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Source: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announcement
ELYRIA, Ohio – It cannot be put more simply than that, but with National Tire Safety Week 2021 coming up, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) reminds fleets and owner-operators across North America just how big an impact the air in your tires has on how much fuel you burn, how much downtime you risk, and how effective your truck’s safety equipment is.
National Tire Safety Week is an initiative aimed at providing information on the essentials of proper tire care and maintenance, sponsored annually by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). This year it occurs June 28-July 4.
“Safety, stopping distance, fuel efficiency, operating costs, and tire life are all directly affected by running on properly pressurized tires,” said TJ Thomas – marketing and customer solutions director, Controls at Bendix. “Additionally, as a growing number of fleets and drivers discover the advantages of air disc brakes and advanced, integrated collision mitigation technologies, it becomes that much more important to remember that properly inflated tires are crucial to realizing the full performance benefits and protecting their investments.”
Related post:
Air Disc Brakes: Bendix’s Tips on Extending Their Life
It All Adds Up
A tire that is just a few psi below its proper pressure may seem like no big deal, but according to the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council, running on a tire that is underinflated by as little as 10 percent can reduce fuel economy by 1.5 percent. At 20 percent underinflation, in addition to those lost miles per gallon, the effects include a roughly 30 percent reduction in tire life. And about 90 percent of tire blowouts are the result of underinflation, according to industry studies, owing to the increased stress and higher running temperatures experienced by an underinflated tire.
“There’s another complication from improper inflation specific to dual-tire wheel-ends – uneven pressures,” said Guangning Zhao – product group director, Anti-Lock Braking Systems at Bendix. “Even if there’s a difference of just 5 psi between two tires on the same wheel-end, one tire winds up carrying a greater share of the load and doing more work. As the tire assembly rotates, the tire with the lower pressure – being slightly smaller – will drag, causing premature wear and shortened tire life while increasing the odds of a blowout on the higher-pressure tire.”
The Bigger Picture
Fleets can also use TPMS system data to more effectively address issues such as tire failures on the road and frequent tire replacements, thus helping to shape a better tire strategy and maintenance plans. For example, the SafetyDirect® by Bendix CVS web portal enables analysis of real-time information from TPMS and other connected safety technologies to help improve uptime and lower total cost of operation (TCO).
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“As with any vehicle safety technology, a TPMS complements safe driving practices and is not intended to enable or encourage aggressive driving,” Thomas noted. “No technology on the road today is a replacement for a skilled, alert driver exercising safe habits and supported by proactive, comprehensive driver training, and safe operation of any vehicle remains with the driver at all times.”
Bendix® SmarTire® TPMS and the SafetyDirect system are part of Bendix’s ever-growing portfolio of technologies that deliver safety, vehicle performance, and efficiency, all backed by unparalleled post-sales support. By enhancing areas critical to the success of fleets and owner-operators, and strengthening return on investment in advanced equipment that puts drivers.
To view the entire announcement, click HERE.
