

FEATURED

OTR Tires: Proper Air Pressure per

Application
Air is to the tire what oil is to the engine. But what is the correct air pressure for OTR tires?
Use these keys to assess your tire program.

By Tim Good
on March 1, 2018
 Click Here to Read More

Air is to the tire what oil is to the engine. Without either, the actual life will be shortened. But
what is the correct air pressure for OTR tires? That is a question that is always asked and can be
difficult to address. A tire cannot perform without air, as this is the most important factor for any
tire. Air carries the load, not the tire.

There are a lot of parameters to look at when deciding the correct air pressure to suggest. For
example, if the tire is being mounted on a loader, you will need to know if it will be mounted on
the front or rear position and the density of the material being loaded.

Then, you need to understand what the loader is doing: is it working the pit area, or doing load
and carry, or both? A tire operating at the correct air pressure will help to maximize the
performance of the tire and machine. The operator will find that the ride, handling and stability of
the machine will increase, which translates into greater productivity.

How often should the air pressure be checked in a tire? Before each shift would be great, but many
operators do a walk around, kick the tires, check the fluids and go to work. Tires will lose pressure
naturally and need to be pressure checked and adjusted periodically.

Cold inflation checks are the best and most accurate. A cold tire is generally defined as one that
has been sitting idle and not used for a minimum of 24 hours. From this point the pressure can be
monitored more accurately. Hot inflation checks, in most cases, are the norm since many
operations are 24/7. Therefore, knowing the cold inflation pressure of the tire will help track the
rise in pressure in a working tire. This will then help to set the correct standards for warm
inflation checks.

As a tire works, its internal temperature will increase, as will its air pressure. A hot tire must never
be deflated. If the air pressure increases by 20% or more from the cold inflation reading, it is a
signal that the tire is overheating and should be stopped. The tire, then, should cool down or
moved to a different haul or operation that is less demanding. If there is any question regarding
the continued operation of the tire, consult with a tire manufacturer representative.

A tire operating at the incorrect air pressure, either under or over-inflated, might not show any
immediate issues but may fail later, even after its air pressure was corrected. Operating a tire with
insufficient air pressure causes the tire’s operating temperature to rise. This can lead to
irreversible damage of the tire’s internal components and will shorten its life expectancy.
Overinflation, on the other hand, is not good either. It can cause rapid and irregular tire wear. In
addition, the tire will be subjected to a greater change of sustaining cuts in the tread and sidewall
due to improper flexing of the tire.

Because of the specialized nature of off-the-road vehicle usage, loads in excess of those in the
appropriate load tables stated by the tire manufacturer are often encountered. Excess loads can be
a result of the actual vehicle weight exceeding the design weight. This can be due to different
attachments being added, varying density of the materials being moved, load transfer and other
factors. Under these conditions, the actual tire load may exceed the load rating noted in the
manufacturer’s load table.

If this is the case and excess loads are encountered, the cold inflation must be increased to
compensate for the higher loads. As noted in the manufacturer’s data books, for each 1% increase
in load for a radial tire, the inflation must be increased by 2%. The maximum excess load allowed
for a radial tire is 7% with a maximum psi increase of 14%. For a bias tire, the excess load allowed
is 15% with a maximum psi increase of 30%. The maximum pressure allowed for either a radial or
bias tire is 120 psi cold. The customer must be advised that if they are running continually with
excess loads, the tire won’t perform as well. Questions on proper tire inflation should be discussed
with both the tire and rim manufacturer to obtain their approval.

Tires are marked with either a ply rating, load and speed index or star rating. This helps us
understand the maximum load that the tire is designed to carry at a specific load and speed. In the
past, a 1-star tire was for a loader and a 2-star was designated for a haul truck. Today, many
manufacturers only produce a 2-star rated tire that is designed to work in either an earthmover or
loader (E/L) application. This means that the tire will work on both a loader and haulage piece of
equipment.

Knowing the application of the loader and the density of the material hauled will determine the
psi at which the tire needs to operate to maximize its performance. For example, the chart above
shows the allowable load based on the speed of the loader. Knowing this will help to match the
best pressure for the tire based on the actual usage of the loader. This will help you figure out the
cold inflation pressure of the tire.

When looking at the load tables found in manufacturers’ data books, you will find that for a
certain star- or ply-rated tire, there is a specific psi shown. For example, a 2-star radial tire for a
loader application (5 mph) is 94 PSI. If the same is installed on an articulated dump, the psi is 74
pounds.

In many cases, 95 pounds of air in the front tires of a loader is too high. Knowing what the density
of the material is, the size of the bucket and what the machine is doing with the material will
direct you to the proper air pressure required for the front tires. As for the tires on the rear of the
loader, 25 pounds or less is a good designation. If you set a 29.5R25 on the front wheel positions
at 85 psi, the rears should be set at 60 psi. This should provide the operator with the best ride and
handling for the loader.

When I am asked what the air pressure should be for 26.5R25s on the fronts, I like to start with 75
psi and 65 psi for the 23.5R25 tires. Again, the rears should be about 25 pounds less. But, as I
stated above, make sure you understand the actual weight of the material being loaded into the
 bucket and how the loader is operated. Is it used for load and carry or just loading material into a
crusher or trucks?

As for articulated dumps, I like to set the pressure at 65 to 70 psi for all wheel positions. Again,
based on the actual loads, speed and distance, the pressure may need to be adjusted accordingly.

What I would highly suggest though, is to find out what the equipment manufacturer
recommends as to the best psi for all wheel positions on the specific machine. Also, you should
confirm with the tire manufacturer about the psi they would recommend for their tire mount on
the specific machine. This way, if there is any question about a tire’s performance, you can
document the information provided.

What is the correct air pressure for a specific tire for a certain application? My answer is, I do not
know – not until you have taken time to study the use of the machine and the loads carried. A
successful tire program is only a pound or two away. TR

OTR industry veteran Tim Good has spent most of his career in the off-the-road industry, working
with Maxam Tire and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., among others. His expertise includes major
mining, aggregate, construction and port applications.

In this article: OTR tires , tire pressure

 CLICK TO COMMENT

2019 Newsmakers: BKT USA

2019 Newsmakers: Giti Tire USA

2019 Newsmakers: Monro Inc.

2019 Newsmakers: Hankook Tire America

POPULAR POSTS

FEATURED

Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Making A Comeback On Some

Imports
FEATURED

Toyo’s Celsius Plans to One-up All-Season Tires

FEATURED

#SEMA/GTE: Hankook Launches All-New Tire Brand Laufenn

FEATURED

#SEMA/GTE: Hercules Launches Ironman All Country M/T