Author: Admin

Field-testing of Tire air Pressure Remote access System (TPRS) should help confirm the viability of a newly developed system.

More…

Goodyear has put a lot of energy and focus into mobility solutions, and the tire maker said it is seeing the fruits of that endeavor as tires for electric vehicles (EVs) and the last-mile delivery sector continue to show growth potential.
Mike Dwyer (MD), chief customer officer and general manager of consumer replacement, Goodyear North America, and Cary Budzinski (CB), senior director, commercial sales, Goodyear North America, told Tire Business that demand continues to increase for both consumer and commercial products, which bodes well for the industry.

How would you describe business thus far in 2021?

CB: The trucking industry is booming and the need to move goods is only increasing as the economy recovers. This is great news for both fleets and the tire industry ? as their business grows, so will the demand for our tires. We expect to see this trend continue through the remainder of the year.
MD: We’ve seen faster-than-expected recovery in our consumer business as the world emerges from COVID-19. Vehicle miles traveled are up as consumers get back on the road, traveling longer distances and resuming their commutes. Key indicators point to continued industry growth throughout 2021.

What is the one thing you would like customers to know about how Goodyear has tackled the challenges brought about by the pandemic?
MD: Throughout the pandemic, our goal was to be a valued partner to our dealers and retailers. We recognized that it was a highly unpredictable and unusual year, and we wanted Goodyear to be a partner our customers could rely on to get through the tough times.
Now, as we emerge from the pandemic, we turn our attention back to our growth strategy, focused on high-value products, services and programs that benefit consumers, our customers and Goodyear alike.
CB: On the commercial side, the trucking industry was not as heavily impacted as other sectors since much of the supply chain needed to keep moving. During the pandemic, we kept our focus on supporting fleets and keeping trucks on the road.
We also adapted to new safety protocols across our commercial tire and service network to help ensure fleets had the tires and retreads they needed and drivers felt comfortable coming to us for service. Looking back, I’m proud of the way Goodyear reacted with agility in times of such uncertainty.
Do you expect any supply difficulties in the second half of the year? When do you expect the situation to ease?
MD: News of tight supply is increasing around the globe due to the impact of COVID-19. With raw material cost increases and supply chain and transportation challenges, products from our favorite foods to tires have been affected.
To help Goodyear and our customers take advantage of the strong demand in the market, we have been expanding our plant production, investing in more resources and prioritizing key product lines.
CB: Demand for tires in the trucking industry remained strong throughout last year and has become even stronger in 2021. We continue to closely monitor industry trends and work with our fleets in an effort to ensure we can continue delivering the tires they need.

What are some of the pleasant surprises in the industry?
MD: Across our commercial and consumer businesses, we are pleased to see such heightened demand in the tire industry. Particularly for consumers, the rate of recovery from the demand shock in 2020 tells us that the pandemic hasn’t affected peoples’ innate desire to move.
As a company focused on mobility, it’s great for us at Goodyear to see the enthusiasm for getting back out there.

What kind of trends are you seeing in the market? How is your company reacting to them?

MD: We’ve been talking about FACE (fleets, autonomous, connected, electric) mobility trends for a few years at Goodyear and believe the pandemic and its impact on the economy have accelerated the auto industry’s move toward these trends.
For example, we’re seeing more emphasis on electric vehicles, and as online shopping increases, the need for last-mile delivery fleets also increases. Goodyear has been thinking along these lines for some time, and believe we are well positioned to leverage our unique product and service offerings to take advantage of these trends in collaboration with both OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and replacement customers.
CB: While fleet business is strong, they are still looking for ways to optimize their operations, reduce downtime and save money. We continue to see building interest in Goodyear’s Tire Management solutions, like Goodyear CheckPoint, TPMS Plus and TireOptix, that offer fleets the ability to improve the speed and accuracy of their tire monitoring program, detect potential issues in real time so they can proactively seek maintenance and extend the overall life of their tires.

