Regular tire maintenance: when should I check and replace it?

When you look at the engineering effort represented by tires, you see and realize that these tires, especially truck tires, are a truly brilliant engineering. They are black rubber rings that have some internal compounds made of metal wires and others, filled with air, but are simply the crucial element in the process of transferring energy from the engine to the ground. They interact with the steering wheel and the driver to carry out his requests to go right and left. Thus, they are a vital element that has all these responsibilities and is the most susceptible to damage, damage and downtime. Therefore, we must learn how to perform regular maintenance of these tires, especially truck tires, which are more important and dangerous in The type of accidents resulting from them and their huge size, in addition to the large size of trucks and the heavy loads they carry and transport from one place to another place, which means that neglecting these tires means that you increase the danger of the road for yourself and others as well. Accidents caused by truck collisions are the most global in terms of damage and material and moral losses.

Tires can be an economic solution for many logistics companies by achieving the goal of manufacturing them, which is to operate trucks in a smoother and more efficient manner. However, if neglected, they turn into time bombs. Walking on them costs logistics companies and individuals a high price. The downtime resulting from maintenance is estimated at several trips per day. Stopping a truck for maintenance or replacing tires costs you significant material losses annually. Therefore, the best is to save on tire maintenance periodically and perform the tests that we will mention in the later lines of this article, which introduces you to the types of tests and how to perform them and avoid collapse The tires are surprisingly.

The engineering effort spent in the tire industry depends on regular maintenance and continuous sustainability

The tire is the only sticking point between you and the road: What are the components of the tire? 

To understand why we have to maintain tires, we must know what are the components of these tires, especially modern tires. They consist of many layers and chemical elements that are combined with each other. Therefore, we will talk about each component of tires separately and in detail, and start them from the inside out.

1. Inner layer: It is a thick, hermetically sealed rubber layer designed to maintain internal air pressure more effectively, have high durability, and truly resist leakage, while enhancing the flexibility and strength of the frame walls and the overall structure.
2. Structure layers (Carcass Plies): These layers are the internal supporting component of the tire, as they consist of polyester, nylon, rayon or solid steel fibers (in the radial layers). Structural layers are the backbone of the tire, as they hold it from all sides and provide special protection for the tire from punctures and fragmentation, while playing the main role in determining the ability of the tire to withstand the weights carried by the truck, while protecting the tire from explosion during rotation, sharp turns and extreme pressure, and the method of weaving and directing these layers radially or crisscross, which determines the basic characteristics of the tire in terms of rigidity and comfort while driving.
3. Barrier belts (Steel Belts): These are layers of steel wires or made of strong and solid materials and alloys that are wrapped on the axle of the tire in different forms, including radial and intersecting. Their main function is to stabilize the tread layer responsible for the movement of the tire. Its mission is more concentrated at high speeds. It is responsible for the cohesion of the direct layer in contact with the road, in addition to preventing deformation during heavy loads while enhancing the process of resistance to puncture and dent, while distributing pressure and temperature in a homogeneous manner.
4. Sidewalls: These walls are the most flexible area in tires because they are made of rubber designed to resist pressure and tension. Therefore, they allow the tire to bend and bend more flexibly than other areas in the tire, in addition to containing important information related to the tire such as the year of manufacture, the type of tire, its quality, and other information of particular interest to the customer.
5. Traffic or Tread area: This area is the area that is most exposed to friction with the road. It is made of reinforced rubber materials to ensure its strength and extreme rigidity, although its design should provide effective balance on the ground, while providing techniques of grooves and channels drilled on the tread or traffic area to be more effective against water, mud and liquids that usually cover roads, all to prevent truck skidding and terrible accidents.
6. Shoulders: It is the transition point between the traffic area or the tread that directly touches the road, and the sidewall area that holds the tire from the sides. It works to connect them strongly and resist huge stresses during cornering, with its important role in dissipating the heat caused by the contact of the tread with the road.
7. Edges (Beads): It is a very tough steel wire coated with rubber on all sides, with a choice of strength of rubber reinforced with hardened materials. It is designed to provide a tight closure with the metal rim rim, preventing slipping or air leakage under the influence of massive centrifugal forces.

These intricately interconnected structures make tires able to interact with dozens of environmental and climatic variables, such as cold, heat, heavy load, high speed and different types of roads, which result in early damage and cause chain failures. One of the things that Darbek Tire Company is concerned with is to provide tires made of very strong vehicles with the highest specifications and quality to meet the difficult climatic conditions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tire components determine whether a tire is of high quality or whether it is a commercial tire that wears out quickly!

Visual inspection is the first line of defense

Daily monitoring and visual inspection do not require equipment or large tools, but only visual monitoring. Even experience and knowledge are not an important requirement. What is important in this examination is discipline in conducting it before trips and on a daily basis. The series of steps begins as follows:

First: quick visual inspection: You start by checking the tire by standing sideways and examining the sidewall of the tire, while looking for abnormal cracks or bulges such as bubbles or abnormalities that resemble an egg. If they are present, it is an undoubted indication that there is a rupture in the inner layers or steel belts. This is often caused by a severe impact on a hole, pavement or bump. This side swelling is very serious and may explode at any moment, causing mobility impairment in the truck.

Cracks are small lines or nets that appear on the sidewall as well. They appear especially around the shoulder area and the rim rim. They are a significant sign of tire aging and the imminent end of its life. The causes include extreme dryness of the tire with very large weights, and its excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. This may be accompanied by other obvious damage such as peeling or sharp cuts due to the tire being exposed to many shocks and changes that make it fall apart and collapse gradually.

Second: uneven wear: Scan the traffic area, which is the tread, and check it carefully to see if it suffers from wear in one area but not another, or the texture of an area is softer than the rest of the areas. This indicates problems in the corner of the caster or the camper. This is related to wheel alignment and correct steering, or to the suspension system being cumbersome and suffering from multiple problems.

