Preventing Radial Runout Through Proper Tire Installation

The tires on a semi truck are not only one of its most important safety features--they also represent one of its most significant financial investments. To help ensure that your profits remain as high as possible, it is thus important to ensure that you are getting the most out of your tires by preventing unnecessary wear. This process starts the moment you mount a tire. If you would like to learn more, read on. This article will discuss how proper installation can minimize friction-related wear.

The Problem

Radial runout is what happens when the tire’s mounting is not perfectly concentric. This results in a tire that rotates along an elliptical, egg-shaped pattern. Such rotation greatly increases the amount of wear experienced at certain points along the tire. In other words,

the contact patch is not distributed evenly around the entire tire. Once the tread rubber wears down to a critical point in such places, you will be forced to replace the tire--regardless of how healthy the rest of the tread is.

Preventing Radial Runout

The key to keeping radial runout from cutting a tire’s lifespan short, is to ensure that the wheel is properly centered. This is done by measuring the distance from the rim flange to the aligning ring at various points around the tire’s circumference. Adjustments are then made as necessary to make it so that this this distance is uniform around the entire circumference.

When making this set of measurements, it is important to proceed in a methodical way. The standard protocol is to seat the bead against the rim, then take a series of four 90 degree measurements. If you find that these numbers are not identical, reseat the tire on its rim and measure again until you obtain the correct results.

For more information about keeping your tires in good working order, feel free contact the pros at Carolina International.