Winter Tires on All Axles: Safety Benefits for Medium-Duty Trucks/Construction Vehicles

This year’s winter season is steadily approaching, and now is the time for medium-duty fleet managers to start thinking about their choice of tire for when the rain, sleet and snow starts to pelt the pavement.
According to Matt Schnedler, product manager of truck and bus radial (TBR) for the U.S. and Canada at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), winter can be one of the most challenging times for drivers when it comes to tires.
“Changes in the ambient temperature can impact tire inflation pressure, with decreased temperatures often resulting in tire underinflation,” he says. “Variations in traction on icy roads also can affect treadwear over time. Preparation is critical to avoid unplanned downtime during the winter hauling season, and this includes proper tire selection.”
He adds fleets that use winter tires typically replace the full set each fall before severe winter weather conditions begin. This will allow the fleet to operate tires with maximum tread depth and traction throughout the winter hauling season.
Selling winter tires to some commercial customers poses a unique challenge, says John Reynolds, rentals manager of aftermarket at Camso, because unlike the passenger/light truck world, where in many states and provinces there are rules that mandate snow tire use on vehicles, there are no regulations mandating that construction vehicles should be equipped with winter tires.


Post time: Nov-27-2019