It’s vital for operations to inspect their OTR tires daily to maximize tire life and productivity. When inspecting tires daily, be sure to check the following:
External appearance of the tire
Rims and valves
Inflation pressure
In addition, below are some of the major signs of damaged off-the-road tires and what actions to take.
1. Puncture and cuts
Cause
Result
What to do
Small hard object penetrates the tread, casing, and inner liner.
Air Loss and loss of casing strength.
If caught early, the tire can usually be repaired and returned to service. If the cut is too deep, scrap the tire.
2. Separation (when the tread is separated from the belt or casing ply)
Cause
Result
What to do
Normal shear forces in a working tire after being cut. Keep in mind that small cuts can turn into separation over time.
Heat build-up and consequent increase in size of separation.
Early detection tire may be able to be repaired. If not detected early, tire will be scrap.
3. Heat separation
Cause
Result
What to do
Excessive TMPH (brake heat and loads)
Tread or bead area separation. Rubber is usually smells burnt.
Stay within TMPH requirements and monitor all loads.
4. Turn up separation
Cause
Result
What to do
Excessive shear and/or bending force in bead area. Excess load causing tire to bend over top of flange.
Heat buildup and subsequent separation, but may be a manufacturer issue.
Proper and evenly distributed loading of vehicle. Remove once the steel is showing.
5. Impact breaks
Cause
Result
What to do
Excessive impact energy loading beyond breaking strength of casing.
Immediate air loss (blow out) or damaged cords causing separation.
Scrap the tire and focused on improving clean up and proper operation.
Double-check inflation to ensure it matches the load up to the max allowable. Check rim flange to make sure it is correct. Review loads hauled to determine if overloads are prevalent. Awareness training is required.
7. Bead fatigue
Cause
Result
What to do
Manufacturing or improper operating.
Indexing on the wheel and potential bead area separation.
Reduce bead lubricant on the tire install and conduct proper operating training.
8. Hydraulic oil damage
Oil soaked in can soften the tire, causing early removal. Keep the tire clean.
9. Belt edge separation
Separation starts between the belts and works out to the shoulder of the tire, eventually breaking through the sidewall. Pull from service and scrap the tire.
10. Belt edge separation
There’re other signs of damage such as chipper separation, due to manufacturer issue. Continue to run the tires and monitor closely until steel is exposed.
Tires are costly investments for your OTR operations, MAXAM Tire always suggest operations conduct a strict maintenance program to ensure maximum tire life. If you have further questions, please contact your local MAXAM rep for assistance.
In the agricultural industry, it is how the equipment is utilized or the inherent operational requirements that will affect the tire replacement cycle. As agricultural tires are considered off-road and not US Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated, there are no firm rules to determine when an ag tire absolutely needs to be replaced....
While solid OTR tires require zero maintenance and are built to last much longer than foam filled pneumatics, they still have a certain life span. Although these tires don’t require the maintenance pneumatic off-the-road tires require, MAXAM recommends operations inspect their solid OTR tires every now and then.
