Market Driven Industry

It always surprises people when we tell them how market driven our industry is. Demand for OTR tyres, repairs and call outs from industries such as mining and quarrying vary according to market demand. It can affect those industries and subsequently our business whether  trading on a local or global basis, for minerals, ores, limestone and gravel.

While we carry out all year round tyre repairs and re-moulding it is surprising how seasonal our business can be. Call outs to Agricultural OTR’s vehicles in the summer bring different challenges, summer into autumn is also busy with call outs and repairs from the building and construction industry.

When the economy is doing well house building can be boosted and road building schemes increase. Road building schemes are not only affected by the economy but also by government investments. Changes in the economy and in political power affect the housing market and drive changes in demand for our services.

Improvements in the economy also affect demand for imports and so port work for us. Changes in legislation can also have big effects on our industry and the work we do. Legislation that affected recycling resulted in an increase in vehicles involved in waste management and subsequently demand for tyre repairs and call outs increases.

Whatever changes happen in the economy and in the EMT tyre industry it’s essential to have a local and national service covering all industries to new industry needs. Any changes in the economy and the industries we work for are then less of a shock, by being flexible in this way we learn and adapt.

OTR Tips During Hot Weather

During the summer, flat OTR tyre accidents happen more often as a result of high temperatures as  any moving part will gradually begin to build up heat. Make sure you use OTR tyres with the right quality to meet your vehicles speed and load.

These are the main factors resulting in tyre problems:
1、Tyre pressure is too high or low.
2、Tyres have been used for too long
3、The rubber surface is aging and cracking
4、Abrasion of the tread is reaching its limit
5、The wheel rim is deformed or damaged
7. If the tread of your tyre is damaged replace it as soon as possible.

Prevention
Check your tyre pressures before driving to prevent breakdowns. After a long period of running, the heat generated by friction can’t be distributed as well. When heat is not distributed properly, the pressure inside the tyre increases. Uneven heat distribution and abrasion increases the chance of a tyre explosion.

When you have been driving for a long time in high temperatures, place vehicles in the shade to allow the vehicle and tyres it to cool down naturally. If you are driving at high speeds for an hour or more, slow down to allow heat dissipation from the tyres.

Take care when pulling over to avoid running the tyre along the roadside. When the sidewall is damaged it can lead to more serious problems such as broken steel wires and steel ring buckles. Avoid using the emergency brakes on acceleration. Do this frequently and you risk tyres deforming increasing the chance of a tyre burst.

Carry loads within manufactures limitations. Every tyre has its maximum load, and it is set according to the manufacture’s regulations or ask an expert.

Tyres and Bad Weather

Apart from snow this winter we seem to have experienced every type of extreme weather possible, with gale force winds and torrential rain being the worst. Wet weather increases dangers for plant driving on and off road and in these conditions it is even more essential to have safe tyres with the right pressure and sufficient tread. 

In the last twenty years the quality and effectiveness and safety of tyres has increased. The reason compulsive tread depths were made a legal requirement is the increased chance of an accident as tread depth decreases.  Other things affecting tyre pressure:

• Load
• Correct tyre pressure
• State and quality of road or track surface
• Suitability of tyre for the job you are doing

Correct pressures are affected by weather road conditions, road conditions and quality. Overloading can obviously affect the pressure of tyres so make sure you check loads and pressures.

Strong winds cause danger from flying debris and debris lying unseen on dark roads and tracks. Poor road surface and consequently poor drainage means more build up of surface water. Made more difficult at night surface water increases the risk of spray blinding drivers and of cars and for car drivers driving too fast through standing water could lead to tyres losing contact with the road, aquaplaning.  A car driver losing control is a hazard for everyone.

Correct tyres with the correct pressure, will ensure if you have to break suddenly or face challenging conditions, increase your safety. driver aquaplaning. Fog reduces visibility and combined with rain as we have seen this winter increases all these hazards.