Tyre Repair
Occasionally, tyres will need repairing to keep them running. Most tyre repairs can be completed on-site (known as ‘cold cure’ repairs) minimising downtime for your machine.
Because our tyre repairs are completed to the highest standards, we always remove the tyre and give it a detailed inspection both externally and internally. Our 35 years of company experience has repeatedly shown that it is vital to conduct an internal survey of the tyre to ensure there is no further damage which cannot be seen externally. Failing to recognise internal damage increases the likelihood of a return maintenance visit sooner and can ultimately shorten the life of the tyre.
This is one of the many reasons why we do not plug tyres. Watch this video on the dangers of tyre plugging.
Vulcanisation
if the damage to your tyre is more serious it may be necessary to perform a vulcanised repair. This is, essentially a rebuild from the inside out of the damaged portion of the tyre. This is a highly technical tyre repair which requires both qualified personnel and specialised tools and is only carried out at our head office in Stoke-on-Trent.
The benefits to you are significant. First, it saves the tyre from being scrapped gives you an economical solution and enables 'whole life operation' for the type. Second, it is a safer repair than plugging - reducing risk during normal running, inspections and repairs. Third, it is an environmental choice since it extends the tyre's life.
All of our work is carried out to the British Standard for the patches used in the vulcanisation process ensuring you have the highest quality repair.
Each repair is fully documented and includes detailed photography and descriptions which are entered into our tyre management system to maintain a complete history of the tyre. And because we track every tyre we manage we take accountability for its entire life cycle.
1
Pressure checks
We test your tyres using our calibrated pressure gauges and compare them against the optimal pressure which is derived from both the manufacturer-recommended pressure and ‘real life’ data from Zen, our bespoke Tyre Management System (TMS).
2
Tread depth test
We take multiple measurements of the tread for each tyre to establish the wear rate.
3
Abnormality check
Our inspector will carry out a visual assessment for damage, defects, the formation and discolouration of both the tyre and the wheel (where possible).
4
Machine data collection
Knowing how much work the tyre has done in between inspections is crucial in determining wear rates. In order to do this we collect data about the machine itself including the hours worked. This is then recorded and analysed in our TMS
5
Reporting
We send you a full report on the inspected tyres using a simple Red Amber Green system to alert you to urgent work, advisory work and clear for operation. The reports give you a snapshot of tyre health so you can prioritise any work. (You can also have reports regularly sent to any members of your team.)
Free five point inspections
At the heart of effective tyre maintenance are regular inspections.
Each inspection collects vital data that enables us to anticipate and predict your tyre needs long in advance. This, alongside our visual inspections, gives you a complete picture of any given tyre and can capture the need for maintenance work before it becomes critical or causes an expensive tyre failure.
TYRE MAINTENANCE
Your tyres need regular maintenance just as your vehicles do.
Without the proper care and attention, they could underperform or become irreparably damaged - shortening their lifespan and increasing your tyre costs.
It’s a problem that we solve for all our customers with a combination of regular inspections, preventative and corrective maintenance.
Our tyre maintenance service extends the life of your tyres, reduces costs, minimises sudden failures and maximises your productivity.
Our approach to tyre maintenance is to be proactive - we will always advise you on the best choice of action so you can avoid critical failures and additional cost.
We rotate our inspections every 4-12 weeks depending on your needs. This allows us to build up historic data of your tyre inventory which we can then analyse to help you make the best tyre maintenance, replacement and optimisation decisions. Plus, the inspection data can be helpful in proving future warranty claims.
Typically, our inspections are charged out from £130. However, we offer tyre inspections at no charge to our regular customers - one of the many reasons to choose T&C Site Services.
Please Note: Even simple tyre checks of earthmover and OTR tyres can be extremely dangerous which is why all our inspections are carried out by qualified staff who have passed our internal inspection qualification.
Pressure Checks & Inflation
Tyres which are not inflated to the correct pressure can suffer serious problems. For example, underinflation can lead to increased fuel usage, uneven tread wear, tire/rim slip and increased tyre stress. Whereas overinflation reduces traction and grip and increases tread wear. Both increase the chance of tyre damage.
To avoid the additional expense incorrect inflation causes, your vehicles may require a simple pressure check and tyre inflation to keep them running at optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
We take care of this for you by sending one of our highly qualified and trained technicians to return your tyres to their ideal pressure. All our vehicles are fitted with specialist tyre inflation systems up to 145psi, handling any size tyre.
Tyre Rotation
Tyres do not always wear down evenly. For example, machines with front loader buckets will wear the front tyres down faster than the rear tyres and multimodal machines often wear down tyres more on one side and the other.
A simple solution to maximise the life of each tyre is to perform tyre rotations. These can be front-to-back, turning on the rim or corner-to-corner swaps and can increase your tyre’s lifespan by at least 30%.
Our tyre management system uses all of the data from previous inspections to identify the best time to rotate your tyres guaranteeing you the maximum lifespan.
Tyre Sealant
Some environments make tyres more prone to punctures and require a more proactive preventative approach. This can be achieved by adding tyre sealant into the tyre to plug any punctures.
The sealant is injected into the tyre through the valve and as the tyre rotates the sealant immediately fills any punctures. This is particularly beneficial if the tyre has a slow puncture as it stops any potential underinflation and resultant damage.
The blend of sealant we use also contains antifreeze, bactericide, fungicide and rust inhibitors. Plus it is water-based and can be washed or rinsed from the tyre and tubes should the tyre need more conventional repair work.
All our depots carry sealant ready whenever you need it.
Tyre Fill
If your vehicles operate in environments which could cause frequent punctures and costly downtime you may want to take advantage of our tyre fill service.
Each tyre is filled with a urethane mixture which replaces the air but still leaves a pneumatic and cushioning characteristic to the tyre. This effectively removes the possibility of downtime from pressure loss. Plus, a filled tyre removes the hazard of a blowout.
Tyre filling enables your machines to work in the most extreme conditions allowing each tyre to perform at its best. And without the costly delays that punctures cause, you can be certain that your work can be completed on time and to budget.
We have two filling stations at Stoke-on-Trent and Middlesbrough serving the entire UK. We are normally able to turn around tyre fills for the next day - a speedy service which many of our customers are grateful of.
Watch how we vulcanise tyres
Take a look behind the scenes at how we perform one of the most effective and major repairs that can be done to a tyre. We show you the exact steps we take to return your tyre in perfect working order. Enjoy.
