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136 
TIRELESS TYRES
Page 115
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• It's probably just an optical illusion, but judging by the decreasing number of pieces of shattered tread to be found along the hard shoulders of Britain's motorways, it would appear that the nation's hauliers are finally taking more care of their tyres. Either that, or the pieces are being picked up more quickly.
Wheels and tyres are arguably the "forgotton" part of a truck — until something goes wrong with them. Yet how many operators or drivers bother to check their tyre pressures once a week, let alone once a day? For that matter, how many hauliers take the time to examine tyre treads and sidewalls for signs of uneven wear or damage? Then of course there is the matter of checking wheelnuts for any signs of slackening.
Considering the cost of new tyres for a 38-tonne artic, it is surprising that more time isn't spent on looking after them. Indeed for the small haulier operating on slim margins, getting two blowouts during a single run could be the difference between making a profit or a loss on the job.
Many tyre manufacturers are now advocating specific tyre maintenance procedures, pointing out the financial penalties of incorrect inflation, for example. The concept of preventative maintenance is, of course, nothing new — but for too long the tyre has not been seen as an integral part of the truck.
Taking the time to look after your tyres will help you to get the maximum out of them, both operationally and financially. Conversely, failing to check wheel fixings regularly could have a serious effect on your business. The phenomenon of truck wheels becoming loose has already gained a mystique of its own as the so-called "lost wheels mystery". While the catchy title has been easy to come by, the cause has been less than obvious. The Institute of Road Transport Engineers has been in the forefront of research into an answer to the problem, although its suggestion that there should be just one single torque tightening figure has not always been well received by certain truck and trailer makers.
The IRTE has not been deflected from its purpose, however, and is collecting further evidence in the search for the conclusive solution. Given the possible consequences of a wheel becoming loose, operators who ignore wheels and tyres when planning their maintenance schedules do so at their peril.