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©2002-2006 Tire Industry Associations (TIA)

 

    Tips Every Driver Should Know

    TIRE IDENTIFICATION & RECORD KEEPING
    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “Tire Identification and Recordkeeping Regulation” has been revised. Effective July 2, 2000, all tires used domestically must adopt the new 4-digit date code. January 1, 2000, was the effective date for tires used in Europe.

    Previously, the Regulation required a 3-digit date code; the first two numbers specified the week of production, while the third number indicated the year. With the old system, the numbers repeated every ten years. This caused confusion at times, particularly with some tire designs that may not have changed during a 10 year span.

    Under the new Regulation, the first two symbols must identify the week of the year by using “01” for the first full calendar week in each year, “02” for the second full calendar week and so on. The final week of each year may include not more than 6 days of the following year. The last two symbols must identify the year. For example, 0101 means the first full calendar week of 2001, or the week of January 7 through 13, 2001.

    According to the new specifications, the minimum size of the date code may be reduced from 6mm (1/4") to 4mm (5/32"). This allows the figures to fit the same space as the old 3-digit code. Although 4mm is the minimum size, there is no limit to how large the figures can be.

    This new Tire Identification Regulation brings the U.S. into harmony with the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Recommended Practice.



    TIRE REPAIR
    On-the-wheel (string plug) repairs are extremely dangerous for one simple reason: a thorough inspection of the inside of the tire is not possible. The top photo illustrates a tread puncture that resulted in serious sidewall damage.

    The only method for repairing a nail hole puncture (3/8" maximum diameter) in the crown area (at least 1-1 1/2" in from each shoulder) is to demount and thoroughly inspect the inside and outside of the tire, remove the damaged steel with a carbide cutter (bottom photo), fill the injury with a suitable rubber stem, clean and buff the innerliner, apply vulcanizing cement to the buffed surface and install a repair unit. Proper tire repair extends casing life and lowers cost-per-mile.


    Even though this nail is near the center of the tread, it caused major damage to the sidewall.
    This damage goes unnoticed if the tire is repaired on the wheel.



    To properly repair a puncture, it is necessary to remove the damaged material from the injury with a carbide cutter before repairing. This restores the original condition of the tire.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS


Wheel & Rim Institute
Of Safety, Inc.
(A Non Profit Affiliate of National
Wheel and Rim Association)
5121 Bowden Rd., Suite 303
Jacksonville, FL
32216-5590
HEAVY & MEDIUM TRUCK AND TRAILER
TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS
FOR BOTH STEEL AND ALUMINIUM WHEELS
IMPORTANT: Federal OSHA regulations require all employers to make sure their employees who service rims/wheels understand the proper safety information contained in Regulation 29 CFR Part 1910.177. Do not let your employees service rims/wheels unless they are throroughly trained and comply with this Regulation.

HUB PILOTED WHEELS


RECOMMENDED TORQUE - OILED*:
M22 X 1.5 THREAD: 450-500 FT. LBS. (33mm or 1 1/2 HEX)
M20 x 1.5 THREAD: 280 - 330 FT. LBS. (30mm Hex)

All threads are right hand metric.
TWO PIECE FLANGE NUTS - Tighten to 50 ft. lb. using sequence shown.
Check disc wheels for proper positioning on pilots seating against drums back.
Then tighten to recommended torque using sequence shown.

*Apply two-drops of oil to a point between the nuts
and flanges and two drops to the last two or three
threads at the end of each stud.

RECHECK TORQUE AFTER FIRST 50 TO 100 MILES OF SERVICE
After a wheel has been installed, recheck the torque level between 50 and 100 miles of operation and retighten if necessary to the recommended torque using the proper sequence.(For stud mount dual applications loosen the outer cap nut before retorquing the inner cap nut.) It is recommended that a torque check be made as part of a vehicle's scheduled maintenance program or at 10,000 mile intervals whichever comes first. Individual fleet experience may dictate shorter intervals or allow longer intervals.