In addition, you may find foreign objects stuck in the tire grooves. Try not to remove them directly as they may cause a puncture and leak in the tire. These objects may be screws, nails, etc. Therefore, you should go to a tire maintenance center to treat the tire and find out the best way to repair it and return it to its previous era.

Third: light kicking (an initial test of pressure): This test cannot replace the air pressure test. However, a kick can show if the tires need to be refilled or if the air level has dropped inside them. This procedure will avoid walking on excessively inflated tires and tires that suffer from hidden or unnoticed leaks.

Fourth: listen to the frame: While driving at low speeds, try to listen to tire sounds. One of the important signs of tire failure is a loud sound or an unusual crack. Here, you should check it and find out the cause or source of the sound coming out of the tires, which may indicate uneven wear or gravel stuck in the tire grooves or something like that.

The first proper defense of tires is to buy tires from a company that has the Saudi quality mark!

Do you check your air pressure daily or monthly?

Air pressure is the blood that flows in the veins of tires. It is the biggest impact on tire longevity, performance and safety. Incorrect pressure can be destructive to the truck and the tire by receiving shocks and the ability of the suspension system to withstand it. In addition, it affects the way the tire wears.

The effects of pressure on the tire begin with the fact that the air pressure inside the tires determines their adhesion to the ground and their stability on straight surfaces. This is because the area that rubs against the road changes according to the air inside the tire. As the air level decreases, the area increases. This means an increase in tire temperatures, which increases the risk of separation of the tire or the tread from the layers attached to it such as steel belts. Extreme air pressure inside the tire is able to reduce the contact area between the tire and the road, making friction more focused and handling bumps less effective because the tire will be less able to absorb blows Here, it is important to clarify that fuel consumption is significantly affected in both cases. If the air level inside the tire is low, fuel consumption becomes at least 20% more than the normal level, while if the air level inside the tire is strong, the rolling resistance is at its lowest levels, which means a decrease in the level of fuel consumption. However, extreme pressure inside the tires can cause major problems or make the tire explode. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust the air pressure according to the load and according to the route taken by the truck in addition to taking into account the standard specifications set by tire manufacturers and manufacturers For trucks.

How is the air pressure inside the tires correctly measured?

The pressure inside the tires is measured through the use of a pressure gauge, which must be of high quality and very accurate, while maintaining the correct parking. At a minimum, the truck must have stopped for at least three hours. After driving, the measurement after driving often gives greater pressure than the real pressure. When performing the inspection, it is necessary to know the correct rate of tire pressure. In order to know the real pressure rate required for the tires, do not rely on the number written on the tires but check what is written in the driver's cabin. The truck manufacturer is more specialized because it knows the specific weight of this truck, The practical steps are still known to all, but we will summarize them in: open the valve cover, install the pressure gauge nozzle completely, read the pressure ratio in (Psi). If it is low, install the air compressor and raise the pressure ratio to the standard percentage specified by the manufacturer. If it is high, remove the gauge partially or remove it completely, then press the valve to release air, remove a little and then check to not lose the normal pressure. Then make sure to reinstall the valve cover completely. Do not forget to check the air pressure in the spare tire. It is very important in emergency situations.

On the other hand, we should note the effects of environmental factors on the air pressure inside the tires. Hot weather increases the level of pressure inside the tires, which means that you should reduce the level of air pressure from early morning in order to avoid high levels of internal pressure. In cold weather, the internal pressure of the tires is naturally reduced due to the contraction of air molecules inside the tire, which means that you may need to fill the tires with more air during the winter and in very cold areas, in addition to the effects of humidity that affect the air level inside the tires, but on trips When the tires are long, the temperature rises automatically due to friction on the road.

Check the depth of the tread or pedal

The tread, which is within the tire travel area, is the main line of defense against slips, punctures and other road problems. Therefore, the depth of the tread must be measured from time to time in order to know the true depth of the tire grooves through which water and other plankton are drained. The method of measuring it is by workshops specialized in regular tire maintenance. One of the tools that should be used in these workshops is (the Tread Depth Gauge), which is one of the best and most accurate tools used in this field. It is a small tool that looks like a ruler with a sliding needle, which is placed in one of the main grooves and is recorded The value is specified at more than one point of contact in the tire's tread, while a simple manual check can be performed with a coin by inserting the coin vertically and determining the distance covered by the groove. If the depth of the tread exceeds half the coin, it is still roadworthy. If it is less, the depth of the tread is not suitable for travel.

On the other hand, tire manufacturers develop indicators to determine the level of wear in the tread. These are small, slightly raised rubber barriers located at the bottom of the main grooves throughout the tire. These points or indicators, when the tread wears down to its level, mean that the depth has become 1.6 mm, which is the legal limit of the depth of the tread suitable for use on roads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The semi-annual inspection of the truck

Trucks rely on tires for a long period of five years as an average. However, a comprehensive examination of all parts of the truck must be repeated every six months in order to know the practical condition of the truck and its suitability to travel on the roads. One of the most important tests required by the semi-annual inspection is to know the wheel balance and the quality of the suspension system, in addition to ensuring that the wheels are properly aligned by adjusting the steering angles. This comprehensive inspection also includes tires, which means that the general condition of the truck directly affects and is affected by the level of truck performance on the roads.

When should truck tires be replaced?

The right time to replace tires cannot be absolutely determined. However, attention should be paid to the signs of wear on tires, in addition to their shelf life of 2-5 years. This time is considered a maximum if tires are operated under commercial trucks, which consume tires more because they have little downtime. In addition, signs that indicate tire wear are the difference between whether tires are newly installed or have not been used for a long time.