What sector offers the most growth potential?
CB: One of the highest growth areas we’re seeing is the last-mile delivery sector. Online shopping has increased sharply, especially in the last year, which has rapidly increased the demand for smaller delivery vehicles.
Anticipating this, Goodyear launched the Wrangler Fortitude HT tire in 2019 that is specifically created to meet the growing needs of the cargo van market.
We designed the Fortitude HT to be a long-lasting, rugged tire capable of handling heavy cargo loads in sizes that fit a wide variety of vehicles, including commercial service radial (C-type) sizes.
Do you expect to roll out any additional products in 2021?
MD: As we manage and are mindful of supply challenges impacting 2021, we targeted a smaller number of new products this year but look forward to returning to our normal cadence.
For 2021, we launched the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive, our latest premium commuter touring tire designed to give consumers a smooth, quiet ride. The Assurance ComfortDrive is available in 44 sizes, ranging from 16- to 20-inch rim diameters and is an ideal fit for passenger cars, minivans, CUVs and SUVs.
This fall, we expect to launch our Wrangler Workhorse AT, a tire designed for those who look for hardworking dependability in their tires. The Wrangler Workhorse AT delivers strong traction on and off road, enabling drivers to access remote job sites. It also features the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation for harsh winter weather conditions.
CB: In commercial, we launched the Fuel Max LHD2, Goodyear’s best long-haul drive tire for fuel efficiency, earlier this year. We’re also expecting to launch three UniCircle retread products ? the Fuel Max RSD, Fuel Max RTD and UltraGrip RTD, which offer tread designs and compounds that match the tread designs and compounds used in the related new tires.
Our Goodyear UniCircle retread technology offers a seamless tread design that adheres closely to the tire casing and delivers a precise fit without the need for splicing, helping to improve retread uniformity and driver confidence.

What has been the overriding factor in recent price increases?

MD: We’ve seen significant increases in current raw materials, supply chain and transportation costs, but it’s important to keep in mind that these pressures are not limited to the auto industry.
Consumers around the globe are experiencing rising prices on most products and services because of the impact COVID-19 has had on manufacturing, transportation and raw materials.
It is anticipated that the global economy will continue to experience these pressures for some time.

What would you say to tire dealers who remain skeptical about the Cooper Tire deal?
CB: With change always comes uncertainty, and we appreciate that, but we believe this deal presents tremendous opportunity for Goodyear and our customers. Overall, we have been receiving positive feedback on this announcement.

What are some of the challenges for the industry going forward? What keeps you up at night?
CB: Like many industries right now, the commercial trucking industry is experiencing labor shortages and having difficulty hiring the talent needed ? from professional truck drivers to technicians.
As an industry, we need to continue to work through this challenge to ensure we can thrive in this booming market.

Anything else you would like to add?
MD: It’s a really exciting time to be in the tire industry as we return to a fully mobile society and the growth opportunities future trends like FACE offer.
Now more than ever, it’s essential for us to keep up with the pace of change by working closely with our customers, understanding their needs and consumer preferences. This will help to ensure we continue to deliver the value, products and solutions that will exceed expectations.

More…

JOHNSTOWN, Ohio ?TECH Tire Repairs is touting its expertise in developing custom injection-molded rubber docking stations for, among others, tire sensors, TPMS and RFID tags.
TECH Tire, a subsidiary of Technical Rubber Co. (TRC), said intelligent tire sensors and tire casing tracking devices "are the next wave of smart sensor technology." Sensors being developed are able to track such things as air pressure, tread depth, road conditions and driver behavior.
TECH Tire said it can develop the custom rubber docking cradle for for new or aftermarket tires that have been retrofitted with a sensor.
TECH then mounts the docking station to the tire’s inner liner either by using cold, chemical vulcanization or heat curing methods.
For more information, click here.

More…

ARLINGTON, Va. ? The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations has finalized the schedule of events for its Fall Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, scheduled for Sept. 12-16 in Cleveland.
The conference and trade show had been scheduled for March 8-11 in Orlando but was postponed due to lingering concerns about the COVID-19 coronovirus.
The event at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland will include the TMC’s Transportation Technology Exhibition as well as a scaled-down TMCSuperTech 2021.
The TMC’s Fall 2021 #TMCFall21 event is expected to attract a broad cross-section of experienced fleets, equipment suppliers and service providers to learn industry best practices, discover cutting-edge products and services, and collaborate to address common challenges.
The schedule includes:

