A conversation with mining tire experts on performance, technology advancements and safety developments.
Selection. Safety. Durability.
These are just a few tire-related topics PP&E recently discussed with Roger P. Best, manager of Bridgestone Commercial Solutions’ off-the-road OEM engineering, and Hugo Morales, marketing product manager at Michelin North America Earthmover Tires, in separate Q&As. We’ve combined the two Q&As here for readability purposes. Read on for their unique perspectives into the world of tires.
PP&E: Why is selecting the right tire so important, and what are [users] specifically losing or risking by not selecting the proper tire for the right machine?
Best: Total cost is critical in the selection of tires. Without the proper tire for the application it is possible that the cost per hour of that tire will be higher. You may pay more in the long run by selecting the wrong tire for a specific application. The proper tire may also have effects on machine efficiency and productivity. A great starting point for any customer is to implement a program to track the performance of their tires. A reputable servicing dealer is also a key part to this selection process. A site visit from the manufacturer representative can also help in determining the correct type of tire and proper air pressure for the application.
Morales: Selecting tires for your operation, whether they are replacement or original equipment, can be challenging with all of the available choices. Purchasing tires should be me made with emphasis put on the operation, equipment, productivity, maintenance practices and total cost of ownership. Making an educated selection for a specific situation is the key. The most important criteria in selecting a tire when ordering new equipment or choosing a replacement tire is to determine what the specific equipment does or is required to do on a regular basis.
PP&E: According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), nine miners were killed in tire accidents between 1998 and 2011. In 2012, MSHA reported three miners were seriously injured when a front-end loader tire ruptured while being inflated. What are the biggest safety hazards related to tires that exist today in pits and quarries, and how would you advise aggregate producers to minimize these risks?
Morales: Safety risks still exist today. With the sometimes rates of turnover with tire service providers and tire-related employees at the sites, the biggest risk still remains lack of substantive training. Continuous improvement with respect to basic tire awareness and training need to be on the forefront of service providers and sites’ practices. Those best practices range from tire science to air pressure maintenance fundamentals, which is the foundation for a functional and safe tire program.
Best: The biggest focus is on training. At Bridgestone we start every day with a safety share message. It is ideal that our customers follow these same practices used in the industry.
PP&E: Without the aid of a modern tire pressure monitoring system, how else would you advise [users] to successfully keep an eye on tire pressure? How often should they do checks on equipment?
Best: In our opinion, every operator should conduct a pre-trip inspection of their machine, including tire and wheel checks. The check might include checking tire pressure and recording the figures. Ideally, the equipment should be checked at least once a week for cold pressure. The information should be documented so the customer can track issues with tires if a problem should develop.
Morales: All tires should be kept at the pressure specified by the tire and vehicle manufacturers. The correct tire pressure for a radial tire will vary widely depending on the machine type, manufacturer model type and weight. It is always a good idea to consult the tire manufacturer to ensure that each axle is properly weighed and the correct pressure is set.
Any vehicle with properly inflated radial tires carries its load in a noticeably different way. Radial tire technology separates the work done by the sidewall and tread areas, allowing the tire to conform to the terrain by running at lower air pressures than bias tires. This lower air pressure yields a more even footprint and higher levels of traction for radial tires. The constant footprint ensures that the lugs strike the contact patch simultaneously, reducing vehicle vibration.
Because the operators are onsite all the time, they see problems that need to be fixed, whether it’s in their pre-trip inspection or while operating the equipment. Managers and supervisors can draw their operators into the equation by asking for input and cultivating a team approach to tire and vehicle maintenance. Operators should be kept in the loop on situations with their equipment or tires so they are aware when they conduct inspections or operate the equipment.
PP&E: From your vantage point, what will be the primary method of monitoring tire pressure and temperature 10 years from now?
Best: Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have started to outfit machines with pressure monitoring systems. As the technology improves and more OEMs add systems to their equipment, we suspect tire pressure monitoring will be standard or perhaps optional on off-road industrial vehicles just as on your automobile.
PP&E: How closely do you monitor mining equipment in terms of which equipment is wheeled and which is tracked? Do you foresee any new opportunities involving wheeled equipment developing over the next five or 10 years in markets such as aggregates, construction or demolition?
Morales: Michelin works very closely with [original equipment]. This has allowed us to identify future customers’ needs and develop new equipment with all the new technical specifications, such as new load capacities, speed, etc. Michelin is focusing on productivity. We are developing products to offer the highest productivity for our clients while reducing their operating costs. PP&E