Joe Puff’s latest blog in a series on tire selection and maintenance covers the importance of tire casing management programs.
The longer life you can get out of your tires, without ever compromising safety, depends on tire selection and your fleet’s maintenance practices. And that includes having a robust tire casing management program, according to Joe Puff, vice president of truck technology and maintenance for NationaLease in a recent blog in CCJ.
He states that “understand casing life and limitations can greatly affect tire costs, emergency failures, and ultimately customer satisfaction.” Selecting a tier one casing may cost more upfront; however, the ability to re-use that tire reduces the need to purchase a new tire which will cost significantly more. And though Puff points out the many technology enhancements have enabled fleets to better evaluate casing quality; he also notes that there is no substitute for a proactive maintenance program that would focus on casing integrity.
If a fleet needs to purchase casings from a third party, it’s important to identify what a plication that casing is coming from. That’s because tough applications like high scrub, liquid bulk, off road, and others can negatively impact casing life. Puff’s blog points to the need to evaluate casing quality and value, and that means taking a close look at the casing warranty to see the number of years and retreads that are indicated. Having someone on your team responsible for tires, casings, and failure analysis management is essential to the success of your tire management program; however, small to medium-size fleets may not have the resources in-house to accomplish this. In that case, says Puff, fleets should “consider enlisting the aid of a third party service provider like NationaLease to ensure you get the most out of your tire investment.”
Read the full blog for more details on how to better manage your tire casing program.