• Task Force Day on Sept. 13 ? The TMC’s various Task Forces will hold their meetings throughout the day, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Town Hall meeting and trade show opening, Sept. 13, starting at 6:45 p.m. and running through 8:15 p.m.
• Educational Sessions run Sept. 14 and 15
• The accompanying trade show will run 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Events of particular interest to those in the tire and wheel sectors include:
S.2 Tire and Wheel Study Group: Sept. 14, 4:15 ? 5:45 p.m.
This session will look at the "Connected Tire," and how telematics are revolutionizing truck technology. Tires now have the capability to capture important data elements about their performance and health status and telematics transmit that data to drivers and fleet back offices in an instant.
During this session, industry veteran Peggy Fisher ? president of Tire Stamp Inc. and Tire Business’ commercial industry columnist — will host a talk-show format discussion on the use and benefits of tire-related technologies including tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS), telematics, digital tire management solutions and "The Cloud."
These advanced technologies provide fleet managers with visibility of their tires; enable them to improve their tire programs, CSA scores and customer service; and reduce tire-related labor, breakdown and fuel costs. Industry experts will include fleet executives as well as technology/system suppliers.
Meeting Brochure is now available online.

More…

Manufacturing flexibility continues to be a prime focus for Continental Tire the Americas, as the markets shift toward larger rim diameters and last-mile delivery tires.
Jochen Etzel, CEO of Continental A.G.’s North American subsidiary, told Tire Business the company continues to maximize its supply for customers to alleviate any shortages and other disruptions brought about by the pandemic.

How would you describe business thus far in 2021?
Across our passenger and light truck tires, truck tires and commercial specialty tires business, 2021 has thus far proven to be very robust as the economy recovers.
On the passenger side, we believe that the economic stimulus toward the end of the first quarter was a major driver in the increased demand, as well as the overall opening up of the economy in various parts of the country. We see demand increasing across all channels, although the car dealer channel remains a little slower in recovery versus other outlets.
The trucking industry is currently in a very positive swing, with momentum heavily favoring shippers due to increased demand versus drivers available, and we find truck replacement shipments up 11% year over year, primarily among U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association members who are up 12.5% year over year. Freight indicators, such as loadings, tonnage and rates, were also up significantly in the first quarter.
For commercial specialty tires, the agriculture market didn’t really slow down in 2020 and has increased in 2021. The earthmover market started 2021 slightly down in January and February but turned positive in March, and the trend has since continued.
According to WITS, the material-handling business is exceptionally strong with original equipment industrial truck order intake up 71% year over year in the first quarter, and Drewry Shipping Consultants says shipping container units globally are predicted to increase 8.7% in 2021.

What would you like customers to know about how your company handled the pandemic?
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Continental’s main focus has been on the health and safety of our employees and customers. We have remained committed to supporting our tire dealers.
With the size and resources of our corporation, we’ve been on the forefront with sharing information to help our dealers plot a course of action, including sharing information and analysis on national and state programs to support them. Our full sales team remains at the ready to support customers.
Do you expect any supply difficulties in the second half of the year?

Continental has a large manufacturing footprint in the U.S., with plants in Mount Vernon, Ill.; Sumter, S.C.; and Clinton, Miss. The Mount Vernon plant is one of Continental’s largest plants worldwide.
However, as with many manufacturers, disruption in the supply chain coupled with decreased production in 2020 will lead to supply shortages throughout 2021. As a global manufacturer, we are sourcing tires from our global production network to supplement local supply, but the container shortage will also impact the speed and availability of these deliveries.
We are working diligently to maximize the supply of tires available for our customers in the U.S. market and appreciate the ongoing patience and partnership of our customers through this period.

What are some of the pleasant surprises you are seeing?

One of the pleasant surprises for me has been the openness and willingness for our customers to conduct virtual business. In a very traditional industry, it was a pleasant surprise to see the level of trust that our customers exhibited, allowing us to continue doing business with them and to share information throughout the crisis.
We have actually been able to spend more time in front of customers by using these virtual tools, since it eliminates the travel time. It’s a testament to how adaptable this industry truly is.

What is your reaction to antidumping duties on passenger and light truck tires made in Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam?

As a company, we are in favor of free and fair trade. We respect the rights of all countries to investigate and take corrective action in the event there is evidence of unfair trade.
As Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam make up a significant portion of the total tire supply to the U.S. market, we would expect to see the larger global tire manufacturers operating in these regions to rebalance their supply sourcing approach for U.S. deliveries away from facilities in these regions. This is similar to what happened when the tariffs on Chinese products were implemented.
Therefore, manufacturers with less diverse manufacturing networks may have challenges. Continental is in a strong position as we are not reliant on sourcing from these countries to support our U.S. business.

What kind of trends are you seeing in the marketplace?

