A tire pressure monitoring system can not only help to improve mileage, but it can also extend tire life—saving money, fuel, tires and time.
The safety and advantageous aspects of using a tire pressure monitoring system are significant, especially with regard to waste management operations. Low tire pressures are the primary cause of premature tire failures. Low-pressure tires will eventually overheat, causing premature failures and possibly even a fire and vehicle damage. Drivers will experience less downtime, as well as tire related cost savings by being alerted timely of a problem tire when the tire starts to lose air. Blow-outs are typically the result of a nail being picked up, perhaps the previous day, when the tire slowly deflates and eventually overheats, resulting in the tire’s destruction. A tire pressure monitoring system can alert you about a tire with low pressure before it goes flat.
Tire Facts
Did you know that:
- The average lifespan of most tires on refuse trucks is under 6,000 miles, making tires and tire-related maintenance one of a fleet’s top expenses?
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that 37 percent of all tires on American roadways are under inflated?
- Frequent stops, which are the case with refuse trucks, contribute to heat buildup and tire failure?
- Under-inflation is the #1 cause of overheating which leads to zipper rips, blowouts sidewall/tread breakdowns via ply separation and tire disintegration, as well as excessive fuel use?
- Under-inflated tires waste more than 5 million gallons of fuel each day or approximately 2 billion gallons per year in the U.S. alone?
Underinflated tires also cause deteriorated handling and performance, resulting in less safety on the road. A tire pressure monitoring system can provide early notice of potential problems and assist in maintaining proper pressurization in vehicle tires. It can also alert drivers to low tire pressure when they need this information the most: when on the road, and in busy traffic conditions where a tire problem could be costly and also dangerous.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
A wireless, electronic, tire pressure monitoring system is capable of displaying and monitoring real-time tire pressures on demand, whether moving down the road or stationary. Its alert functions are noted for having significant impact on waste management vehicles’ reduction of bottom-line tire involvement cost numbers.
Tire Sensors to Indicate Tire Problems
Smart 2/3 oz. tire Sensors monitor each tire’s pressure. They alleviate the time and effort of checking tire pressures manually with a tire gauge, which is especially appreciated when weather conditions are not comfortable for accomplishing outdoor tasks. Generally, each Sensor has a custom electronic serial number that the cab Monitor has initially learned for each specific depicted tire location on the vehicle(s). The Sensor serial numbers are transmitted along with each real-time tire pressure transmissions, whereby the Monitor will then know which tire the transmitted pressure is associated with, and can alert if the pressure breaches an automatically established alert trigger pressure. Consequently, drivers can be safer and also save money, since the system allows an easier method for checking and ensuring that the tires are properly inflated.
Sending Alerts to Warn Drivers
A truck cab Monitor alerts when any of automatically set trigger-alert pressures are breached. A first lower alert occurs when tire pressures have dropped 12.5 percent (tires are typically not traumatized with this low deflation); a second more urgent alert occurs if tire pressures drop more than 25 percent; and there is also a third, variable, high-temperature warning via a high-pressure alert.
Monitoring Tire Pressures Inside the Cab
With a full set of monitoring options, a refuse truck can monitor up to 34 wheel positions (including three trailers) and tire pressures up to 299 psi. However, only the number of depicted tire positions that are pertinent to those existing on a monitored vehicle will be monitored and display on the monitor. Those depicted locations on the Monitor that are not required, will be in storage for use if or when alternate vehicles with different tire arrangements are monitored. Other Monitor options available depict alternate vehicle tire/axle arrangements as well. The system can easily be transferred between vehicles without any programming changes to accurately measure tire pressures and report to the monitor for the driver to see at the touch of a button from inside the cab. The Monitor can also offer data logging capability for past tire pressure history and for alert history information. It can serve as a good augmentation to management’s “detective” efforts to cause more conscientious driver awareness for helping stop needless tire replacements.
Longer Lasting Tires
Tire pressure monitoring systems offer an affordable method for extending tire life, reducing maintenance costs, creating efficiency and creating savings by providing a reliable, durable, accurate and easy to use product that relays real-time tire pressures both in-cab and also remotely via telematics. They also greatly simplify the tire maintenance process resulting in an overall reduction of vehicle operating costs and more effective tire pressure maintenance.
The Tire Industry Safety Council estimates that 50-80% of the 500+ million tires being used in the U.S. are underinflated. Also, heat is one of the leading causes of tire failure; low tire pressure leads to excessive heat buildup in the tire. It is a well-known fact that properly inflated tires last longer, thereby reducing maintenance costs by not having to replace tires more often than necessary.
In summary, a tire pressure monitoring system can not only help to improve mileage, but it can also extend tire life—saving money, fuel, tires and time.
L&S Safety Solutions (Wickenburg, AZ) is the North American Distributor of PressurePro Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. They have been a leader in the development and evolution of this market and technology, and remain dedicated to adding to the safety and savings of the transportation industry. For more information, call (800) 521-6820 or (928) 685-3558 or visit www.tirepressuremonitor.com.