Just some of the stupid things I see

Hey DB...

I had hoped you would have provided some input by now in regards to my concerns in post #1693 about the CVSA OOS standards vs. the tire manufactures recommended pressure for the load they are carrying.

I would think the engineers who designed the tires and came up with the load/pressure recommendations probably know more about their product than the pencil-pushing bureaucrat who came up with the CVSA standard...but then I'm just a driver, so what do I know...

I'd hate to be placed out of service for running my tires at the recommended pressure, and running them at excessive pressure for the load they are carrying in order to satisfy the potential DOT inspector is causing them to wear irregularly and quicker than they should....and these things ain't cheap.

 

States cannot enforce tougher restrictions than what is allocated on the bridge formula on the interstate system.

If state laws for provincial systems are more restrictive than the tire manufacturer rating, you'll need to go off the state laws. Likewise, if the tire manufacturer rating is more restrictive than the state law, you'll need to go off the tire manufacturer rating.

 

Here's a thought: Before you chime in on a subject, you should have a clue WTF you are talking about.

My question for DB has nothing to do with weight limits on the road, but rather his statement that a tire inflated to 50% of the MAXIMUM pressure listed on the sidewall was "flat" and would place the truck OOS until the situation was corrected. I brought up the fact that the MAXIMUM pressure on the sidewall of the tire is for the MAXIMUM load the tire is rated to carry...and that the manufacturer recommends running lower pressures for reduced loads.

Ever pull an empty trailer and notice that the center rib of the tread is the only portion of the tire in contact with the ground? This is because the tire is over-inflated for the load (or lack of a load) it is carrying. There is not enough weight on the tire to cause the entire tread width to make contact with the road, so you suffer from reduced traction resulting from the smaller contact patch, along with the uneven wear.

This happens when you have a load on, too...just not as obvious. When the tire manufacturer's recommended pressure is only 60 or so psi for a legal load on the tandems (34,000)...but the MAXIMUM pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire is 120 psi (for a much heavier load)...then according to DB's post in regards to the CVSA standards, you would be placed OOS for having a PROPERLY inflated tire. When you over-inflate that same tire to 100 psi in order to make the DOT inspector happy, the tire tread is not making proper contact with the road. Traction is reduced, and tire wear increases.

Tires are expensive. So is being placed OOS.

 

Wow, Bulldog. You're a very dedicated guy to be inflating and deflating your tires every single time you load and unload. Doesn't that eat your 70 to be doing that on 16 tires? (Not counting steers....the load doesn't change much on them.) Of course, with Super Singles, it's only eight, but still...that's a lot of time. On duty not driving, right?

 

I've always kept my tires inflated to 100 psi just because I don't want to be accused of having flat tires and placed out of service...but the tires wear much quicker than I feel they should...and they ain't cheap!

I would like to air them down to the manufacturer's recommendation for a legally loaded truck to see how much it improves the tire wear...but not if it means risking being placed OOS. The tires would still be overinflated for the empty miles...just not to the extent that they are currently overinflated. For the loaded miles, however, they would be closer to what the manufacturer intended when they designed the tire. I'm paid by the ton, so every load I pull is as close to 80,000 pounds as I can get it without going over...so there really wouldn't be any need to adjust pressure for each individual load.

 

Winner winner chicken dinner! Wow

 

Are you seeing this on new MC s? Around my parts, everyone and their momma got brand spanking new authorites. I'm guessing with all those violations, they start new companies and start fresh when an intervention letter goes out. Just wondering.

 

Points stick with the driver also. Not only the company get point the driver is responsible for his actions also.

 

Exactly, which is why no major carrier will hire them, thereby new MC and they hire themselves. I guess its up to insurance to check and deny coverage?