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
using sequence shown. Then tighten Cap Nuts to
recommended torque
OUTER
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 INTERNATIONALBack
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