During the summer, flat OTR tire accidents happen more frequently due to the high-temperature environment. According to rough statistics, 46% of highway accidents occurred due to tire problems, of which punctures accounted for 70%. Therefore, knowing how to prevent puncture is the key to summer driving safety.
There are mainly five factors resulting in tire problems:
1、Air pressure is too high or low.
2、Tire has been used for a long time.
3、Rubber surface is aging and cracking.
4、Abrasion of the tread is reaching its limitation.
5、Wheel rim is deformed.
Solutions:
1. Select only qualified OTR tires with the appropriate level and quality to meet the vehicle’s speeds. If the manufacturing date is exceeded, it is wise to replace it immediately.
2. Rubber should be constructed from heat-resistant and friction resisting butyl rubber or non-bile tires with better anti-explosion ability due to the use of a steel ring. If the tread is damaged, it’s advisable to replace it as soon as possible.
3. Check pressure before driving to decrease the chance of a breakdown along the way. Front and rear wheel inflation pressure should be balanced, otherwise the unequal pressure will cause a puncture. When the car is running on the expressway, the inflation pressure should be controlled within the normal value of 85-90%, because after a long period of running, the heat generated by friction can’t be distributed timely. When heat is not distributed properly, the pressure inside increases. Heat distributing unevenly and abrasion increases the chance of a OTR tire explosion.
4. Place vehicles in the shade after driving for a long period of time in high temperatures. This allows it to cool down naturally.
5. Pay attention when pulling over to avoid a collision or crash of outside tire against the roadside. When sidewall is injured it can lead to more serious problems such as steel wire broken and steel ring deformation.
Tire Physical Examination:
It is necessary to routinely examine your car from bumper-to-bumper. If its worn on both sides, it indicates that the pressure is inadequate. If only the middle part of the wear is worn, that shows OTR tire pressure is too high. Measure pressure at least once a month and make sure pressure is maintained. If the wear is not evenly distributed, it indicates the tire is unbalanced or the wheel rim is deformed. Under such conditions, balance, wheel alignment, or replacement of a deformed steel ring should be carried out. If wear occurs only in one side it proves a tire’s roll angle is imbalanced. To solve this, first fix the front wheel, and then adjust the camber. If you can lift up hard parts on the exterior of the tire with your fingers, it signifies there may be air entering the inner tire layer. In a case like this, whether the it is new or old, it should be changed. If there is thin crack in the surface of it, it should be replaced as well. Always be sure to work with only tire professionals.
Tire-using notes
Besides the situation and problems mentioned above, how to avoid damaging OTR tires, attentively or inattentively, in daily life is the key to protect tires.
1. Avoid using the emergency brakes on acceleration.
If you frequently perform hard acceleration, emergency braking-and-steering, etc, it will cause tire deformation rapidly. This deformation increases the chance that a tire will burst.
2. Carry loads within its manufactured limitations.
Every tire has its maximum load, and it is set according to the manufacture’s regulations. If it is overloaded it can result in the same injury caused just by one due to low air pressure.
3. Ensure they are able to cool in a timely manner.
If the vehicle is driven on the freeway for an hour or more, slow down the speed to let them get better heat dissipation.
4. Check the tire pressure regularly.
Test the pressure with a barometer carefully. If there is any air escaping, inflate it basing on the reference air pressure statistics: the front tire between 2.2-2.3; the rear tire 2.3. Do not inflate too much during the summer because overheating will easily cause a puncture in high temperatures. While in winter, the OTR tire pressure can be a bit higher.
5. Rotate after 10,000 km
Rotate (the left front switched to the right rear ; the right front switched to the left rear) after you have run 10,000 km. This will even the abrasion degree of each.
Related posts:
[...] Heat reduction is one of the main facets that have been undergoing rapid improvement. The cargo load of a vehicle and the speed that it is traveling are what generates the heat in a tire. Some of the newer heavy machinery can carry hundreds of tons of cargo and drive up to 45 miles an hour with a full load. As you know, any moving part will gradually begin to build up heat. Now imagine all of that weight bearing down on a tire while it is going forty miles per hour and you will get some idea of the amount of heat generated. To make matters worse a standard 63 inch radial OTR tyre is over 3 tons of rubber and that makes for a great insulator. All of that heat keeps building and if the tire is in bad shape then it will cause explosive failure. [...]