"Success is not just about doing things well, it’s about doing the right things well."
When it comes to heavy equipment like Dump trucks & Loaders, tyre management is essential to not only maximise performance but also drive long-term cost savings. Too often, companies focus on immediate costs and overlook the strategic value of investing in proper tyre selection, maintenance, and monitoring. However, cutting corners on these key areas can lead to higher costs down the road, through increased downtime, premature tyre replacements, and safety risks.
TYRE SELECTION AND APPLICATION
Choosing the correct tyre application for your operation is the foundation of tyre management
Considering important variables such as load, speed, hauling distance (Truck), and operational conditions is critical for determining the appropriate tyre application for each paticular bit of plant. Haul trucks for example: Shorter hauls, typically on rock-based surfaces like quarries, benefit from cut-resistant compounds. In contrast, longer hauls may require a heat-resistant compound to ensure the TKPH rating of the tyre is suitable to meet the demands without generating excessive heat, which could lead to premature wear and potential failures.
TYRE INSPECTIONS AND PRESSURE MAINTENANCE
Maintaining OTR Tyres once they are selected and fitted involves several key practices
Pressure Management: Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is vital for safety and performance. Regular checks and adjustments are necessary. Using a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) can help operators monitor tyre pressure in real-time, preventing issues caused by under-inflation or sudden pressure drops.
Visual Inspections: Regular visual inspections can identify potential issues such as cuts, bulges, or embedded objects. Early detection allows for timely repairs, preventing further damage and ensuring safety.
Operational Condition Inspections: Regularly inspecting haul roads and operating conditions helps identify and rectify issues such as potholes or debris that can damage tyres. Well-maintained haul roads and pit floors contribute to reduced tyre wear and fewer breakdowns.
Tyre Rotations: Implementing Tyre rotatations as part of the noraml machine maintenance is essential for extending their overall life and performance. Also identifying when to strategically introduce new tyres into the fleet, for the purpose of generating spares, which helps with preparation for when the unexpected breakdowns do occur. This ensures that when unexpected breakdowns occur, you’re well-prepared, minimising disruptions and keeping tyre performance optimised.
DATA COLLECTION AND PERFORMANCE REPORTING
The cornerstones of continuous improvement, transforming insights into actionable strategies
Effective data collection and performance analysis, including monitoring Tread Utilisation Rate (TUR) and Cost Per Hour (CPH), is essential for optimising OTR tyre maintenance and overall performance. Closely tracking key metrics helps guide rotation and replacement schedules, identify cost-saving opportunities, and highlight areas for improvement. Collecting long-term data provides genuine insights into tyre performance by enabling unbiased comparisons over extended periods. This approach eliminates short-term fluctuations and anomalies, offering a more accurate and comprehensive view of how tyres perform across different conditions and applications. With consistent data, patterns can be identified, allowing for informed decision-making and cost reduction with greater confidence and precision. Additionally, this data-driven approach enables forecasting and predictive analysis of tyre usage, facilitating better planning and budgeting for future tyre needs.
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