Often in trucking, it takes just a small change to make a big impact – this is especially true in tire pressure, where the difference of a few psi can directly affect mileage, maintenance, and safety.
During National Tire Safety Week, May 20-27, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC stresses that with all that is riding on a truck’s tires – driver safety, operating performance, timely cargo delivery, and more – it’s vital to be sure of the right pressure in them. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), National Tire Safety Week is an initiative aimed at providing information on the essentials of proper tire care and maintenance.
“Proper tire inflation will substantially impact your tire and ultimately your vehicle’s performance,” said Jon Intagliata, Bendix product manager for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). “Fuel consumption can increase, stopping distances can increase, and tread life can decrease if the tires run on significantly different psi than what is recommended by the manufacturer – all of which can dramatically affect a fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO) over the long haul, too.”
According to the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council, running on a tire that’s underinflated by as little as 10 percent can reduce fuel economy by 1.5 percent. And 20 percent underinflation can shorten tire life by 30 percent. The more miles driven and the more wheel-ends in a fleet, the bigger the impact those few psi have on the bottom line. Underinflated tires also experience increased stress and generate higher running temperatures, compounding the risk of tire blowouts – about 90 percent of which are the result of underinflation, according to industry studies.
Please click here to view the full press release.
SOURCE: Bendix