On the passenger and light truck side, over the last two years, the shift toward higher rim diameters has accelerated. We also are seeing all-terrain products growing from a demand perspective, as vehicles in this segment are becoming more popular.
We believe there is a good correlation between stimulus checks and the increase in tire/wheel upfitting on vehicles that we currently see in the market.
Our manufacturing plants are shifting their production mix as a result of these trends and we are working to increase our manufacturing flexibility in these segments to be able to support future demand.
For commercial truck tires, over the past decade we have witnessed the volume of truck tires for the regional application continuing to increase year in and year out, nearing long-haul volumes. This has not been seen in the U.S. market in recent memory.
As soon as the next five to 10 years, regional tire shipments are expected to eclipse long-haul volumes. Many other sources support this trend, with less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments reportedly growing at a compound annual rate of 10%-plus and last-mile delivery continuing to grow in popularity.
In reaction to this trend, Continental has released several new tires over the last few years. Continental had anticipated growth in last-mile delivery, releasing a 16-inch all-steel retreadable tire, the Conti LAR 3, in 2018, designed specifically to deliver the lowest overall driving cost in this segment.
This year, additional sizes will become available. The company enhanced its HDR2+ regional drive tire last year, available in 22.5 and 24.5 sizes, with new tread compounds to deliver improved wear performance, wet traction and cut/chip resistance.
This year, the company will debut its Conti HDL 3 LTL drive tire designed specifically for LTL applications. The tire delivers market-leading mileage performance when paired with the matching drive retread. It is currently available in 295/75R22.5, and additional sizes will become available in the second half of 2021.
In the material-handling space for commercial specialty tires, we are seeing a shift toward battery-powered and autonomous vehicles. These vehicles can be heavier and some can maneuver in new ways which can be harder on the equipment’s tires. We must continually improve and push our products to higher levels to perform in these markets.
In earthmover and agriculture, we are seeing larger and more powerful equipment, so we have been busy creating new sizes and designs to perform on this equipment. There is also an expectation from more of our partners for information.
They want to know tire pressures, temperatures, their route’s impact on tires, cost per hour and overall information to make sound business decisions. Our digital solutions sensor technology and analytics platforms help deliver this information.

Do you expect to roll out any additional products in 2021? What will they be and what sector will they serve?
2021 has been a busy year with new product offerings and entry into new segments for passenger and light truck tires.
In February, we introduced the Continental ExtremeContact DWS-06 Plus, our next-generation ultra-high-performance all-season passenger, crossover and SUV tire, which will replace the Continental ExtremeContact DWS-06.
In May, we launched the General Tire AltiMAX 365AW, which was our first all-weather tire for passenger, crossover and SUVs. In June, we will launch the Continental ExtremeContact Force, our first ultra-high-performance competition tire for enthusiasts and professionals.
In addition, we continue to add additional sizes to our existing product offerings to ensure we can best serve our customers and consumers.
For truck tires, the long-haul segment continues as the leading segment in the U.S. market. This year, Continental will release the Conti HTL 3, a long-haul trailer tire focused on delivering maximum removal mileage. The Conti EcoPlus HT3 will remain available for fleets focused on maximum fuel savings. Both offerings are Smartway-verified and CARB compliant.
Commercial specialty tires is bringing a full line up of General-brand solid rubber forklift tires in black and non-marking compounds.
We continue to bring new sizes and types of intelligent earthmover products from our most recent plant in Lousado, Portugal. We are also extending our agriculture portfolio with new sizes and products such as the CompactMaster AG for telehandlers and many VF products.

What has been the overriding factor in all the recent price increases?
Surely raw material prices have had an impact but in 2021, freight costs have also had a significant impact. We source our products from Continental plants all over the world and the shortage of containers and even space on the cargo ships have driven up shipping companies’ prices as well as our costs.

Do you expect any major investments in the next six months or year, in either personnel, distribution facilities or capacity expansions?
In order to improve servicing our customers, in May we opened a new warehouse in Reno, Nev. The 260,000-sq.-ft. facility, which houses PLT replacement, PLT OE and commercial specialty tires, enables us to be closer to our customers and further strengthens our infrastructure in the market.

