Nowadays, one of the biggest investments a company can invest in is the purchase of a commercial truck. The cost of such a vehicle can actually be more expensive than the cost of purchasing a new residential home! In addition to the acquisition cost, the repair and maintenance could potentially be a large item on a company’s budget. Any loss of use of such a vehicle could have an equally devastating effect on a source of revenue for the company. The longer a truck stays in the repair facility, the longer that company loses the income it could have otherwise brought.

One of the simplest items on any construction truck that has the potential to be devastating on its operation is its tires. These are one of the most essential parts of any vehicle. They generally deliver comfort and a smoother ride by adding traction, braking and ease in steering. They help absorb the vehicle shock, support the load, increase travel mileage and increase driver confidence in worry-free travel and a safe arrival at a chosen destination.

Significance of Terrain Traveled

Getting heavy-duty tires is very important since this can make a great difference on your truck’s performance, which ultimately translates to productivity for the owning company. It is extremely important to purchase the correct wheel coverings for the primary usage of the vehicle. Heavy duty versions are made for both over the highway and off the road usage, so careful consideration must be given to where the truck will generally travel. Some vehicles, such as dump trucks, are likely to travel over both types of road conditions and this must also be considered when purchasing appropriate tires.

Off the road (OTR) travel requires a type of wheel covering that can proceed over uneven and potentially treacherous terrain. They need to be durable yet flexible enough to persist under uncompromising road conditions while carrying large capacity loads. This need is certainly dissimilar to the needs of a garbage truck being primarily operated on city streets and alleys. Therefore, it is very important to list the tasks that will be performed by the vehicle for which the tires will be purchased before making any acquisition decision.

Travel Benefits

It is true of all tires that the general purpose and benefit is to get a vehicle from Point A to Point B safely and timely. Most passenger cars emphasize the smoothness of the ride and handling ability in most weather conditions. Although this is certainly desirable for commercial vehicles tires, in reality there are other benefits that may prove to be of greater significance to construction trucks.

The tires must be able to adequately support the load being carried and the job being done by each particular truck. One travel benefit of commercial tires is proper load distribution as well as functional durability in carrying that load over and over again under similar conditions. Getting a wonderfully smooth ride in a commercial vehicle with corresponding heavy duty tires may be desirable but impractical!

Another travel benefit to consider is the heavy-duty performance of the wheel covering being considered. Since the relationship between the height and the width of the tire when properly inflated on the appropriate rim that is known as the aspect ratio will influence the shape of the wheel covering, this must be given careful selection consideration since it will greatly affect its ability to perform on the road or wherever the truck will travel. A low aspect ratio allows for the distribution of the force from an uneven or non-level road over the tire but does create a rough ride. On the other hand, an aspect ratio that is high gives a smoother ride but may not be able to handle the bumps and unevenness of a road in the forest, for example. The user must weigh one benefit against the other before making an intelligent selection.

Maintenance Responsibilities

As with any tire whether passenger or commercial, it is very important to perform routine maintenance regularly to ensure both safe travel and longevity of the entire vehicle. Proper inflation is highly important at all times and in all driving situations, so the wise driver makes sure this is properly monitored. Rotation is another function that can greatly add to the life of any tire as it allows for even wear as well as call attention to other problems that may be causing this problem to occur. Don’t overlook wheel alignment either as this insures that the tires are perpendicular to the ground and at the same time parallel to one another. Proper wheel alignment will prolong tire life while poor wheel alignment will cause uneven wear and an earlier potential for breakdown.

No matter what type of construction truck you own, equipping that vehicle with the correct heavy-duty commercial tires will be an investment well worth the effort. Consider the above benefits as well as the responsibilities of such a purchase and make a wise decision for you and for your truck!