Quality between you and the road

Truck tyres are very costly, and hence it is important to make every effort to ensure they last as long as possible after purchase. Of course the value will drop, but the good practices described below can control the rate at which this value drops. In the end, you always want to ensure that you're observing the highest level of safety by creating and enforcing a tyre maintenance program for your commercial fleet. Read on to learn how to extend usability of your tyres.

1. Retreading

Retreading is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your tyres' lifespan. It is not uncommon to retread a tyre several times before it falls into complete disuse. For instance, when you buy new tyres, they are often fitted into the steer axle tyres. They can be retreaded and fitted as drive axle tyres, then retreaded again and fitted as drive or trailer axle tyres. It is still possible to retread and fit the tyres back as trailer axle tyres before discarding them.

There isn't a limit to the number of times you can retread a tire, particularly if the casing is still sound. In order to maximize the number of retreads, you should check the tread depths regularly. For example, steer tyres should have a minimum depth of 4/32" and trailer tyres should be at 2/32" at any major groove. At this depth, tyres should be removed and retreaded.

However, experts recommend removing and retreading way before this legal limit is reached if you want to increase the number of times you can retread. This is because the more the tyre runs down, the less protection there is over the casing, which makes the latter prone to punctures and cuts. Instead, consider removing the tire and retreading when the tread reaches 6/32"- 8/32" to maximize retread ability in future.

2. Preventing irregular wear with proper inflation

Most tyres are prematurely rendered unusable because of irregular wearing. The advantage is that irregular wear can be easily prevented by ensuring proper inflation. Proper inflation is critical to tire lifespan because over-inflation causes the centre of the tire to wear faster than the shoulders, while under-inflation causes the shoulders to wear faster than the centre.

Severe under-inflation can cause structural failure such as sidewall rupture, tread separation or zipper cuts. When driving, this poses a real danger to the driver and other motorists, as accidents can occur very easily after such failures.

Every tyre manufacturer has a set pressure indicated for their tyres, so be sure to regularly inspect your tyre pressure. The best way is to check when filling up on fuel, or immediately before or after long trips. Finally, remember that temperature affects tyre pressure. Therefore, check tyre pressure early in the morning when the tyres are cold for a true reading.