Continental continues to invest heavily on technology, sustainability and mobility. What technology will be a game-changer?
Continental’s digital tire monitoring solutions are changing the game for fleets. New solutions and increased functionality in existing products can be expected throughout the year.
Customers looking for the lowest overall driving cost should strongly consider a digital TPMS, as properly inflated tires get 15% longer tread life on the tire’s first life, and 20% longer casing life for retreading.
One customer has told us they have reduced roadside service calls to zero by implementing our ContiConnect Yard solution. This type of service around the tire helps our customers maximize their tire investment and reduce downtime.

Continental A.G. has adopted a sustainability strategy that will see it becoming 100% carbon neutral, emissions-free and "circularized" by 2050. Why is that important?
We are convinced that sustainable and responsible business increases our ability to innovate and shape the future ? adding value to the company and society across the world ? and we believe it also adds value for the customers.
For our tire business, we aim for a continuous re-use of our tires or their input materials. By 2050, 100% of our tires will either be renewed or consist of 100% recycled or other sustainable materials. We want to eliminate waste and that is why we are continuously expanding our circular economy solutions to maximize the reusability of our tires and of all materials used for their production.
Today Continental already provides state-of-the-art retreading solutions for truck tires in order to protect scarce resources. Continental’s worldwide tire retreading operations are a perfect example of intelligent circular economy solutions. While truck tires are being renewed, rubber from the removed tread is being reclaimed and used for new rubber compounds.

Continental announced an expansion plan at its headquarters in Lancaster County, committing more than $20 million for an office building for up to 400 employees. Can you provide an update on that?
We have broken ground for the expansion of our Americas’ headquarters and anticipate to welcome employees to the new space during the second half of 2022.
This expansion is designed to be our workplace of the future to support operations of our business across the Americas. Networking, agility, flexibility and the ability to leverage technology to enable remote collaboration for distributed teams are some of the key features and benefits we will have in the new space.

Anything else you would like to add?
Overall, as demonstrated during the pandemic, we believe that our strong partnerships with our customers will lead Continental to success.
In addition to our tires and retreads, many of our fleet customers rely on our digital tire monitoring solutions, which help them reduce costs and improve uptime. That becomes even more important during a crisis. Customers also appreciate that we have our full team of reliable and technically trained representatives to help them.
We have already transitioned to virtual meetings, helping our customers navigate the crisis and serving as an essential business partner.