ALWAYS USE PROPER COMBINATION OF PARTS
• Use only HUB PILOTED WHEELS and TWO-PIECE FLANGE NUTS on Hub Piloted Hubs.
• Use only STUD PILOTED WHEELS and BALL SEAL NUTS on Stud Piloted Hubs.If PARTS FROM DIFFERENT DESIGNS ARE MIXED, WHEELS OR OTHER COMPONENTS MAY LOOSEN OR BREAK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.
NOTE: THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE WHEEL INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE, SEE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL. NWRA'S WHEEL AND RIM MANUAL, or USER'S GUIDE TO WHEEL'S AND RIMS by THE MAINTENANCE COUNCIL
WRIS would like to acknowledge and thank the following companies for their support and assistance in development of this safety information: ACCURIDE CORPORATION • ROBERT BOSCH CORP.• HAYES WHEELS INTERNATIONAL



STUD PILOTED WHEELS


RECOMMENDED TORQUE - DRY*:
3/4 - 16 THREAD: 450 - 500 FT. LBS
1 1/8 - 16 THREAD: 450 - 500 FT. LBS
15/16 - 12 THREAD: 750-900 FT. LBS
1 5/16 - 12 THREAD: 750-900 FT. LBS

Left Handed threads are used on the left side of the vehicle.
Right handed threads are used on the right side of the vehicle.

INNER CAP NUTS - Tighten Cap Nuts to 50 ft. lb.
using sequence shown. Then tighten Cap Nuts to
recommended torque
OUTER CAP NUTS - Tighten Cap Nuts to 50 ft. lb.
using sequence shown. then tighten Caps Nuts to
recommended torque.

NOTE: In all applications where an Aluminum Inner Wheel
is to be installed, a special Inner Cap Nut must be substituted
for the Standard Inner Cap Nut.

RECHECK TORQUE AFTER FIRST 50 TO 100 MILES OF SERVICE
After a wheel has been installed, recheck the torque level between 50 and 100 miles of operation and retighten if necessary to the recommended torque using the proper sequence.(For stud mount dual applications loosen the outer cap nut before retorquing the inner cap nut). It is recommended that a torque check be made as part of a vehicle's scheduled maintenance program or at 10,000 mile intervals whichever comes first. Individual fleet experience may dictate shorter intervals or allow longer intervals.

ALWAYS USE PROPER COMBINATION OF PARTS
• Use only HUB PILOTED WHEELS and TWO-PIECE FLANGE NUTS on Hub Piloted Hubs.
• Use only STUD PILOTED WHEELS and BALL SEAL NUTS on Stud Piloted Hubs.If PARTS FROM DIFFERENT DESIGNS ARE MIXED, WHEELS OR OTHER COMPONENTS MAY LOOSEN OR BREAK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.
NOTE: THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE WHEEL INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE, SEE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL. NWRA'S WHEEL AND RIM MANUAL, or USER'S GUIDE TO WHEEL'S AND RIMS by THE MAINTENANCE COUNCIL
WRIS would like to acknowledge and thank the following companies for their support and assistance in development of this safety information: ACCURIDE CORPORATION • ROBERT BOSCH CORP.• HAYES WHEELS INTERNATIONAL



DEMOUNTABLE RIMS


RECOMMENDED TORQUE - DRY :
3/4 - 10 THREAD: 200 - 260 FT. LBS.

REAR HEEL TYPE CLAMP: Gap permissible but not required - if gap
exceeds 1/4" or if clamp bottoms out before reaching 80% of recommended
torque, check to insure that proper clamps and spacer are being used.
REAR HEEL - LESS CLAMP: Does not depend on a fulcrum at the bottom
of the clamp to produce the force to wedge the rims.

Heel of clamp does not touch wheel.

FRONT HEEL TYPE CLAMP: Clamp must bottom against spoke.

RECHECK TORQUE AFTER FIRST 50 TO 100 MILES OF SERVICE
After a wheel has been installed, recheck the torque level between 50 and 100 miles of operation and retighten if necessary to the recommended torque using the proper sequence.(For stud mount dual applications loosen the outer cap nut before retorquing the inner cap nut). It is recommended that a torque check be made as part of a vehicle's scheduled maintenance program or at 10,000 mile intervals whichever comes first. Individual fleet experience may dictate shorter intervals or allow longer intervals.

ALWAYS USE PROPER COMBINATION OF PARTS
• Use only HUB PILOTED WHEELS and TWO-PIECE FLANGE NUTS on Hub Piloted Hubs.
• Use only STUD PILOTED WHEELS and BALL SEAL NUTS on Stud Piloted Hubs.If PARTS FROM DIFFERENT DESIGNS ARE MIXED, WHEELS OR OTHER COMPONENTS MAY LOOSEN OR BREAK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.
NOTE: THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE WHEEL INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE, SEE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL. NWRA'S WHEEL AND RIM MANUAL, or USER'S GUIDE TO WHEEL'S AND RIMS by THE MAINTENANCE COUNCIL
WRIS would like to acknowledge and thank the following companies for their support and assistance in development of this safety information: ACCURIDE CORPORATION • ROBERT BOSCH CORP.• HAYES WHEELS INTERNATIONAL
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