Hardly a month passes by that one publication or another doesn't venture into the realm of the unknown, the dreaded country of tires. For something so necessary and seamingly simple, most individuals' personal knowledge of what actually dictates which tire to purchase, how much to invest,how it should be maintained and what can be expected as far as lifecycle, would never garner the million dollar prize. It seems as though the only thing universally assumed about tires is that they are round, mostly black, and always have to be replaced when you can’t afford it. And, if they blow out, or go flat, it’s always somewhere that you can’t get it repaired or replaced at a reasonable price or in a timely manner.

In this article, we will try to clear up some common questions and concerns, starting with a breakdown of that mysterious writing on the tire’s sidewall. All tires, for cars, vans, trucks and SUVs have basically the same information displayed on the sidewall; that data along with the information supplied by the manufacturer on the door jamb sticker and in the owner’s manual can assist you in selecting the proper tire for your particular application.

Remember also that tread pattern, tire size, your ply requirements, and any specific tire brands availability, can influence which tire you finally select.

Ed Mayhew, president of EMCO Truck and Equipment of Fontana, CA. said that numerous trucks and trailers come to his facility for repairs and maintenance with a mismatch of tires and tread. Mayhew said, “It’s evident that owners and owner operators alike either don’t know or don’t understand the meaning of the description on the sidewall of their tires.” He also feels that the same individuals are totally unaware of the cost of not adhering to basic tire management techniques.

Mayhew added, “Improper tire pressure is the major culprit in early tire replacement, a small but costly step to cutting operating costs.”

The Basics Never Change

Since we’ve basically shown that selecting the proper tire for a given vehicle and its use isn’t really as difficult as it seems, and it’s basically outlined for us, how do you proceed? The following guidelines should serve you well until you develop a system of your own for ordering the proper tires for your operation.

1. Select the proper tire required for your vehicle, considering all of the vehicles’ unique or expected applications.

2. Ensure you are getting at least the tires that meet or exceed all OEM (manufacturers) specifications and Department of Transportation-required standards. (See doorjamb sticker and owner’s manual).

3. Do not shop for price alone. Purchasing a tire based upon price alone and not taking into consideration the intended lifecycle of the tire, its ultimate use during that time frame, the maintenance that will be afforded the tires during their service, and the possibility of that tire casing being recapped and returned to service, are all items that could directly affect your purchase.

Al Campos, maintenance manager for Randall Foods in Vernon, CA said, he considers the quality and past performance of the tires he purchases for his equipment over the cost per tire, and that safety is a priority. Paul Schultz, vice president of maintenance for Beneto Tank Lines in West Sacramento, CA, said “Beneto Tank Lines buys only a first-line quality tire and replaces it as soon as necessary, due to wear or condition. Tire tread depth and condition are checked continually. Schultz also said, “Due to the nature of our business, there can be no compromise with safety.” Beneto Tank Lines doesn’t use recaps in its operation.

4. Look for tire manufacturer specials. Sometimes it’s possible to purchase a group of tires at one time, for future use, and get either special pricing, additional extended warrantees, or special payment considerations. Again, be aware of what you’re buying. Ensure you’re getting “apples for apples” in all your tire dealings. Check the data on the tire sidewall to ensure you received what you paid for.

5. Make an effort to purchase your tires in a timely manner to possibly meet either summer or winter driving demands. In many instances, vehicles will require a more aggressive tread in the winter, while a standard (less expensive) tire with a highway tread pattern could suffice in summer months.

Arranging for a national account pricing structure can save as much as 40 percent in some cases. If you do your homework and buy right to begin with, you can recap either type of casing. Normally recapping a tire will cost about two-thirds of the cost of a new tire. Keep this in mind though, always use only a reputable re-capper and recap only your own casings. Buying out-of-stock recaps is not advisable.

And never recap any casing more than one time. Rod Swader, sales manager for Lumary’s Tire Service, a commercial tire dealer in Los Angeles, said, “Many light truck operators are either not aware of recapping tires and the financial savings possible. Others may have had a bad experience in the past and are reluctant to try the new capping processes available in the industry.” He also felt that many commercial light truck operators have no viable tire maintenance program in place.

Campos is a proponent of recapping and regularly recaps his company’s casings from power units and runs them on their trailers. He said, “I am careful to select only the perfect casings for recapping and then to recap each casing only one time.”

6. Mechanic, operator, and owner responsibilities where tire maintenance and condition are concerned are very important. Monitoring tire tread depth, sidewall condition, tire pressure, and using good overall tire replacement procedures can go a long way toward making or breaking any organization. One accident that could be contributed to a lack of expertise, concern, care or just plain common operating sense could be very costly. There are standards of tread depth at which tires must be removed. You should be aware of those figures for all areas in which your vehicles operate.

Remember, city, county, and state officials can in many cases, impose more strict rulings on vehicle standards than the federal statutes, but never less than federal. Be aware of the laws.

7. Companies and organizations with only a few vehicles and no on-staff capability of mechanics or dedicated tire personnel, should consider outsourcing their tire program. Of course, this too must be done with care, to ensure the proper organization and product are brought on board to fill the companies needs. Most tire manufacturers will gladly provide you with an overview of your fleet’s general tire condition, make recommendations, and sometimes commit to additional warranties. Manufacturers will gladly connect you with the local dealer capable of serving your organization and its requirements.

8. Probably the two most neglected areas in any tire management program are the proper matching of tires by size (in dual-wheel applications), and the maintaining of proper air pressure. Improper inflation is undoubtedly the major cost-generating factor in any tire management program. (See doorjamb sticker, owner’s manual or consult your tire supplier for the proper tire pressure and rotation schedule for your vehicles.) Whenever possible, it is a good idea to try to match tire tread patterns in dual tire and front tire applications. Mayhew stressed that many companies waste dollars worth of tire wear each year, by mismatching tires. Mayhew said, “Numerous tires would have been good candidates for longer mileage and recap, but improper tire management virtually wasted a good casing.” It’s a fact that tires that are mismatched by as little as 5/16th of an inch difference in circumferences can cause the smaller tire to be dragged up to 13 feet in a single mile, or 200-plus miles for every 100,000 miles of use.

9. Did you know that under-inflation, by as little as 10 percent, can reduce your tire’s life by as much as 9 percent to 16 percent over its lifecycle? With larger tires (11R24.5 for example), costing from $250 each and up, under-inflation could cost an operator about $25 per tire. Believe it or not, that added operating expense is approximately doubled with each 10 percent in pressure drop. This should be all the incentive an operator of any fleet should require, to insist on the proper and consistent monitoring of tire pressures. Most manufacturers or dealers have really explanatory example photos to show what effects over- and under-inflation has on tire wear.

Here are some rules to follow on tire inflation:

• Never check your pressure immediately after the tire has been run and is warm.

• Try to maintain pressures for a loaded condition.

• Establish a schedule or time frame for checking your tire pressures.

10. Last, but not least, there is a well-known publication that very few vehicle operators read and heed, (especially fleet vehicle operators); it’s call the owners manual. Check it out; you’d be surprised how much information the manufacturer has crammed into that “glove box rattle stopper.”