Tire SafetyTire Safety

Running to Destruction• Its not a safe practice–Potential for loss of control

–Potential for debris to injure personnel if tire ruptures

• Tires with damaged structural component create safety hazard

Structural Components • Tire manufacturer consulted

since tires have different designs

• Inspection of defects, such as determining depth of cuts, on pressurized tire can create safety hazard - deflate tire before inspection

Belts• Impact /penetration belts between

tread & structural belts –Exposed impact /penetration belts

inspected–Exposed structural belts removed

from service–Ply rating is nominal strength rating

& doesn’t indicate number of belts

• Continental Tire considers tire with any belt exposed not “viable”

Sidewall• 1 structural belt in sidewall with

a non-structural turn up of belt in bead area–Exposed turn up wires inspected

–Exposed sidewall structural belt wires removed from service

Radial Tire

Tread Shoulder

Sidewall

Air ChamberBead BundleChafer

Turn Up

Ply

Belts

Rims• Damaged rims can damage tires –Rims with minor damage scheduled

for maintenance, cracked rims or damaged lock rings immediately removed from service

• Wheel driver keys not considered structural components–Missing keys allow rim to slip, wear

o-ring, & cause air loss - schedule for maintenance

Driver Key Insert

Damaged Rim

Structural Components• Many defects in tread & sidewall

areas can be repaired• Manufacturer establishes tire’s

repair limits• Proper repair is essential to

maintain tire safety • Moving tire with structural defect

to inside rear axle position is unsafe

Maintenance Training • Develop schedules & out-of-

service criteria

• Equipment operators visually inspect tires during pre-shift inspection & trained to recognize hazardous tire defects

• Maintenance personnel trained to safely & properly inspect & repair

Maintenance Training • Society of Automotive

Engineers: Off Road Tire Conditions Removal Guidelines- Draft• Draft available for review,

comments requested• Note - this document does not

affect Agency policy

Defects• Bulge: area of separation

packed with rubber that has migrated from adjoining area of separation.• Blister: localized bubble on tire

surface• Chipping: flaking or tearing

away small bits of tread rubber

Defects• Chunking: tearing or breaking

away pieces of tread rubber

• Cracks: splits or narrow breaks in rubber compounds not caused by foreign object

• Cut: damage made by sharp or jagged objects

Typical defects• Exposed cord: belt, ply or steel

chafer/bead area reinforcement seen• Puncture: air chamber

penetrated by foreign object causing air loss• Separation: parting of de-

bonding of any adjacent parts

10 Do’s1. Pick correct tire for the job

2. Check air pressure

3. Conduct pre-shift inspections

4. Get monthly or bimonthly professional inspections

5. Repair problems early

10 Do’s6. Rotate tires

7. Establish tracking program

8. Conduct out-of-service surveys

9. Limit weight & loads

10.Care about the tires

10 Don'ts1. Just put on cheapest tire

2. Let air down for smooth ride

3. Just kick tires & go

4. Assume you know everything

5. Just let things go

6. Let front tires be your worst tires

10 Don’ts6. Assume you are doing good

with your tire program 7. Throw away tires without

knowing why 8. Run overloaded when you could

have tires that can carry the load more effectively

9. Tell operators to not worry about the tires, just run them

Safety References• Manufacturers, tire industry

organizations, & machine manufacture’s tire safety & maintenance information