Equipment tires play a big role in the performance of machines and ultimately impact the operation’s productivity regardless if they're a maintenance manager or an engineer for OEM equipment. Jeremy Edds, director of national sales and Solid OTR, Maxam Tire North America, offered insights in an October 1 webinar, "What to Consider When it Comes to Aggregate Equipment Tire Maintenance," and answered additional questions.
Click here to register for the webinar on-demand.
Question: Are there differences in building a loader tire versus haul truck tire?
Edds: While both being all-steel radial tires, there are some differences when building a loader tire versus a haul truck tire. Haul truck tires are typically engineered to withstand TMPH/TKPH as they need to withstand a lot of heat buildup on mine sites, in addition to having tread patterns that are engineered to minimize stone trapping and such. Loader tires, depends on the application, typically have tread patterns that have increased net-to-gross and tread depth for higher tread life, in addition to an offset, reinforced lugs design for minimum vibration at haul speeds. The rubber compound that goes into loader tires is also different than haul truck tires.
Question: When should I select bias or radial?
Edds: One should select bias or radial based on your application and what attributes are important to your operation. For example, do you value ride quality and performance? If so, radial may be a better option for you. However, if those aren’t important attributes to you and you just want tires that can do the minimum, bias tires can also be an option. In some cases, bias tires are more durable than radial, for example, in underground mining.
Question: How do I know what speed the tire is capable of doing?
Edds: Always refer to your manufacturer’s data book to check the load inflation pressure table, which correlates with the load index and speed symbols they provide. Never go above what the manufacturer recommends when it comes to load inflation and speed, or else you will see a significant decrease in tire life.