More…

The summer driving season will soon be upon us, but what will it be like this year?
Last year, courtesy of the pandemic, it was almost non-existent. Most people stayed locked in at home afraid to venture out. The highways were almost empty at any time of day.
This year there is hope that, as people continue to get vaccinated into the spring and summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will relax some of its guidelines and restrictions and a more "normal" summer can be enjoyed by at least those who are vaccinated.
It is expected that outdoor gatherings will increase as a safe way for individuals to get together. So, for the first time in ages, we can likely have that barbecue with friends.
Outdoor dining and drinking with appropriate spacing and physical barriers also likely will be a summer staple for many throughout the country and beaches, where people can remain fairly spread out, will be a relatively safe way to enjoy the warm weather, too.
This is good because according to weather experts, this summer is going to be hotter than usual. June through August is expected to be hotter than average from the West Coast to the Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes.
The northern and central Rockies into the northern and central Plains are expected to be in for a really hot summer while the East and Southeast are expected to be near or slightly warmer than average this summer.
So what does this mean for the summer driving season this year?
With the hot weather and pent-up need to get the heck out of the house, people are going to go somewhere. And with the economy heating up too, truck traffic is expected to increase as well. I’d say the highways are going to be bustling again.
And what does that mean for tires? Heat is a tire’s worst enemy when it comes to removal miles, irregular wear and service life.
With hotter ambient temperatures expected, I’m sure there will be a rise in the "road gator" birth rate as well.
Road gators are those long strips of tread rubber and belt package that are thrown off a tire that is run flat or underinflated.
Excessive heat is generated by the increased deflection of an underinflated tire’s sidewall. The lower the inflation pressure, the more a tire will deform or flex, which results in an increase in tire temperature.
This increased deflection and resulting high temperature causes the rubber compounds throughout the tire, but especially in the shoulder and bead area, to break down and fail. At continuous operation above 250?F, the rubber will begin to revert and cause the belt package to separate from the casing.
Naturally when the belts separate from the casing, the tread comes with it, and a road gator is born.
You may be wondering why you don’t see as many road gators the rest of the year, while they seem to propagate like bunnies in the summer, even though you know tires are run underinflated year-round.
That’s because summer elements, such as hot temperatures and blazing sunlight, affect tires. Tires absorb heat from the pavement.
When ambient temps get higher than 100?F, some road temperatures can reach almost 200?F. In addition, when a tire is exposed to direct sunlight, it naturally will absorb heat, too.
The hotter road temperatures make tread compounds "softer." This altered rubber state wears faster and acts as a magnet to nails and other road debris, leading to an increase in the incidence of punctures during the summer, too.
Heat also is created by the friction between the tread and the pavement.
When a tire runs underinflated, the tire footprint length becomes elongated at low tire pressures, resulting in more rubber on the road, which generates more heat than when properly inflated.
A tire’s contact patch can be up to 18% larger when a tire has only 70 psi versus 100 psi, a pressure that most fleets target.
Tires running at 75 mph versus 55 mph will generate extra heat, too. These temperatures, combined with heavy loads and high speeds, exacerbate tire failures and our highways become the breeding ground for road gators in the hot months of the year.
So what can we do about it?
Well, if you are performing yard checks for any of your fleet accounts, you need to be much more vigilant this time of year. Each tire will require a thorough external examination to find puncturing objects that could cause leaks as well as cuts and snags.
Remove nails, screws and other road hazards from treads even if they are not puncturing the casing. As tires wear, these objects will be pounded through the tread and belt package and eventually cause a leak.
Checking tire pressures properly is vital. Whenever possible, check inflation pressure when the tires are cold or at ambient temperature.
This means tires that have not been run for at least three hours.
I know it’s a pain to check the pressure in every tire, but if the equipment you are inspecting does not have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that you can access to get accurate pressure readings, you have to use a calibrated service gauge to check the pressure of each tire to find those that are underinflated.
Since the odds of finding underinflated tires increase in summer months, I guarantee you will find more tires to be serviced this way than just bump-checking them.
If the cold inflation pressure is greater than 80% of the fleet’s target pressure, you can add or bleed pressure in the tire as necessary to meet the target inflation pressure.
If the inflation pressure is 80% or less of the target pressure, the tire must be considered flat and should be deflated, removed from the vehicle, demounted and inspected for punctures or other damage.
Otherwise, if the tire is just aired up, the leaking valve stem or puncture will continue to lose air and eventually fail the tire.
Keep in mind that reinflating a tire/wheel assembly that has been run flat or underinflated can result in an explosive zipper rupture, which will ruin your day.
If the tires are hot when you check them, a regular tire gauge can’t determine the cold inflation pressure since tire pressures change with increased temperature. There is about a 2 psi increase for every 10?F increase in tire temperature.
For example, a tire inflated to 100 psi at 70?F will have a pressure of 104 psi at 90?F and 106 psi at 100?F simply due to the increase in ambient temperature.
When you add in pressure increases due to operating heat, it is normal for tire pressure to increase as much as 20 psi when trucks and buses are running, so expect the pressure readings to be higher than the target pressure.
Therefore, if pressure must be measured when tires are hot, look for consistency between tire pressure measurements.
Both steer tires should read about the same, all the drive tires should measure about the same and all the trailer tires should be about the same.
If the actual hot pressures measured across the same axle are within 5 psi of each other and they are all higher than the target pressure, the tire pressures are acceptable. In some cases the actual hot inflation pressure could be higher than the maximum inflation pressure on the sidewall.
This is not a safety issue as tires are designed to withstand this normal pressure buildup.
The maximum inflation pressure is for cold tires only. Never bleed hot tires to reduce inflation pressure unless directed to by a TPMS that calculates cold-inflation pressure.
If the actual hot pressures measured across the same axle differ by more than 20% from each other, the low pressure tire(s) most likely have an air loss problem and should be treated as flat. If the difference is less than 20%, the low-pressure tires can be inflated to match the other tires’ pressures.
Before re-inflating a tire, though, determine if there is a problem with the tire, such as a puncture or leaking valve stem.
Make the proper repair and then inflate the tire to the target pressure. Otherwise, the tire just will continue to leak and fail another day.
If one or two tires have pressures much greater than the others, the cause may be overload due to unbalanced loading or heat resulting from unbalanced brakes or direct exposure to sunlight. (The sun beating down on one side of a parked vehicle can cause a 10-15 psi increase in tire pressure.)
Finally, don’t forget to make sure metal valve caps are installed.
Properly inspecting and maintaining your fleet accounts’ tires is one of the best ways to ensure road gators are prevented and keep the roadways safe from these predators. Hopefully the only place you’ll see a gator this summer is at the zoo.
Peggy can be reached via e-mail at tirebusiness@crain.com. Her previous columns are available at www.tirebusiness.com.

