All Tired Out

Melanie A. Lasoff

Of all vehicle parts, tires likely receive the most abuse from the elements. They can be punctured or cut, build up moisture and rust, or lose valuable tread. A fleet's tires must be strong, durable and tear-resistant to successfully navigate through the many hazards waste industry vehicles are exposed to. Fortunately, tire manufacturers are aware that the strength of their products can greatly contribute to the life of a fleet.

This Waste Age product survey features a sample of the latest products from tire manufacturers.

Continental General Tire, Charlotte, N.C., produces a range of medium and heavy duty truck tires, including the HMS 45 for on/off highway service. The tire features a cut- and tear-resistant tread compound, a multi-service tread pattern and high ply ratings, according to the company.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, introduces its Enhanced Casing Design (ECD) tires, which feature a polyamide barrier between the tire's tread rubber and high-tensile steel belts. The polyamide is designed to reduce damage to the belt package and to keep out moisture that can infiltrate and rust steel belts, according to the company. The ECD technology is available on a variety of Goodyear tire lines and sizes. Goodyear also has created a tougher base compound than its previous tires to improve durability, and created a stronger steel belt configuration to increase puncture resistance, the company states.

Industrial Tires Ltd. (ITL), Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, features the Brawler, a solid rubber tire bonded to a steel wheel to eliminate flats, according to the company. Depending on size, most Brawlers can be worn within 2 inches of the steel wheel, the company states. The tires can be moved from one machine to another by building an adapter plate, as long as the two machines have comparably sized tires.

ITL offers two rubber compounds: TFT, an underground hard rock mining compound designed for cut and chunk resistance; and the Soft Rubber High Traction (SRHT), with a durometer of 55. The SRHT compound is designed for traction in the waste transfer environment, according to the company.

Michelin North America, Greenville, S.C., manufactures several tires for various conditions. The XZE all-wheel position radial has an extra-wide, extra-deep tread for regional service. Miniature groove-wall sipes provide traction; a customized, five-rib, zig-zag tread pattern is designed to create quick water evacuation; a grooved bottom protects against stone drilling; and curb guards defend sidewalls against impacts and abrasions. Michelin's XDE A/T tires have deep tread and high traction for highway and off-road conditions, according to the company. The full-width, elastic protector ply helps protect the working plies from bruising and penetrations. The four-belt crown package with extra-wide working plies is designed to provide casing strength.

The XDY-2 drive-axle radial truck tire is designed for on/off road service in highly aggressive conditions. It features a self-cleaning directional tread design to boost mud and snow traction, deep lateral shoulder grooves to aid water dispersion and a shock pad. XZY-2 all-position radial truck tires are designed for free-rolling-axle use in highly aggressive conditions, and offer 23/32-inch tread depth for long mileage and deep see-through grooves to improve wet traction, according to the company.

These tires feature Michelin's rectangular bead bundle, which simulates a solid steel rod "strapping" the tire onto the wheel. The design stabilizes the entire bead region and minimizes fatigue to extend casing life, according to Michelin.

SETCO Solid Tire and Rim, Idabel, Okla., introduces the Jelly Belly solid tire and rim assembly for front end loaders. The dual rubber compounds have a soft inner core and harder outer layer, which eliminates flat tires, according to the company.

Yokohama Commercial Tire Corp., Fullerton, Calif., manufactures the MY507 tire for heavy on/off road conditions. Four contra-diagonal ribs with buttressed shoulders provide directional and steering stability on steering axles, and traction and braking on drive axles, according to the company. The tire's tread depth is 26/32 inches, and features wide-tread construction and thick undertread designed to protect against cutting and chipping. A steel cord belt protects against object penetration, rust and stone damage, according to the company. The MY507 uses Yokohama's STEM-2 technology to enhance the tire's retreadability by improving strain energy dispersion.