Goodyear: Off-The-Road Tire Demand Sparks Tire Care Interest

AKRON, Ohio, June 29 -- Those large hard-to-find tires in the mining and construction industries are finally getting some respect. Goodyear's sales force says skyrocketing tire demand is even making basic tire care popular at work sites.

Tim Good, off-the-road global customer account manager for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company , said demand for large off-the-road tires is high, and therefore, important tire-care lessons learned from the off-the-road tire experience could increase the service life of all tires.

Good and his field associates are re-educating customers at conferences and during on-site mine visits on how to make their tires last longer by restating the "basics" of tire care.

"Customers are taking our advice to heart," he said. "They realize that tire care - such as weekly tire inflation checks, regular tire rotation, reduced payloads and driving slower - greatly improves tire service life."

Tires operating in mining, aggregate and construction require frequent attention, according to Good, who spends the majority of his time traveling globally. "The work terrain, which is often littered with rocks and other debris, must be monitored and maintained often. These objects can puncture and ruin new tires very quickly."

According to industry data, just 7 percent of OTR tires are actually "worn out" when they're removed from service; tread and sidewall cuts and impacts account for 74 percent of the removals.

Good encourages mining and construction companies to not only "walk his talk," but also to seek additional advice from a Goodyear certified OTR dealer who will track, identify, evaluate and offer suggestions on problem areas. "Service is key right now. "We all need to enhance tire performance while decreasing the need for new OTR tires during this severe shortage."

When radial tires are unavailable, Good advises users to consider bias-ply tires for rear axle positions.

If there is a silver lining in the clouds of OTR tire demand, it's that "everyone is more aware of their tires. This awareness would be healthy, too, for motorists who reduce tire service life and fuel economy through tire neglect," he said.

In off-the-road tires, a focused tire program - with weekly tire inflation checks, proper tire repair, site surveys and retreading - may allow tires to last much longer than normal, "which can have a major impact for everyone," Good said.

In passenger cars and light trucks, it is recommended that motorists check tire inflation weekly or before a long trip, avoid potholes and road hazards, check tread pattern and sidewalls for abnormal wear or bulges and have repairs made correctly.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. For more information on Goodyear's OTR tires, go to http://www.goodyearotr.com/.