More…

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. ? The Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) of the Specialty Equipment Market Association will conduct a webinar May 19 on National Tire Safety Week, featuring a pair of industry experts discussing ways dealers can educate customers about tire care, safety and challenges related to tires.
The webinar, set for 3 p.m. EDT on the 19th, is designed to help underscore the importance of National Tire Safety Week, the annual consumer tire safety awareness campaign conducted by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association. It’s scheduled for June 28 through July 4 under the theme: "Do Your Part. Know Your Roll."
The WTC has invited Gary Ruede, quality and technical expert at Discount Tire/America’s Tire, and Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training at the Tire Industry Association (TIA), to discuss the issues.
Among the topics expected to be discussed are:
? The importance of air pressure and its effects on mileage, wear, gas mileage and load capability;
? TIA highlights for tire safety ? inflation pressure maintenance on tire life and performance, and the benefits of regular rotation, TPMS maintenance and tire repair;
? California law that requires replacement tires to exhibit low rolling resistance;
? The RIM (Read, Inspect, Mount) Safety Program; and
? Tire registration challenges ? Current voluntary registration requirements put the burden on retailers to provide customers with the information. Switching to a mandatory system would put all of the burden on retailers. Without electronic ID, a mandatory tire registration and recall recovery system would be an unreasonable burden for retailers.
The webinar is part of the WTC’s Wheel and Tire Industry Insights webinar series. To register, click here:
The WTC, one of SEMA’s nine industry-sector councils, is open to all companies whose business focuses on the wheel industry, from manufacturers, importers, distributors, tire and wheel dealers, to service providers.
The USTMA’s initiative is supported by its 13 tire company members: Bridgestone Americas Inc.; Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.; Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.; Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.; Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Hankook Tire America Corp.; Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc.; Michelin North America Inc.; Nokian Tyres Inc.; Pirelli Tire North America Inc.; Sumitomo Rubber North America; Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc.; and Yokohama Tire Corp.

More…

WIXON, Mich. ? Tire-pressure-monitoring systems (TPMS) maker Hamaton Inc. has hired Nick Wheeker as a technical support specialist, tasked with helping to sustain business growth.
Mr. Wheeker will work with the Hamaton team to provide customer support, answering calls and carrying out vehicle testing to ensure sensor coverage is up-to-date.
He formerly was an intern at automotive parts supplier Yazaki Automotive Corp., where he worked in data analysis and product validation.
"Joining a fast-growing company within an industry I love is a fantastic opportunity," Mr. Wheeker said. "I am looking forward to gaining hands-on TPMS experience and supporting our loyal customer base."
Jake Henderson, sales and technical support manager, said Hamaton’s success prompted the Wixon-based company, a subsidiary of Hamaton Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., to expand its workforce in order "to maintain the high level of technical support our customers have come to expect. We are confident (Mr. Wheeker’s) communication skills and passion for the automotive industry will be a great asset."

More…

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. ? Tire pressure monitoring system tool technology provider Bartec USA is releasing a software update for its some of its portfolio, including version 63 for the Tech400SD, Tech300Pro, Tech500 and Tech400Pro tools, software version 2.2 for the Tech450Pro and Tech600Pro and version 8.0 for the TPMS desktop.
In addition, Bartec has expanded vehicle coverage for its replacement sensor, the Rite-Sensor, as well as an update to the TPMS desktop utility.
According to Product Manager Matthew Hitchcock, Bartec produces at least four tool updates annually.
"Bartec is continually adding coverage for the most popular aftermarket sensors as well," Mr. Hitchcock said. "That means more Rite-Sensor coverage, EZ-Sensor coverage, REDI-sensor coverage and Huf Intelisens coverage for our range of TPMS tools."
A description of what is in the latest update is available at www.bartecusa.com.
Among the Bartec portfolio is the Rite-Sync tool-controlled process that is unique to the Rite-Sensor. Bartec CEO Scot Holloway said a relearn is needed for all TPMS service when a new sensor is installed.
"Rite-Sync combines sensor programming with the vehicle relearn, making a single and fast process that is accurate and repeatable," he said.

More…