn’t mix tire brands, sizes, tread patterns and load indexes.
Be mindful of tire ply: Industrial tires require good ply to support heavy loads and maintain sidewall structures. A ply rating indicates a tire’s load-carrying capacity but not the actual number of plies in a tire. Match tire ply rating to the application and job environment.
Find Industrial Tires at Bauer Built Tire & Service
Whether you’re working on a construction site or in the field, Bauer Built has various types of tractor tires to suit your needs. We sell R1, R2, R3 and R4 tires for agricultural, industrial, turf and heavy-load applications. Find a location near you and browse our industrial tire selection.
Categories: Bauer Built Blog