Tires are the all-important connection between vehicle and road. National Tire Safety Week kicks off this month as a reminder that tire upkeep is vital component in driver, fleet and highway safety, as well as crucial in the continued success of a company.
Tire integrity is a focus of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a leader in the development and manufacture of active safety and braking system technologies for commercial vehicles.
“Safe and efficient trucks run on properly maintained and regularly inspected tires,” said Jon Intagliata, project manager of Bendix Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). “Tire performance and longevity are directly related to proper tire pressure, as are other fleet concerns such as fuel economy and maintenance costs.”
National Tire Safety Week (May 24-30) is part of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s year-round efforts to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining tires in good working condition. This includes proper inflation, monitoring and tire care.
Research shows that underinflation results in a drop in fuel economy and reduction in tire life. Fuel and tires are typically among the largest costs to a fleet. The upkeep of correct tire pressure pays out in savings for both fueling expenses and tread life.
Underinflated tires also put drivers at risk. These tires undergo increased stress and higher temperatures, increasing the chances of failure. A majority of tire blowouts are the result of underinflation, and half of all emergency service road calls are tire related.
“There are dozens of makes, models, and tractor-trailer configurations on North America’s highways, but all of them have this in common, only their tires touch the road,” said Intagliata. “We can’t overstate the importance of tire care when it comes to keeping trucks on the road and in good working condition, and Bendix will continue to work toward that goal with fleets and drivers everywhere.”
The Bendix SmarTire TPMS systems use wheel-mounted sensors to continuously monitor both temperature and pressure inside each tire, providing earlier warnings of potential tire problems. SmarTire systems are part an ever-growing portfolio of technology developments that deliver on safety, actionable information, reliability, fuel economy and stopping power, all areas critical to the success of a fleet.
