The idea of properly addressing damaged tires is not a new concept. Fleet maintenance managers must recognize, purchase and employ the latest and best technology, tools and equipment for tire repair. They also need to develop a complete and detailed tire repair program with trained professionals to ensure that damaged tires are properly demounted, inspected to determine the problem, repaired, mounted, balanced and installed back onto a vehicle.
“To repair a tire is an easy thing to do, if it is done properly,” says Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Retread Tire Association (www.retreadtire.org), a non-profit, non-commercial industry association dedicated to promoting and defending the environmental and economic benefits of high quality retreading and proper tire repairing. That means making repairs in accordance with industry standards using the proper repair materials.
WHAT CONSTITUTES PROPER REPAIR
A tire cannot be effectively repaired from the outside, Brodsky says. It must be removed the wheel, and the repair process must commence from the inside out. Plugging the damaged area from the exterior is a fairly common means of addressing a damaged tire, but he says, it’s a flawed and unsafe practice.
“A lot of people say ‘Why not? Just plug it in and we’re good to go,’” says Brodsky. “What happens is the tire will keep air in it, but the driver doesn’t realize he’s now driving on what potentially could be a catastrophic timebomb. If that tire blows after the plug is in, and the driver is driving 60 or 70 mph, he may get killed and somebody else may get killed.”
If fleet maintenance managers are willing to pay a little more upfront and take an extra step or two by having a qualified professional conduct repairs, they can eliminate the safety risks and potential cost repercussions of driving on an improperly repaired tire.
The qualified professional tasked with conducting the repair must carefully inspect the damaged tire, remove it from the vehicle and clean the damaged area to address any rust that has collected. After the tire in question has been cleaned and repaired (based on the type of damage that occurred), a plug must be placed into the damaged area from the inside out. Then, a patch needs to be placed over the plug on the inside. Next, the tire is promptly aired up, excess rubber is cut off from the outside, the tire is mounted on the vehicle and tire and wheel assembly is rebalanced. Now, the vehicle can be put back into service
“The best thing, if they have time to do it, is to put (the repaired tire) in a dip tank and see if any bubbles come up,” says Brodsky. “At that time, (fleet maintenance managers) can be satisfied that they have a proper tire repair.”
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Smart and effective fleet maintenance managers have been repairing tire repairs properly for a long time. What has changed in recent years, however, is the new equipment, tools and technology being brought to market by tire repair companies.
Bill Johnson, general manager of North American operations for Tech International (www.techtirerepairs.com), a provider of [ we try and stay away from “leader: ] tire and tube repairs and wheel service products, says more fleet maintenance managers than ever before are seeking to ensure all nail hole damage in radial tires are filled with rubber stems to extend life.
“One piece, combination repairs help to assure that all injuries are filled and that the inner liner is sealed,” says Johnson. “These one piece (repairs) continue to grow in popularity.”
According to Johnson, there are several key characteristics fleet managers should look for in tire repair tools and equipment for light duty vehicles:
- They should meet the requirements for maximum speed for buffing rubber, which should not exceed 5,000 rpm.
- Inner liner buffing wheels should be contoured so that they are designed for use on the inside of a tire.
- Carbide tools must be designed for the rubber stems being used to fill the injury, and they need to be high-quality tools designed for tire preparation, not drill bits designed for other uses outside of the tire industry.
- A tire spreader that secures the tire in place must be designed so it can be secured to the floor to ensure safe use by the operator.
Improvements in rubber technology have allowed patches and plugs employed in tire repair efforts to be stronger and more effective than ever before, and certain new tires on the market offer self-sealing technology and thinner versions of inner liner compounds. While these advancements extend the life of a tire, they do not permit fleet maintenance managers to embrace unsafe repair practices.
Too often, note tire repair professionals, fleet maintenance managers opt for measures other than those most appropriate for dealing with damaged tires. They do not have them repaired from the inside out. They do not enlist the services of trained professionals to conduct the work.
Whether it is because they want to save time, cut costs or add convenience, some fleet maintenance managers willingly cut corners when forced to address damaged tires, the professionals say.
In order to promote driver safety and avoid long-term costs associated with serious accidents, fleet maintenance managers should strive to develop out a comprehensive and detailed tire repair program that includes training with their tire and tire repair suppliers. According to Tech International’s [ our style is to ID the person after a subhead if it has been a while since that person commented ] Johnson, any such program must be simple and effective so the repair process and repair selection is easy to follow.
Repair suppliers offer tire manuals, DVDs and online programs to promote proper tire repair practices. Fleet maintenance managers with related questions or concerns should consult these informational resources, and they should also try to keep to keep an open dialogue with suppliers.
“In addition, there are tire and wheel service programs through trade organizations intended to help ensure that tires are properly demounted, mounted, balanced and installed back on the vehicle,” Johnson adds.
The tools, equipment and technology designed to help ensure their vehicles’ tires are being repaired properly are widely available, as is information on how best to address damaged tires. It’s up to fleet maintenance managers to learn about new products and technology coming to market, as well as be willing to ensure proper steps are taken to address damaged tires.
The Retread Tire Association’s Brodsky says it all comes down to being willing to trade a little cost, effort and convenience in exchange for the safety of everyone on the road.
“There is never a right time to do the wrong thing, and there is never a wrong time to do the right thing,” he emphasizes.
